Have Your Say on a possible replacement for EMA

Former_MSE_Wendy

[title=http://images2.moneysavingexpert.com/images/dp/wtd_underline.gif] What's this all about?
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Simon Hughes MP (Deputy Leader of the Lib Dems) is looking for your views on what a replacement for Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) in England, if any, should look like.

EMA is a grant of up to £30 per week for 16 to 19 year olds whose parents earn £30,810 or less and who stay on at college or sixth form, to help cover the cost of college.

In England, the scheme cost the government £650 million a year so the majority was stopped at the end of last year (although the cash carries on for the rest of this academic year for those already in the scheme and some money is still available in a discretionary fund). It’s still in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Simon, as the Advocate for Access to Education, wants to encourage students to stay in post 16 education so would like views on what a new scheme should look like.

As there isn’t an endless pot of money, ideas slightly outside the box are useful but please do keep them sensible(ish)

[title=http://images2.moneysavingexpert.com/images/dp/wtd_underline.gif] Have your say...
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Let us know what you think and we'll pass on your views to Simon Hughes.

Eg:

• What do you use your EMA for? eg travel costs, book, stationery or lunch costs
• Do you think the government or other organisations should help cover costs?
• Who should be eligible for the grant?

Insert From Martin 9.30 am Wed

Having met Simon Hughes about this - thought I would add in my twopenneth worth. The first thing to say as many have rightly pointed out below in four years time staying at school (or FE/apprenticeships) will be compulsory until age 18 anyway. So much of this is about how not to disenfranchise those who were getting the EMA.

Of course the easy way is to say "don't get rid of it" yet that isn't within his pervue and rightly or wrongly the govt (which technically he isn't a part of) just won't do it. So the real question here is what can be done that would help improve access without that much cash coming from the public coffers (e.g. every college/school should do book clubs/sales where former students give/sell their books to the next year where the same text books apply - thus cutting costs of having new books)



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Lokolo

I used my EMA for spending on luxuries I didn't particularly need, but had the money to spend so I did (oh how very un-MSE of me!). I had 2 partime jobs which paid for car insurance and the car when I did turn 17.

It was pointless for me but I still took it.

skylight

£30pw is too much for some and too little for others.
Perhaps more of a liason with government, local councils and bus services to offer free bus travel for students and also hugely reduced/free stationary books. The money is then spent on those items it was originally intended for rather than phone credit and chips. If the money is spent wisely, then everyone who's parents claim child benefit (so not those on higher tax rate) would be able to claim travel and stationary. The important needs are to get the kids to college (actually, not emtionally), especially as we already continue to get child benefit and tax credits for them (so clothes and food etc are covered as they would be if the teens were at school).

My DD uses hers for college equipment first (CRB check and stationary; the CRB check should be free really anyway), travel secondly, PAYG credit thirdly and junk food with whats left over. I have been encouraging her to save some each week ready to cover travel costs etc in September when the EMA end.

Also, some help in finding part-time jobs for those that want them. Saturday jobs have all but disappeared now companies work 7 days a week and ensure the full-timers are rostered on a 7-day shift pattern. Teens at college are not priority for most employers as they are not fully flexible.

The_One_Who

I thought the school leaving age was going to be eighteen? If so, there should be no need for EMA.

Anyway, ideally it should be in the form of vouchers for stationary or bus passes, otherwise people just spend it on things that have nothing to do with being able to stay in school. I'll admit that being Scottish I have no idea of the conditions in English colleges, or what is needed. Here the school provided the books and such like provided for us. All we had to do was bring paper and pens.

I got it, many years ago, and saved it. I know a lot of people who spend it on clothes, DVDs, driving lessons, etc.

Lokolo

skylight wrote: »

Also, some help in finding part-time jobs for those that want them. Saturday jobs have all but disappeared now companies work 7 days a week and ensure the full-timers are rostered on a 7-day shift pattern. Teens at college are not priority for most employers as they are not fully flexible.

I believe football and rugby matches take place on Saturdays and Sundays, with some on Tuesday evenings. I did this from 15.

When I was 16/17 I then worked in Dominos on Friday/Sat evenings (peak time) plus a weekday evening.

As my mother says, where theres a will theres a way

TheOneWho wrote:

I thought the school leaving age was going to be eighteen? If so, there should be no need for EMA.

Yeh I believe it's already started, but for school starters from last year, so it's still another 10-15 years before it's actually fully in effect.

maginot

EMA should have never been brought in to begin with. All that happened was lower income groups became used to a system of benefits before they even started working.

It is often the case that EMA students would be able to go out regularly with their £120-£150 a month and treated education as less of a benefit itself that could provide better prospects.

There should be free public transport for ALL students that are in full time education, as this is the only cost that would hinder staying on. (Stationary costs pennies and for students who really can't afford this their school or college would likely have a fund to provide for this and parents should really being paying to feed their children - they still get child benefit if in full time education)

Taiko

There should be no replacement, given that EMA was an incentive to stay in education past 16. Soon, you'll have to do this.

Oldernotwiser

One wonders whether Simon Hughes knows what he's talking about if he wants a scheme to encourage students to remain in education, when it will be compulsory to do so anyway in a couple of years.

As long as free transport is available until the age of 18, I can't see that anything else is necessary.

The_One_Who

One caveat to the free (or at least cheap) transport is that it should only be available during the school hours and school terms.

bluetimone97

Our 18 year old son has used his towards the course trips cost (£200 a year compulsary), books, bus fare, printing credits etc, it does not cover all his costs and he has a part time job as well.
Our 16 year old son has £700 a year bus costs (and that is supposed to be subsidised) and trip costs on top, his EMA does not cover the full costs either and he has been unable to find part time work despite applying constantly, he leaves home for college at 6.30 in the morning and does not get home until 6 in the evening, most employers will not even interview him.

I wish we could help but our budget is extremely tight anyway and I cover the shortfall with our 16 year old.

I can't see how people use it to go out unless their parents subsidise more, in which case surely they can afford to, I know we cannot. Also some courses have alot of extra costs involved and I guess some do not, so maybe a fairer way is to help fund the bus pass, costs of trips, sports tracksuits (both my boys play for the college yet had to fund their own tracksuits) etc.

Indie_Kid

bluetimone97 wrote: »

printing credits etc

Can't he print stuff out at home? I think there's a free pass you can get, which means you pay child fares.