nat ema regionalextensionstoe2eandplplearners nov06 pn
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