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

• emaextension@lsc.gov.uk

• Briefing key partners and stakeholders

• Marketing and communications

Thank you

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