Financial Support and Assistance 2010/2011

Students in the following categories will not pay tuition or exam fees if*

• Those aged 16 - 18 (under 19 on 31 st August 2011)
• Those over 19 on 31 st August 2011 and in receipt of JSA or ESA (in the work activity group)
• Those looking to study their first full level 2 qualification
• Those 19 - 25 years old and looking to study their first full level 3 qualification

*some courses may still require payment of a tuition or exam fee.

Education Maintenance Allowance

The decision to end EMA was announced as part of the Government spending review on 20 October 2010.

Students who have any questions about the closure of EMA they can contact the Learner Support help line on 0800 121 8989 or visit the DirectGov website.

How will this affect students?

New applicants:
Students applying for a place starting College in September 2011 will no longer be entitled to EMA.

Current students:
Students already receiving EMA will continue to receive payments for the rest of this academic year 2010/11 subject to fulfilling the terms of their EMA agreement. No further EMA payment will be made after the academic year 2010/2011.

The Government announced that colleges will continue to have a Discretionary Learner Support Fund which will be used to support students as appropriate.

For more information about financial support please contact Student Services:

Tel: 08080 722777 | Email info@rotherham.ac.uk | Call in to speak to a Student Advisor at Town Centre Campus or Rother Valley Campus.

Adult Learning Grant

Students aged 19 or over who are enrolled to a full time course (over 12 hours per week), studying for their first full level 2 or level 3 qualification may be entitled to a weekly allowance of up to £30 during term time subject to joint or single income assessment.

Weekly payments are based on 100% attendance and behaviour. Students must not be in receipt of any other government grants/training allowances, e.g. JSA/Income Support.

For further information and an application pack please contact:

The ALG Learner Support Service: Tel: 0800 121 8989 or visit www.direct.gov.uk

Learner Support Fund

Eligible learners experiencing financial hardship may be entitled to assistance through the Learner Support Fund. 

Assistance may be awarded towards the cost of, materials, equipment and special clothing necessary for the course, travel to and from College, and also support with the cost of childcare for students aged 20+

All applications are assessed on gross household income (up to £20,800 in previous year income 2009/2010). 

Materials, Equipment and Clothing (full and part-time learners)

Assistance with the cost of equipment, materials or protective clothing will be awarded where items are considered necessary by the Curriculum Leader or Subject tutor.  Students need to be aware that they may need to make a contribution towards the total cost. 

N.B.  Learners are required to purchase any equipment before the start of their course.  Any funds allocated will not be paid into learners’ bank accounts until at least the end of the first term.

Childcare Funding

Care to Learn - Childcare for students aged 16 and under 20 years of age

‘Care to Learn’ can help to pay for childcare and related travel costs whilst studying. More information is available in the ‘Care to Learn’ leaflet or students can apply on line by visiting the Care to Learning website

Application forms are also available from Student Services or by calling the ‘Care to Learn’ helpline 0845 600 2809

New Deal for Lone Parents

Students in receipt of Lone Parent Income Support Benefit should first discuss their decision to enrol on a course at college with their Job Centre Plus Advisor.

It is possible that the student mayl be able to register for the New Deal for Lone Parent scheme and receive an additional premium on top of their benefits to help with the costs of such items as travel, childcare and equipment costs.

Learner Support Fund

Students aged 20+ can apply for assistance from the Learner Support Fund if they have a dependent child aged up to 15 years for who care is needed whist they attend College.

For 2010/11 childcare support is limited to one child.

This support is only available where it has been established that no other support is being received and another parent cannot provide this support. Applications to the Learner Support Fund are dealt with on a first come first served’ basis.

Due to limited funding the college cannot guarantee every application is successful..Students requiring help arranging childcare please contact a member of the Student Services Finance Team.

At Rother Valley Campus there is nursery on site with provision for 6 months - 5 year olds.

At Rotherham Town Centre Campus there is an agreed number of subsidised places at Granby Howard Nursery, which is located in the College’s Howard building with provision for 0-5 year olds.

Please print off the application form to complete: Learning Support Fund Application Form 2010-2011.doc

Access to Learning Fund 2010-2011 (ALF)

The HE Access to Learning Fund (HE-ALF) exists to help learners continue and complete their education where they would otherwise be prevented from doing so due to financial barriers. The fund is provided by the Department for innovation, Universities and Skills DIUS.

N.B. Learners who apply to HE-ALF will need to have applied for the full amount of any Statutory Support (such as student loans and HE grants) before the application can be assessed.

Please print off the application form to complete:

Access to Learning Fund Application Form.doc

HE Guidance Notes for the Access to Learning Fund Application.doc

Professional & Career Development Loans

Professional and Career Development Loans are bank loans that can be used to help pay for the costs of studying.

Students can borrow between £300 and £10,000 to help support the cost of up to two years of learning (or three years if it includes one year’s relevant unpaid practical work). The Young People’s Learning Agency will pay the interest on the loan while the student is learning and for one month afterwards.

The loan can be used to pay course fees or other costs such as travel and living expenses. The loan can also be used to supplement other forms of support such as grants or bursaries.

For further information on financial assistance students can visit: www.direct.gov.uk/adultlearning.

Our learning provider registration number is 2433.

For further information and an application pack please contact: The Skills Funding Agency on 0800 585 505