Is my NVQ free?? Please help!

Scousebird_2

Hi guys,

I am confused and I will admit this from the outset! I have not been in education for 7 yearsbut I left school with 11 GCSE's (A*-C) and I am now working in Healthcare at my local hospital. I am looking to do my NVQ Level 2 & 3 in Health & Social Care. I am wondering if I have to pay for my course because I am 21 years old and this is my first NVQ qualification at these two levels and the following website for my local college apparently indicates that I don't pay for it.

http://www.wmc.ac.uk/public/studying/fees.asp

Is there anyone who can tell me if I am being thick or whether I am indeed correct. I was going to ring the college but they are closed.

I looked on the learning & skills council website but that didn't help me either. Could anyone give me some guidance? I am not in reciept of any benefits but I have heard that the Gov fund courses for people under 25 going into FE/HE and wondered if I qualified.

LittleVoice

Are you employed by the hospital? If so and the NVQ is relevant, they would surely pay. Have you asked the L&D section?

lauhol1980

5 A-C GCSE'S are equivilant to a Level 2 qualification so in their eyes you would already have a Level 2 qualification so wouldn't get it for free I'm afraid.

Found this out to my disappointment recently, fortunately my employer agreed to fund it for me, maybe yours would?

lauhol1980

2 FEE REMISSION POLICY (APPLIES TO FURTHER EDUCATION (LSC) COURSES ONLY).
The following categories of learner are remitted from some or all of their fees.


2.1. Students on Basic Skills Courses

• Where a qualification is approved by the LSC as counting towards national Skills For Life targets in Literacy and Numeracy, then all fees for that qualification will be remitted. (ESOL is no longer included in Skills for life and remission is only available under the categories stated below)

2.2. Young People.
Learners aged between 16 and 18 on 31/08/2007 (Full and Part Time).
No compulsory tuition, registration or examination fees (except for resits) can be charged to students aged 16-18. However, they are liable to pay costs for materials, uniforms, residentials and visits. (if applicable)


2.3. Students on Benefits.

• Those in receipt of income based benefits, formerly known as means tested benefits, such as Council Tax benefit, Housing benefit. Income Support and Income based Jobseekers allowance.
• Those in receipt of Working Tax Credit (whose household income does not exceed £15,050).
• Those in receipt of Guarantee Pension Credits.
• Unwaged dependents of those listed above. (Defined as partner or spouse living at the same address).

All students remitted tuition fees because of benefits will have registration fees capped at a maximum of £80 in total. However, they are liable to pay costs for materials, uniforms, residentials and visits. (if applicable)


2.4. First Full Level 2 Qualification.

• Learner identified as studying their first full level 2 qualification.

First full level 2 students will receive full remission for tuition, exam and registration fees. However, they are liable to pay costs for materials, uniforms, residentials and visits. (if applicable).
See Appendix 1 for details.


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Fee Policy Appendix 1

First Full Level 2 Equivalents
GCSE / O Level (5 or more at grades A-C) CSE Grade 1 (5 or more) 1 Advanced level 2 / 3 AS levels BEC General Certificate with credit BEC diploma with credit BTEC First diploma GNVQ Intermediate NVQ level 2 Certain other vocational quals may count, seek advice from enrolling staff


**taken from link in OP**

Scousebird_2

Hi,

Thanks for all your quick replies. I contacted Learndirect and they said it would be worth contacting Train to Gain. I went on thw website and it said this.......

Contributions to Level 3 qualifications (equivalent to 2 A-levels)
For employees with a Level 2 qualification, we’ll contribute significantly towards the cost of a Level 3 qualification. For employees who don’t have a Level 2 qualification but have the skills to progress straight to Level 3, we will provide full funding for the Level 3 qualification. For those who already possess a Level 3 qualification or above there is funding available for a number of additional Level 3 qualifications. Just contact your skills broker, college or training provider to find out more. For those employees who are aged 19-25 we provide full funding for a Level 3 qualification.

Sounds good to me. I have sent an email to the skills brokers and hopefully they will call me back and tell me my options. I will be disappointed though if they won't fund my level 2 because I have GCSE's because they are unrelated to my current job to be honest-and because I went to school and didn't bunk off and work hard (as opposed to some of the kids who got paid to come to school and STILL didn't attend), I cannot be funded-slightly harsh I think, but that's the way the cookie crumbles by the looks of it-lets hope they shed some light on this for me.

Thanks very much for your help though-much appreciated xx