Learning for Life. Funding Guide

Transcription

1 Adult Learning Strode s College Egham Learning for Life Funding Guide

2 Ways to pay for your course Unemployment offer 2 Page No. 3 4 Supporting people on low income with a College Bursary Free English, Maths and Basic Skills courses Level 2 and 3 entitlement Advanced Learning Loans Get Active 50+ discount (for people aged 50 and over) Ask one of the team How to find us

3 3 Phone or Post to Strode s College In person to Strode s College or The Literary Institute (Mon-Fri) You can pay by debit or credit card over the phone. You can pay by cheque through the post or you can pay by card, cheque or cash at the college reception. Payments for course fees will be processed on receipt, or at the time the class becomes viable, and fees will only be refunded if the course is cancelled or moved to a date, time or venue that you are unable to attend. By Instalment: Fees for courses lasting more than one term may be paid in two instalments during the first term. Concessions: Concessions may be available for some courses indicated with and, please look at page 4 for more information or contact the College for more details and eligibility. Special Offers: Throughout the year, the college may offer an Early Bird Discount if you enrol and pay by a certain date. Applicable courses are always marked with a bird symbol Student Loans: Learners aged 19 and over who wish to study a course at Level 3 or above may be eligible for an Advanced Learning Loan. Eligible courses are marked and for further details on the loans see page 7. Payment by Employer or other Organisation: We can arrange to invoice your employer or any third party if they are willing to pay or contribute to your course fee. To do this we would need an or letter from the third party on headed paper, with the student name, course to be studied and details of who is to be invoiced. We also accept payment by company credit card or cheque.

4 4 Concessionary discounts may be available for unemployed UK/EU citizens actively seeking employment for many of the courses marked. Unemployed dependants of those in receipt of benefits and who wish to also enter employment may also be able to obtain a concessionary discount on the course fee. Concessions are not available for those aged 19 and over for level 3 courses and above as the 19+ scheme applies. You may be eligible if you are in receipt of:- JSA (Job Seekers Allowance) / ESA (Employment Support Allowance) WRAG (Working Related Activity Group) Housing Benefit Income Support Universal Credit You will need to provide paper evidence of your benefit (which is no more than 3 months old), you will also need to complete and sign an employment declaration form stating that this course will help you to secure employment.

5 5 A discretionary college bursary may be available for courses marked and where the learner is in financial hardship and dependent on means-tested benefits, or has a total household income of less than 23,000. This policy has been created in line with Government priorities which determine that hardship funding is provided to support vulnerable and disadvantaged learners and to remove barriers to education and training. With this in mind, students (subject to eligibility) may wish to make a hardship application to support them with: Course-related costs including course trips, books and equipment Learner transport costs Examination fees Accreditation fees, professional membership fees and any fees or charges due to external bodies Registration fees Sometimes help can be given for course fees Means Testing: All applications will be means tested based on household income (i.e. the combined income of all members of the household) and evidence will be required to support the student s application. Acceptable forms of evidence include: Income Support Statement/Letter Universal Credit Statement/Letter Job seekers Allowance Statement/Letter Working Tax Credits Documentation Wage Slips / P60 Please note: Child benefit and working tax credit are excluded. Applications for college bursaries are subject to good attendance and are awarded at the discretion of the college. How to apply: Please ask a member of the Adult Learning Team for a Bursary Application Form, then submit when completed and supply evidence to support your application.

6 6 UK/EU resident learners are eligible to the following free courses if they have an identified Literacy or Numeracy need:- English and Maths GCSE if you do not already hold this qualification at grade A*- C (and providing you meet the entry requirements) Functional English and Maths (for eligible learners) Life Skills (for eligible learners) Help with Reading and Writing (for eligible learners) You will be required to declare your prior level of attainment in English and Maths (if known) by completing and signing an enrolment form. English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL): Unemployed EU citizens on certain state benefits may be entitled to a concessionary discount as detailed on page 4. If a learner is in employment but also in receipt of a benefit as listed on page 4, they may be entitled to a bursary towards the cost of the course, but a pre-determined contribution may still be required by the learner upon enrolment.

7 7 If you are a UK/EU citizen and are aged 19 or over (as of 31st August 2016) you are entitled to free tuition to study for some basic skills in Literacy and Numeracy including GCSE s in English and Maths (providing you do not already hold an A*-C grade). This does not apply to ESOL courses as these are co-funded courses. Aged Years If you do not have a full Level 2 qualification (5 GCSEs A*-C or equivalent) you are entitled to free tuition for your first (eligible) full level 2 qualification. If you have a Level 2 (5 GCSEs A*-C or equivalent) but not a full Level 3 (4 AS Levels or 2 A2 Levels or equivalents) you may be entitled to free tuition for your first Full Level 3 qualification. Please ask a member of the Adult Learning team which Level 2 and 3 courses fall into this criteria. You will be required to declare your age and level by completing and signing the college enrolment form; in addition to this, a declaration of eligibility form will also be required. Regrettably we cannot accept enrolments from students under 19 years old due to funding restrictions.

8 8 Strode s College is an approved centre to offer Advanced Learning Loans. Government loans are available for people who are aged 19 and over and studying an eligible Level 3 or 4 course (courses are marked in this prospectus). The loans are not means tested and don t take into account a person s credit history, which means most people will be eligible You must be a UK or EU/EAA resident aged 19 or over and have lived in the UK for three years prior to the course start date Small affordable repayments when you are earning over 21,000a year If you want to pay for your Level 3 or 4 course with an Advanced Learning Loan, please complete an enrolment form to enrol as normal but inform a member of the Adult Learning Team at the time of enrolment. We will send you a confirmation letter with full details on how to apply. Before taking out any loan you should consider all your options and may want to seek impartial financial advice. Visit the Advanced Learner Loan web site for more information: How can I apply? Enrol for a place on your chosen course Follow normal application/interview procedure to confirm and check suitability and acceptance onto the course You will receive a Learner Information Letter Use this Learner Information Letter to apply for your finance Let the College know that you have applied for finance If you are approved and have not heard otherwise from the college, then just turn up on the first day of your course If you are not approved, don t worry talk to the college for other methods/arrangement of payment

9 9 Strode s College Adult Learning has teamed up with Get Active Surrey for their 50+ programme that aims to encourage adults to have healthy lifestyles and participate in exercise and physical activity. We are delighted to offer a 33 discount for eligible adults on one course marked in our course leaflet. Attendance at a minimum of four classes is required to qualify for the discount and students will need to complete an additional evaluation form. Only one discount can be used per person and the offer is subject to availability. Unfortunately if you have already benefitted from Get Active 50+ funding either at Strode s College or elsewhere, you are not able to receive any further funding for this, and the full fee will apply.

10 10 If you are unsure of anything we are always happy to help. Call us on / or adulteducation@strodes.ac.uk The Adult Learning Team: Kate Shore Karen Armstrong Sabrina Cadi Maggie Brooker Sandra Hampton Director of Adult Learning Community Learning Coordinator Business & Professional Courses Coordinator Adult Learning Administration Manager Community Learning Administrator Phone or In person to Strode s College or The Literary Institute (Mon-Fri) Website ing us on adulteducation@strodes.ac.uk

11 11 We are a 5 minute walk from Egham train station and on several bus routes. You can find us at these venues Strode s College, High Street, Egham. TW20 9DR The Literary Institute, 51, High Street, Egham, TW20 9EW (sat-nav reference TW20 9DP)