Money to Learn
Information for Providers and Delivery Partners
The LSC’s Learner Support Programme is made up of a number of strands (Education Maintenance Allowance, Adult Learning Grant, Professional & Career Development Loans, Dance and Drama Awards, Care to Learn, Sixth Form College Childcare, Free Childcare for Training and Learning for Work, Discretionary Learner Support Funds (hardship, transport, 20+ Childcare, residential support) which help to support learners who would otherwise not be able to participate in learning for financial reasons.
This site aims to provide you with all the necessary information to help you support your learners access the most appropriate learner support strand(s)
Click on the links below to access information relevant to you as either a strategic or delivery partner
The Learner Support Service provides the service by which learners can apply for and receive payments for Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), Adult Learning Grants (ALG), Care to Learn (C2L), Dance and Drama Awards (DaDA), 6th Form College Childcare, Residential Support Scheme (RSS), Free Childcare for Training and Learning for Work (FCTLW) and Professional and Career Development Loans (P&CDL).
The following pages on this website will aim to keep you updated with the latest information about the changes. Please check these pages regularly for updates.
The Learner Support Toolkit gives information on what Learner Support is, the rationale behind it, information on its impact on learners and who to contact. The site contains useful links and resources for more information.
ALG provides financial help with the costs of learning to low skilled, low income adults who are studying full time for their first full Level 2 or first full Level 3 qualification.
The grant pays adults (aged 19 plus) up to £30 per week, during term time. It is paid on an income assessed basis, using the learner’s (and that of their partner if applicable) income. No account is taken of household income.
Adult Learning Grant Guidance 2009/10
Education Maintenance Allowance is a weekly payment of £10, £20 or £30 depending upon household income. It is paid directly to young people (aged 16-18) from low income families to encourage them to stay in education after reaching their statutory school leaving age.
This site provides support for local partners and administrators.
Education Maintenance Allowance Provider Guidance 2009/10
The aim of Care to Learn is to give financial support to teenage parents (including dads) who want to continue their education or training and need help with the cost of their childcare.
Care to Learn Guidance 2009/10
On 27 November 1998 Ministers announced that up to 820 of the most talented young actors and dancers will enter training each year with the help of Dance and Drama Awards (DaDA). These Awards provide for reduced fees for Further Education (FE) students from the FE Fees and Maintenance Fund.
Transport Partnerships are established to encourage a collaborative approach to local transport solutions. Partnership funding and guidance is provided by the LSC.
Discretionary Support Funds may be available to learners who are facing financial hardship to enable them to participate, or remain, in Education. DSFs are managed by Further Education Institutions.
Discretionary Funding Guidance and Requirements 2009/10
Funding may be available to assist learners who wish to study a course which is not available locally.
Free Childcare for Training and Learning for Work is a new scheme that will support adults (aged 20 years and over) in the target group by paying for childcare and travel costs while they are undertaking learning/training leading to work. The scheme is aimed at families where one parent is in work (16 hours or more per week) but is on a low income and where the other parent is not in work but looking to enter learning.
Free Childcare for Training and Learning for Work Guidance 2009/10
Professional and Career Development Loans
Career Development Loans are bank loans set at a competitively interest rate that learners aged 18 years or over can use to help pay for learning that leads to work. They can be used to support any full-time, part-time or distance learning courses for up to two years, as long as the course leads to a trade, occupation or profession.
Like any loan, learners must repay the money they borrow, but the LSC will pay the interest on the loan while the learner is in learning and for up to one month afterwards. The learner then repays the loan to the bank over an agreed period at a fixed rate of interest.
Sixth Form College Childcare enables parents aged 20
or over to continue in or return to learning after the birth of a child by assisting with the cost of childcare and associated travel. It is an income assessed schems which provides support to learners studying in a school sixth form or sixth form college.
Sixth Form College Childcare Scheme Guidance 2009/10
