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Education: Financial support to attend school, further education or training

Eligible young people who are in Year 11 can receive Pupil Premium. The best use of this will be discussed and agreed at Personal Education Plan (PEP) meetings. This funding can be used to buy essential equipment and/or study aids. Any Pupil Premium will be paid directly to the education provider or carer.

Young people aged 16-19 who attend a registered education/training provision will be entitled to receive a 16-19 bursary which can be used to pay for transport, purchase essential equipment, educational materials and books.

For any young people not entitled to a 16-19 bursary funding will be assessed and any financial assistance agreed set out within the Pathway Plan. This request will be submitted to the relevant team manager.

Young people who are at school or Further Education College and are required to attend field trips or residential courses will receive a payment to meet these costs in full, from the 16-19 bursary or Further Education College Access Funds.

If this is not an option the Council's responsible manager will assess and any agreed assistance paid directly to the education provider.

Higher Education

Student Finance

All young people applying for Higher Education need to make an application through the student finance system which is designed so that no money is required upfront to start at University.

The finance available is a maintenance loan and a tuition fee loan which have to be repaid once you are earning above a set level. Some courses have grants/bursaries available, and your PA will be able to assist you to look into this.

Loans from Student Finance England for living costs are means-tested; this means that the amount that applicants receive is based upon the family income.

For young people leaving care it is highly likely that they will be classed as independent and so will be eligible for the maximum amount of financial support available through the student finance system.

Appointments with the careers adviser linked into the college or school will advise young people on the completion of the application and provide information about university courses.

The Foster Carer, Social Worker, Personal Adviser or Personal Outreach Adviser will also support young people in making the applications.

Many universities have student support officers assisting care leavers in higher education. Propel website provides lots of useful information for care leavers considering going to higher education.

Additional bursaries and scholarships

In addition to the financial support provided by Student Finance England young people should apply for additional bursaries and scholarships. Most Higher Education Institutions will offer their own financial support.

This may take the form of a bursary or scholarship; or waiving of fees. The Higher Education Institutions will all have their own eligibility criteria and are often only available to a limited number of qualifying students. Each institution will decide how much support they offer and who they offer it to.

Care leavers are often a priority group for universities. Bursaries and scholarship payments do not have to be repaid. Personal Advisers can support young people to look into whether they would be eligible for any additional bursaries and help them apply.

Support from the Council

All young people applying for Higher Education will be subject to a financial assessment by Children’s Social Care which will take account of any benefits, capital owned or savings of the young person.

Young people who receive benefits will be expected to fund their accommodation and living expenses. Disabled and lone parents can claim certain benefits and assistance will be given by the Personal Adviser to access all eligible benefits available.

All young people entering University or higher education equivalent are entitled to receive a £2,000 HE Care Leavers bursary from the Council. This is usually paid in regular instalments although the timings of bursary payments can be agreed between the young person and the Council.

Accommodation and university life

If you attend university, reasonable accommodation costs will be paid year-round. You could choose to remain in your Staying Put placement, access Halls of Residence or a shared house.

If you only want to access term time Halls of Residence, the Council will pay for holiday accommodation with your previous carer, family member, or friend. These arrangements need to be discussed and agreed in advance through the Pathway Plan and Care Leavers Team Manager.

Qualifying young people who can access assistance under Section 24 of the Children Act will be provided with resources to ensure that they have the financial means to attend work, school, college or training.

The expectation will be that Education/ College Access Funds will be the primary source of finance for education purposes, with Children’s Social Care acting to meet any short fall.

The Council will help with finance for essential items of equipment required to successfully complete the course. Each request will be dealt with on its own merit. In the case of education/ training young people will be supported up to the age of 25. This request needs to be agreed with the relevant team manager.

Financial Assistance to young people on a Special Guardianship Order

Young people deemed ‘qualifying’ as a result of being looked after immediately prior to becoming subject to a special guardian order will be provided with advice and assistance to access the means to be able to attend work, school, college, Higher Education or training.

Periodic payments paid to Special Guardians for the maintenance of the young person, under a Special Guardianship Order Support plan, may continue while a young person is in full-time education and training post 18, which should cover the ongoing accommodation and maintenance costs.

However, the payments cease if the young person ceases to have a home with the special guardian, or the young person enters full time employment or claims benefits in their own right or they are 18 years or over and not in full time education or training.

Therefore, the responsible team will assess the needs of individual young people based on what other financial support may be available. Consideration will be given to providing financial support at the same rates as Former Relevant young people, including that provided to Former Relevant young people entering Higher Education.