This document summarizes key points about extending the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) to learners in Entry to Employment (E2E) and Preparation for Life and Work (PLP) programs:
- EMA payments of up to £30 per week will replace the Minimum Training Allowance for new E2E/PLP starters from April 2006 to create a consistent level of financial support.
- Learners must apply annually and have or open a bank account to receive direct payments after attendance is verified. Transitional arrangements are in place for existing E2E/PLP learners.
- Providers, schools, and Connexions will help raise awareness and support learners through
2. • 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
4. 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
5. • 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?
6. • 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?
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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
14. 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
15. 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
16. 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
17. 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
18. 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
19. Transition
• From 10 April 2006 eligible new starters must apply
for EMA
• Additional allocations to July/December being
made to cover carry over allowances
20. 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
23. 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
24. Support activity
• EMA Extension Update can be downloaded from
http://readingroom.lsc.gov.uk/Lsc/2005/externalrela
tions/newsletters/ema-extension-update-nov-
2005.pdf
• emaextension@lsc.gov.uk
• Briefing key partners and stakeholders
• Marketing and communications
