welcome education maintenance allowance extension to e2e and plp learners presented by greg burke,...
TRANSCRIPT
Welcome
Education Maintenance AllowanceExtension to E2E and PLP Learners
Presented by Greg Burke, Trevor Fellowes, Stephen Gardner and Kevin Street
• Greg Burke, Head of EMA Unit
• Trevor Fellowes, Director of Learner Support
• Stephen Gardner, Director of Work-based Learning
• Kevin Street, Senior Policy Manager
Speakers
EMA: Background, Basics and Context
01
WBL context• Target to improve Apprenticeship Framework completions by 75 per
cent by 2008
• LSC now responsible for reducing size of NEET group by 2 per cent
points by 2010
• Target of 50 per cent of E2E leavers going on to positive destination
• Increase number of leavers who go on to further training
• An additional driver to encourage employers to employ PLP learners
• EMA is key product to support these aims
• Supports Government aims to improve skills and promote social inclusion
• Supports Government targets– boost number of 16-19 year olds ‘staying on’ in education– ‘Level 2 at 19’ Public Service Agreement (PSA)
• EMA means that money is not a barrier to getting a level 2 qualification
• Today, everyone needs a minimum set of qualifications to get on in life
Where does EMA fit in?
• Payment to encourage young people from low income families to stay in post-16 learning
• Income assessed payment of £10, £20 or £30 per week for households with income up to £30,000
• ‘Something for something’ agreement, with payments to reward attendance
• Periodic bonuses for achieving positive results
What is EMA?
About the Extension
02
Why extend EMA?
• 16-19 Financial Review recommended extension across age group
• Designed to create a level playing field of financial support across schools/colleges and E2E/PLP provision
Why extend EMA?• Ensure learners’ families get additional benefits, for
example, Child Tax Credit, Child Benefit
– Maximum weekly value of complete support package to a family is over £88 a week, compared with £40 under MTA
– Individual learners on Income Support can receive up to £74.05 a week
• Ensure learners choose the most appropriate form of learning
What does this mean?• Minimum Training Allowance (MTA) and E2E
bonuses will cease for new starters on 9 April 2006
• From April 2006, starters on LSC-funded E2E or PLP with learning providers can apply for EMA
• Payments will be income assessed; maximum payment £30 per week
What does this mean?• Young people must have or open a bank account
• Annual reapplication will be required
• Travel continues to be funded as part of WBL budget
How will it work? • Application
• Notice of Entitlement (NoE) sent to young person
• Given to provider to authorise payments
• No payment until NoE ‘cashed in’
• Payment centralised by APB and EMASYS
• Paid directly into young person’s bank account
More on EMASYS from APB later
Our response to Stakeholder Consultation
03
Application process• Schools will raise awareness
• Connexions will raise awareness and offer support
• Learning providers should also support learners as
required
• Currently considering how to help partners support learners through application process
Bank accounts• Past experience proves this is less of a problem than
anticipated
• Research shows approximately two-thirds of current E2E/PLP learners already have bank account
• Solutions always found; work with your local partnership and bank managers
• Please encourage people to set up bank account before their course to give them head start
Study patterns• Schools, colleges and E2E/PLP have very different
but comparable study patterns
• Authorised absences will continue to apply to both
• Approach to absence-management must be pre-defined in learning agreement
Entitlement period• Aim: for NoE to be valid until course ends
• Solution: if course extends beyond normal EMA year, extension of 22 weeks available
• Process to encourage provider to ensure learner has completed new application on time
• Application details retained to reduce burden
Transition• PLP/E2E learners who sign up before 9 April 2006
can retain MTA until end of course or December 2006 (whichever sooner)
– Existing learners will need to become employed or transfer to PLP by December 2006
– If learner drops out and restarts after 10 April, they must apply for EMA
– MTA learners who progress on to new course must apply for EMA
Transition• From 10 April 2006 eligible new starters must apply
for EMA
• Additional allocations to July/December being made to cover carry over allowances
Bonuses
• Flexible approach to PLP/E2E bonuses for learners
• 4 bonuses:– 1 x £25 for agreeing learning agreement,
– 2 x £25 for achieving learning goals,
– 1 x £50 for E2E who progress to Apprenticeship, FE or a job; or
– 1 x £50 for PLP who progress to employer-led Apprenticeships
• Not triggered by course calendar dates
Questions?
Countdown to April 2006
04
What do you need to do?• Read Learning Providers: Getting Ready for EMA
• Priorities before Christmas:– Training. Nominate staff– Work with your local LSC to prepare
• Look out for further guidance to be released in January
Support activity
• EMA Extension Update can be downloaded from http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/Lsc/2005/externalrelations/newsletters/ema-extension-update-nov-2005.pdf
• Briefing key partners and stakeholders
• Marketing and communications
Thank you
LSC-I-NAT-050628