EMA to go?

Jordii

Good news for us living north of the border!
The Scottish Government are keeping EMA, it has been published today in their budget cuts.


It is critical to keep young people aged 16-19 engaged in learning. In other parts of the UK, the Education Maintenance Allowance scheme - the flagship programme for supporting this group of young people - is being removed whereas we will continue this scheme. This funding honours our commitment to support the least well off students in Scotland, and open up opportunities to poorer families.

Further reading at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publicati...11/17091127/10

gizmo111

Jordii wrote: »

Good news for us living north of the border!
The Scottish Government are keeping EMA, it has been published today in their budget cuts.


It is critical to keep young people aged 16-19 engaged in learning. In other parts of the UK, the Education Maintenance Allowance scheme - the flagship programme for supporting this group of young people - is being removed whereas we will continue this scheme. This funding honours our commitment to support the least well off students in Scotland, and open up opportunities to poorer families.

Further reading at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publicati...11/17091127/10

Great news for you all up there -
Hope that not this doesn't bar education down here for too many.

MEMBER02

Another goverment cut aimed at the poorest in society

Taiko

Another cut of something that isn't needed as the leaving age for education/training is being raised to 18 is what I think you meant to say.

blueeyez_2

EMA will close to new applicants in England from January 2011.

Learner support funds will be available through schools, colleges and training providers to help students who most need it to continue in learning. If you currently get EMA you will continue to receive it for the rest of this academic year, but you will not receive it next academic year.

above was taken from
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/14To19/MoneyToLearn/EMA/index.htm

the man from ema said to look at

he also said that the colleges them selfs would be doing the applicants but its still unknown how much each college will get and if it would be payed like ema weeky or in a lump sum.

i did ask as being assessed on a household income of £13,000 oh not forgetting the £53 would my son qualifies he said he didint no and wont untill comes in and that's for the college he goes too.

at present the max household income to get any sort ema is £30,810 = £10 aweek not sure if this is going to be lowered on the new scheme.

Indie_Kid

Taiko wrote: »

Another cut of something that isn't needed as the leaving age for education/training is being raised to 18 is what I think you meant to say.

Why won't it be needed?

Those of you moaning about how EMA is unfair - trying being a family of 5 and living on an income of £19k per year and see how you get on. We did and that was hard - no treats, parents couldn't afford pocket money, etc.

Taiko

sh1305 wrote: »

Why won't it be needed?

Those of you moaning about how EMA is unfair - trying being a family of 5 and living on an income of £19k per year and see how you get on. We did and that was hard - no treats, parents couldn't afford pocket money, etc.

EMA was an incentive for 16-18 year olds to remain in education. In making education/training compulsory until the age of 18, there is no longer any need for the incentive. It's therefore not needed.

student_advisor

blueeyez wrote: »

he also said that the colleges them selfs would be doing the applicants

this is the information we have at the moment

blueeyez wrote: »

but its still unknown how much each college will get

the indication is our discretionary learner support funds will be tripled (this is equivalent to one fifth of the EMA budget)

blueeyez wrote: »

and if it would be payed like ema weeky or in a lump sum.

my college has already decided that we will not be making weekly payments as it's too much admin, we are likely to continue with our system of paying against educational cost, though we are waiting for the national guidance on how we are allowed to do this (for example, we may not be allowed to fund travel costs)

blueeyez wrote: »

i did ask as being assessed on a household income of £13,000 oh not forgetting the £53 would my son qualifies he said he didint no and wont untill comes in and that's for the college he goes too.

each college will set their own income threshold and assessment criteria, based on their budget, the rules etc

blueeyez wrote: »

at present the max household income to get any sort ema is £30,810 = £10 aweek not sure if this is going to be lowered on the new scheme.

we anticipate the absolute highest household income threshold we will use will be £20k, however, we are planning to take into account other household members (e.g. siblings), we may find that our household income threshold ends up be lower, but i doubt it will be higher

our college intends to start a consultation process with our students and relevant professionals to ensure we dish out our funds to help those that need them most

Alison_B

Blooming typical. We couldn't get EMA this year even though my DH lost his job in February due to his earnings the previous year. We were hoping that our son got the EMA in April but looks like we can't claim now as they are closing it to new applications in 2011. Find it so unfair that this is just England that is affected.

Why do we get penalised for everything just because we live in England? Scotland, Wales and Ireland get help with tuition fees or they don't pay any, they get free prescriptions etc.

blueeyez_2

Alison_B wrote: »

Blooming typical. We couldn't get EMA this year even though my DH lost his job in February due to his earnings the previous year. We were hoping that our son got the EMA in April but looks like we can't claim now as they are closing it to new applications in 2011. Find it so unfair that this is just England that is affected.

Why do we get penalised for everything just because we live in England? Scotland, Wales and Ireland get help with tuition fees or they don't pay any, they get free prescriptions etc.

i know its dishearting about the ema,but there still going to be help out there for the kids depending on your family income off course (not known at present max income aloud to get new money) next year your son still might get money to help him along just has to apile to the college he's going too i have 2 children to do this for.

we moved from wales 4yrs ago when i friend came to visit while here he needed a prescription he was shocked we paid for our prescriptions and they dont.