The Government is urgently reviewing the mechanisms for financial and practical support for students in Further Education, and has already brought forward measures to make the system more equitable.

The Government should undertake a major review of financial support for further education students [LW Ch 6]; and should ensure that principles of fairness and transparency apply to financial support for learners throughout post-16 education [LW Ch 6]

5.1 The Government’s objectives in relation to student support include making sure that those people who have not participated in learning since leaving school are encouraged and helped to return; and that personal or family hardship is not a barrier to taking up learning opportunities. We are examining ways of targeting support on those from low income households and on those faced with exceptional costs associated with study. The current funding arrangements are not well integrated and are unevenly administered; any change, therefore, will aim also to replace these arrangements with a coherent system of support for students of all ages in further education. The principles are set out in chapter 2 of The Learning Age, which sets these in the wider context, including the parallel changes which the Government is proposing in relation to students in Higher Education. 5.2 The Government has already announced proposals to change the current system of discretionary awards provided by LEAs, since it is inequitable and not meeting student needs. The Government has set up an advisory group, under the Chairmanship of Councillor Graham Lane, which will report in March, and will advise Ministers on fairer, more effective arrangements to replace LEA discretionary awards. This will enable the Government to make the most effective use of the resources available and deliver coherence in further education student support. It is hoped that new arrangements can be introduced in 1999/2000.

The Government should increase significantly access funds for the college sector and remove the current restrictions on eligibility until the review is complete [LW Ch 6]

5.3 The Government has already announced a 50% increase in access funds for distribution by FE colleges, from £6 million in 1997/98 to £9 million in 1998/99. These funds will go directly to students in financial difficulties to pay for books, transport or other costs of studying. Questions of eligibility will be taken forward in the light of advice from the Government’s advisory group.

The Government should give priority within the public funding which is available for financial support to students to increase the numbers of people aiming to achieve level 3 [LW Ch 6]

5.4 The Government considers that it is important to support all students in accordance with their financial need, whatever the level of study. The drive to increase the number of young people reaching level 3 will continue. The Government also wants to focus on helping people of all ages strengthen their basic skills of literacy and numeracy, and helping as many young people as possible to become qualified to level 2, in line with Investing in Young People.

The Government should consider fully the implications for widening participation of any detailed proposals for individual learning accounts [LW Ch 6]

5.5 The targeting of a proportion of the first one million publicly funded Individual Learning Accounts to help low-skilled workers, people employed in small firms and others, will be a key mechanism for widening participation.

The Government should evaluate the impact of the Job-Seekers’ Allowance, and recognise the contribution that achieving qualifications can make to individuals seeking, securing and retaining jobs [LW Ch 6]

5.6 The Government has announced that it will review the Job-Seekers’ Allowance (JSA) legislation on education and training in the light of both the recently extended JSA Workskill Pilots and early experience from the New Deal. We will amend the JSA rules so that those over 25, and who have been unemployed for over 2 years, can study full time for up to a year without having to be available for employment in term time.

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