Strategic overview
This web page contains the links to all the overview policy documents that relate to multiple funding streams. To find documents prior to 2008/09, look under Legacy Documents from the menu on the left.
Key funding policy documents
For 2008/09
LSC Funding Guidance Presentation 2008/09
Published 27th August 2008
The attached presentation includes all the main slides on LSC Funding Guidance and the Funding methodology for 2008/09 used and presented by the Funding Implementation Team during 2008. It is hoped the presentation may assist providers in understanding the key aspects of the full guidance.
A workbook is also attached giving some examples on key funding issues for 2008/09.
All the figures used in the example are for the sole purpose of aiding understanding of the funding methodology and are not representative of any actual or intended LSC policy directive or of any individual provider’s funding figures.
Funding Guidance 2008/09 Presentation v2
Published 16th October - amendment to slide 82
Funding Guidance 2008/09 Example Workbook
The Higher Diploma in the post 16 curriculum
This supplementary guidance has been produced to clarify two particular issues that have been raised by some consortia preparing for delivery in September to the cohort of learners who have completed key stage 4 and are aiming to complete a level 2 Higher Diploma qualification in one year. The issues concern a) the funding available for the Higher Diploma and b) how to deliver the curriculum in one year.
LSC Funding Guidance 2008/09 - Funding Principles, Rules and Regulations
Final Version Published 4th November 2008
The only change from the published version on the 23rd October is this version includes and Index.
This document, LSC Funding Guidance 2008/09 (referred to here as ‘the Guidance’) sets out the Learning and Skills Council’s approach to, and the authoritative guidance for, the funding of LSC provision in 2008/09. It is a technical reference document, and should be used as a handbook for all LSC programme funding. All colleges, schools, providers and other organisations that receive funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) for the provision of education and training are required to comply with the Guidance.
It provides the LSC’s consolidated Funding Guidance for 2008/09 and applies to every LSC funding model for the delivery of programmes to learners.
From 2008/09 the LSC will fund provision through three main funding models: 16-18, Adult Learner Responsive, Employer Responsive.
This documents brings together funding guidance for these models replacing the separate funding documents for Further Education, Work-based learning, School Sixth Forms and Train to Gain.
LSC Funding Guidance 2008/09 – Funding Formula for 2008/09
Final Version Published 7th October 2008
This booklet contains advice on the LSC funding formula in 2008/09 for all three Demand-led funding models. These are 16-18 learner responsive, adult learner responsive and employer responsive.
It contains a small number of changes from Version 1 which are detailed in the Version Control section.
Funding Guidance 2008/09 - Learner Eligibility Guidance
Final Version Published 15th October 2008
Updated to include the Employment Support Allowance - paragraph 94
This document, LSC Learner Eligibility Guidance for 2008/09 (referred to here as 'the Guidance') sets out the LSC's approach to, and the authoritative guidance for, learner eligibility across the LSC funding streams for 2008/09.
It is a technical reference document and should be used with the various LSC funding stream guidance booklets issued for 2008/09. All colleges, providers and other organisations that receive funding from the LSC for the provision of further and adult education are required to comply with the Guidance.
LSC Funding Guidance 2008/09 - Funding Rates for 2008/09
Final Version Published 4th November 2008
The only change from the published version on the 7th October is a reference to Annex G in paragraph 84, which is now Annex E.
This booklet contains advice on the LSC funding rates in 2008/09 for all three Demand-led funding models. These are 16-18 learner responsive, adult learner responsive and employer responsive.
It contains a number of changes from Version 2 which are detailed in the Version Control section.
LSC Funding Guidance 2008/09 – Funding Compliance Advice and Audit Guidance 2008/09
Final Version Published 23rd October 2008
This booklet for 2008/09 contains the funding compliance advice and audit guidance for providers as companion advice to Principles, Rules and Regulations and when published to booklet ILR Funding Claims and Audit Opinions.
LSC Funding Guidance 2008/09 - ILR Funding Claims and Audit Returns 2008/09
Final Version Published 27th October 2008
This booklet provides all funding estimate/claim forms and external funding ILR auditor opinions for the year 2008/09. The booklet sets out the rules on funding reconciliation for 16-18 and adult learner responsive funding in 2008/09. It also provides advice to colleges or other providers and external ILR auditors on how to complete and return them. For the adult learner-responsive funding model it includes guidance on the calculation of reconciliation funding adjustments for 2008/09 together with an example of the reconciliation statement for 2008/09.
LSC Funding Guidance 2008/09 – ILR Funding Claims and Audit Returns - Annex I
Published 14th August 2008
Annex I returns are required by 31 August 2008 and the return is very similar to the 2007/08 return for which guidance is available in the 2007/08 document FE ILR Funding Estimate/Claim 2007/08. It is hoped the main document will be published on the LSC website later this month.
Press Release - The LSC Announces Key Funding Rates for 2008/09Published 21 December 2007
The LSC has today announced the base funding rates for use in its Demand Led Funding models for 2008/09. These funding rates, to be used for the first time in 2008/09, are the key link between the funding and learner volumes described in the LSC’s Statement of Priorities for 2008/09.
The 16-18, Adult Learner and Employer Responsive Funding Models (273KB) Version 2 No track changes Updated 3rd June 2008
The version 2 that was placed on this page last week contained tracked changes. This has been replaced with this version with no track changes. There have been no other changes between the two versions.
