EMA 2009/10 guide discussion

Numberlock

Hi,

My son has completed his first year of his college course. His father's salary was too high to apply for EMA. However, my husband and I separated September 2009 and he has been made redundant this month and he is going to University this September to study for PGCE qualification in Teacher Training. Hence the family income has seen a dramatic fall.

Am I right in thinking that my son would be eligible for EMA for the new academic year commencing in September 2010? Or would the fact that his father earned £50,000 in 2008 and 2009 go against him?

Thank you for any advice.

sunrise27_2

has anyone heard about the recent changes to e2e courses and ema
up until recently e2e students could claim the full £30 regardless of household income this has now changed and is now means tested but no one seems to know anything about it
I would be really happy if anyone can shed any light on the situation or even if you'd heard anything about it

student_advisor

Numberlock wrote: »

Hi,

My son has completed his first year of his college course. His father's salary was too high to apply for EMA. However, my husband and I separated September 2009 and he has been made redundant this month and he is going to University this September to study for PGCE qualification in Teacher Training. Hence the family income has seen a dramatic fall.

Am I right in thinking that my son would be eligible for EMA for the new academic year commencing in September 2010? Or would the fact that his father earned £50,000 in 2008 and 2009 go against him?

Thank you for any advice.

It's the 2009/10 tax year that they use to assess for the 2010/11 academic year.

student_advisor

sunrise27 wrote: »

has anyone heard about the recent changes to e2e courses and ema
up until recently e2e students could claim the full £30 regardless of household income this has now changed and is now means tested but no one seems to know anything about it
I would be really happy if anyone can shed any light on the situation or even if you'd heard anything about it

this is indeed the case, and was announced quite some time ago

sunrise27_2

student_advisor wrote: »

this is indeed the case, and was announced quite some time ago

then why did my daughters college , funding advisor and connextions not know anything about it
why did the direct gov website still say on the 7th July that e2e learners were entitled to the full amount regardless of household income
why does the online ema submissions form still say the same
not having a go at you just wondering why the information doesn't appear to have been passed on correctly

student_advisor

sunrise27 wrote: »

then why did my daughters college , funding advisor and connextions not know anything about it
why did the direct gov website still say on the 7th July that e2e learners were entitled to the full amount regardless of household income
why does the online ema submissions form still say the same
not having a go at you just wondering why the information doesn't appear to have been passed on correctly

I can't say why there is misinformation at all of these places, only that as a funding advisor at a college, I have known about this for several months and it has been well communicated to our college (and we don't even do e2e).

sunrise27_2

thats interesting , I was aware that the guidance notes came out in March but the college my daughter attends knew nothing about it
when I first contacted the ema helpline nine days after the 28th June when my daughter was told she was no longer entitled to it but the college didn't know why - no one mentioned it then either
all a bit puzzling

MissE1981

student_advisor wrote: »

I can't say why there is misinformation at all of these places, only that as a funding advisor at a college, I have known about this for several months and it has been well communicated to our college (and we don't even do e2e).

I also work with in 'Student Finance' and the E2E issue has been well communicated to us but that is not always the case for all resources, contacts etc.

There have been quite a few changes going on in the EMA background lately, which may have contributed to a lack of external communication regarding E2E etc.

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is no more. 16-18 funding (which is where EMA comes from) is now administered by Learner Support Service under the instruction of the Young Peoples Learning Agency (YPLA) who, in fairness, seem to be having a few teething problems.

The Learner Support Service currently administers a number of government schemes:

EMA
Adult Learning Grant
Care to Learn
Free Childcare for Training and Learning for Work (which has been axed as of last week)
Residential Bursary scheme etc

If the schemes are 16-18 orientated then the funding comes from the YPLA.

Also the new government is also having a knock on effect. Funding guidance publishing dates are well behind schedule. And with working in a college where the majority of my work depends on this guidance is unnerving with September enrolment only weeks away!

If people are having issues with EMA, you can always contact the EMA or Student Services/Funding office at your local college. Most FE colleges are open throughout the summer!

If you have been told that you are ineligible for EMA please contact the relevant college for further advice. There may be funding that you are not aware of (discretionary support funds)!!!

Or feel free to contact me!! I really don't mind

sunrise27_2

pity no one told connextions
http://www.cxdirectchatroom.com:8080/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=454&e=0

sunrise27_2

or the government
http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/popularquestions/questions.cfm?keywords=e2e&gatewayCategoryID=0&mainCategoryID=0&expandID=4284&new=0#4284

this website says the information was correct as at 28th June 2010 the day the rule actually changed