16 – 19 Bursary Fund – Policy for Administration & Distribution Policy document

16-19 Bursary Fund – Policy for Administration and Distribution

Introduction

The school receives a limited allocation which is managed in accordance with guidelines laid down by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) This policy is based on the recommended Local Authority Model Policy with some adaptations made specifically for a Complex Needs School.

To be eligible, students must be aged between 16 and 19.

Pupils who become 16 during their time in year 11 will not be eligible for the 16-19 Bursary until they begin year 12 in school. Pupils must be under 19 on 31 August in the academic year they start their programme of study. Where a student turns 19 during their proramme of study, support will continue until the end of the academic year they turn 19 or the end of the programme of study, whichever is sooner.

The school will use the fund to support the most vulnerable young people to participate in and benefit from post-16 education and training, and will look to raise awareness of the fund wherever possible.

Guaranteed Bursaries to Students in Most Vulnerable Groups

The school will approve applications from young people in care, care leavers, young people in receipt of income support and disabled young people in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) who are also in receipt of Employment Support Allowance (ESA).

Eligible students will receive a bursary of £1200 a year. Payment will be made by cheque in 3 equal instalments at the end of each school term, dependent upon satisfactory attendance and behaviour at school.

Appropriate confirmation of status will be necessary for approval, either:

·  Evidence that the student is in receipt of DLA and ESA, or Income Support, or

·  Written confirmation of current or previous looked-after status from the LA which looks after them or provides leaving care services.

Further details of the evidence required is shown on the application form (Appendix i)

Discretionary Bursaries

Applications for a discretionary bursary will be considered from those pupils who are not eligible for the Guaranteed 16-19 Bursary or EMA, but who fall within the age criteria and meet the required criteria on appendix i.

Eligible students may receive a discretionary bursary of subject to funding available from EFS.. Payment will be made by cheque in 3 equal instalments at the end of each school term, dependent upon satisfactory attendance and behaviour.

The school must receive written confirmation of its bursary allocation before any payments can be made.

General

Up to 5% of the total allocated funding will be retained in the school budget towards administration costs. The school will annually advise a date at the start of the Autumn term by which time all applications should be submitted for assessment.

Although each school has been allocated a proportion of funding, if the applications outweigh this allocation then a business case must be submitted to make up the shortfall. This should be sent directly to the YPLA, but it is currently administered centrally by Sam Derbyshire at Norfolk County Council on behalf of the complex needs schools.

The school will maintain a record of all applications and awards including number, value, whether awarded or not, and brief justification.

Applications received during the school year will be calculated on a pro rata basis. * Similarly, any pupil leaving the school during the year will be awarded a proportion of the bursary calculated to their leaving date.

Any personal documentation sent to the school e.g. letters confirming receipt of benefits, will be photocopied and originals returned to the submitter as soon as possible.

Appeals/Complaints

In the event that a student wishes to appeal against the decision made, they are requested to follow the school’s standard complaints procedure.

Transition Arrangements

The school is unable to provide benefits advice, but parents can be advised to contact their local Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB), the Norfolk County Council Welfare Rights Office or ring the Contact a Family freephone helpline on 0808 808 3555 for information.

The 16-19 Bursary is subject to change in national guidance.

·  Students are required to complete a 30 week course of study to receive the full amount of the bursary. This will apply to applications approved within the first 8 weeks of the school year, as 30 weeks remain to the end of the school year. Applications approved during the course of the year will be allocated a proportion of the bursary depending on the remaining duration of the course, calculated on a pro rata basis.

Evaluation

This policy will be evaluated by the School Support Manager, then approved through the Senior Leadership Team.

Signed……………………………………………………………….Date………………………..

Date of next review Summer 2015

Reviewed Spring 2014 3 School Policy

16-19 Bursary Fund Policy for Administration and Distribution