If you would like the version 2 with track changes please contact laura.armit@lsc.gov.uk
Reconciliation example product document 08-09.xls (29KB)
Published 27 November 2007
The move to a demand-led funding system in 2008/09 signifies a wholesale step change for the learning and skills sector.
This document is one of a suite of documents that will describe the operation of the new models. The other documents will include the provider allocations framework and the flowcharts showing the end-to-end business process for the three funding models. These documents should be read alongside the LSC’s Statement of Priorities (published on November 16), which sets out the priorities for 2008/09 to 2010/11, and the outcomes of the Comprehensive Spending Review.
LSC staff and all post-16 providers (FE colleges, school sixth forms (SSFs) and all other providers) should use this document to prepare for implementation of the new funding arrangements starting in August 2008.
Single Equality Impact Assessment: Demand-led Funding and the UK Vocational Qualification Reform Programme - Sub Programme 3 (Planning, Funding and Delivery of Provision for Learners)
Published 15th July 2008
This Single Equality Impact Assessment (SEIA) encompasses the implementation of demand-led funding in 2008/09 and two elements of UK VQRP Programme 3, namely the reform of funding and performance measures to support the Qualification and Credit Framework (QCF) and the alignment of public funding to priority vocational qualifications.
The SEIA was was conducted and is published in accordance with the LSC’s Single Equality Scheme and reflects the Council’s statutory duty to prevent discrimination and promote equality and diversity.
Aligning Public Funding with Priority Vocational Qualifications in England in 2008/09 - Update
Published 14 February 2008
This document provides an update to the Addendum to Statement of Priorities - Aligning Public Funding with Priority Vocational Qualifications in England in 2008/09, published in December 2007 (see above).
Updated 26 February 2008
This document has been updated to correct the date quoted in paragraph 3 (d). The paragraph should read:
- “From 1 August 2009, the LSC will start to ‘turn-off’ funding for predecessor NQF qualifications and lower priority qualifications. Learners on existing programmes registered before this date will continue to be funded to complete their programmes. Details of the qualifications will be published at the end of summer 2008.”
Addendum to Statement of Priorities - Aligning Public Funding with Priority Vocational Qualifications in England in 2008/09
Published 11 December 2007
This document provides further details and clarification of the process of progressively aligning funding with the vocational qualifications approved by Sector Skills Councils (SSCs) within the context of their sector qualification strategies, as referenced on Page 28 of the Statement of Priorities, Better skills, Better Jobs, Better lives; November 2007. This document is aimed at all regional and LSC partnership teams and key external stakeholders, particularly providers.
Delivering World-class Skills in a Demand-led System
Published 5 January 2007
The FE White Paper Further Education: Raising Skills, Improving Life Chances (March 2006) set out the commitment to develop a new approach to funding for 14-19-year-olds and to move to a position where more funding is driven directly by employer and learner choice.
For 2007/08 A Framework for Managing the Balance and Mix of Provision (2007/08) Published 23 February 2007
Raising our Game: Our Annual Statement of Priorities set out the LSC's priorities for 2007/08 in order to meet our targets. Section 2 signalled that further details will be provided in an operational guidance document in early 2007.
This document is aimed at learning, planning and performance colleagues and partnership teams involved in strategic discussions with providers and the allocation of funds. It provides further clarification and operational details to the policy requirements documents published in the Single Statement of Requirements in December 2006. It also focuses on the priorities and challenges associated with informing and managing the balance and mix of provision in an area.
LSC Learner Eligibility Guidance 2007/08 Version 3 FINAL : Published 25 July 2007
This document, LSC Learner Eligibility Guidance for 2007/08 (referred to here as 'the Guidance') sets out the LSC's approach to, and the authoritative guidance for, learner eligibility across the LSC funding streams for 2007/08.
It is a technical reference document and should be used with the various LSC funding stream guidance booklets issued for 2007/08. All colleges, providers and other organisations that receive funding from the LSC for the provision of further and adult education are required to comply with the Guidance.
Funding Rates - Changes for 2007/08 Published 25 January 2007
This document provides more detail of the funding rate arrangements for provision delivered in 2007/08 in school sixth forms, further education, work-based learning, Train to Gain and through the European Social Fund (ESF). The document covers funding rates, but not the funding allocations process or operational guidance on the mix and balance of provision, which are being published separately.
Raising our Game - the LSC's Annual Statement of Priorities 2007/08 Raising our Game sets out the LSC's ambitious funding and planning priorities for 2007-08. These aim to increase achievement and promote economic competitiveness and social inclusion in England.
For 2006/07
Policy Requirements for Planning series for 2006/07Of interest to all providers receiving LSC funding plus partners and stakeholders
This series of documents outlines the funding policy and planning framework for 2006/07.
Priorities for Success - Funding for Learning and Skills Further Education Funding 200607-update and analysis-letter-19dec2006.pdfOf interest to all providers receiving LSC funding plus partners and stakeholders
This document provides details of the priorities for LSC funding in 2006/07 and 2007/08. Minister of State, Bill Rammell MP has also written to delivery partners and MPs setting out the government's strategic direction for the learning and skills sector for the coming period.The main purpose of this document is to begin the 2006/07 funding allocations process with a clear and concise message on the principles that will underpin the next funding round.
