Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) Article Discussion

Wiggynut

what about mature students?
I left school at 15 and would love to study... I train people up in work but I get paid 5,000 less than others. I've changed jobs now but I can never earn more yet I have lots of skills and experience! I would need to study part-time and I only earn 15,000 at the moment! any ideas or has any one been in a similar situation?

joapet

The worst thing about EMA is that it encourage steh bad students to coem to school who dont give a sh!te about learning, they just want the money so they can buy their pot or whatever! Really annoys me!

12helensp

I just want to know if taking a week of school will affect my EMA bonus??

My college finishes on the Wed 11th July,

I'm going on holiday on Sunday 8th July but I'm leaving school maybe 5th/6th July because I need time to pack and get to London Heathrow.

That means I will miss about 3/4 days of college.

I will tell college in writing so I guess I wont get my £30 payment for that week??

Would this affect my bonus because I'm missing a weekly payment but I will tell them by that is (hols).

Has anyone had similiar experiences??

robrymond

Well I just missed a week last week of college, didn't write or anything and I got paid today. Which I was extremely surprised at, because only once before I missed one day and never got paid for the week due to illness.

I did miss a day this week due to my holiday, so whether a repeat of the payment will happen next week remains to be seen, but I still find it odd I was marked present in all my lessons all week. You may get lucky...

wreckedpete

Hi. The EMA is for 16-18 year olds, but my 15 year old son is on 'fast track' son and starting 6th form now. He is 16 in only a weeks time, on 14 September. But it seems that he fails to qualify for the EMA becuase he is outside the age range by 2 weeks. Can someone please confirm this as this will have a serious financial impact on us.

Gemmzie

12helensp wrote: »

I just want to know if taking a week of school will affect my EMA bonus??

My college finishes on the Wed 11th July,

I'm going on holiday on Sunday 8th July but I'm leaving school maybe 5th/6th July because I need time to pack and get to London Heathrow.

That means I will miss about 3/4 days of college.

I will tell college in writing so I guess I wont get my £30 payment for that week??

Would this affect my bonus because I'm missing a weekly payment but I will tell them by that is (hols).

Has anyone had similiar experiences??

It's up to your college, they'll base it on the time of year and your general record of attendance through the rest of the year.

Gemmzie

wreckedpete wrote: »

Hi. The EMA is for 16-18 year olds, but my 15 year old son is on 'fast track' son and starting 6th form now. He is 16 in only a weeks time, on 14 September. But it seems that he fails to qualify for the EMA becuase he is outside the age range by 2 weeks. Can someone please confirm this as this will have a serious financial impact on us.

I'm not really sure about this, as he wasn't 16 on September 1st I don't think there's any financial help available as this is the cut off date nationwide.

I'd suggest talking to the school as he may get access to the ELF.

I'm not sure why this would have a serious financial impact on you though.

student_advisor

The EMA guidelines for providers (i.e. colleges & schools) say that it is only available for learners in post-compulsory education. "It is not available to learners yet to reach compulsory school leaving age, even if they are a year ahead in terms of academic progress."

So your son would not be eligible this academic year. Your Council or 6th fom may have an 14-16 worker for those students who do fast-track who may be able to put you in touch with alternative funding, but I am not aware of anything myself.

Edinburghlass_2

wreckedpete wrote: »

Hi. The EMA is for 16-18 year olds, but my 15 year old son is on 'fast track' son and starting 6th form now. He is 16 in only a weeks time, on 14 September. But it seems that he fails to qualify for the EMA becuase he is outside the age range by 2 weeks. Can someone please confirm this as this will have a serious financial impact on us.

From the forms and leaflets I have read he would be able to claim from January, however this is for Scotland it may be different in England and Wales.

shikari

The thing about EMA is that im starting on monday and im gonna get the £30 a week, and this has made me more laid back on looking for a job, which would get me £40 a week roughly because it is like already having one, but i do nothing!