There have been some changes made by the Skills Funding Agency and for courses beginning after 1 August 2011. The following information is a summary of the new guidance.
Learner eligibility for funding
To be eligible for a fully funded or part-funded course, you must be either:
- a resident of the UK/European Economic Area (EEA) for three years prior to the beginning of the course
- a British/EEA citizen or have the right to reside in the UK
- a refugee who has been resident in the UK since the granting of refugee status
- an asylum seeker with six months’ residency
People of any age in full-time education are not eligible for further funding for courses. Any additional learning needed to complete a qualification is the responsibility of the full-time education provider.
Any person not eligible for funding for an Adult Community Learning (ACL) Essex course is still able to study with us, but will have to pay a higher fee than learners entitled to a wholly funded or part-funded course. Fees are available on request.
If you are unsure if you are eligible for a funded course, please contact your
nearest ACL centre.
Tuition fees
You may be entitled to free tuition for many courses if you meet certain criteria, although some courses have a small Benefit Registration Fee. To be entitled to free tuition you must be either:
- 16 to 18-years-old following approved qualifications and not a full-time learner with another learning provider (you must be aged 16 before 31 August 2011)
- on Job Seekers Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance in the Work Related Activity Group (ESA/WRAG)
- a learner aged 19 and older studying for your first full Level 2 qualification
- an entry or Level 1 aims learner (excluding Skills for Life) entitled to a full Level 2 qualification, in that you must have the highest prior attainment of Level 1 or below, but need a step up from basic skills in order to progress to a full Level 2
- 19 to 24-years-old and studying for your first full Level 3 qualification
- a Level 3 'jumper' aged 19 and older (taking a full Level 3 or above qualification without having attained a full Level 2 qualification)
- a learner studying aims that are Adult Basic Skills and Functional Skills in literacy and numeracy, excluding Skills for Life English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
- studying Trades Union Congress learning
- studying for your first full Level 3 qualification and have left the British Armed Forces after completing four or more years of service or have been medically discharged, due to an injury in active service, after completing basic training (entitled to free tuition for up to ten years after leaving the Armed Forces)
From 2011/12 those in receipt of other benefits are not entitled to claim full fee remission and will be required to make a personal contribution towards the cost of their learning to add to the state contribution. Learners who began a qualification in 2010/11 will continue to be eligible to fee remission for continuing programmes only.
Published fees
Published full fees assume that there is no eligibility for fee remission as described above and that the learner is entitled to a partly subsidised course. If you think you may be eligible for further help with fees, please contact your
nearest ACL centre.
2011/12 Fee concessions
To qualify for the benefit rate you must be in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance (income based) or Employment and Support Allowance.
Learner support funds
ACL Essex is committed to supporting learners wherever possible and has a small Learner Support Fund to help those on low incomes with the costs of exams, childcare and some materials and equipment needed to complete examination courses.
Fee payments
If you are eligible for free tuition fees as a result of meeting the criteria listed above, your booking will be made on receipt of the relevant proof of entitlement documents at an ACL Essex main centre.
Fees can be paid in full by cheque, credit/debit card and cash. Some courses are able to be booked and paid for via the internet and will require full payment at the point of booking.
Direct Debit payments are available to help manage the cost of learning and in exceptional circumstances individual payment plans can be arranged. Please note that no further course bookings can be taken until all outstanding payments have been made.