Introduction
Charges for courses delivered directly by Learn Devon will be based upon the nature of the course provided. Individuals who enrol on a course will be expected to pay at the advertised rate with the exception of those courses where the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) allows for a concession to be offered.
Course/Programme delivery
There are two types of delivery that govern the fees policy:
Qualification
Delivery in this category Results in the award of an externally validated certificate for the learner. It also includes non-regulated learning activity which has similar quality assurance requirements and costs.
Non-qualification delivering
Delivery in this category does not lead to a externally validated certificate for the learner. A Learn Devon certificate may be awarded on completion and subject to meeting the laid-down objectives and criteria for the course
Course Fee conditions
The total course fee (the amount the learner will have to pay) is calculated from the following conditions.
1. Learner eligibility for funds – if the learner is not eligible then a fee will be charged for entry onto the course. This will be charged at the full fee rate as described in this policy. The exception to this is for learners studying ESOL qualifications (see ESOL).
2. Programme management – for qualification programmes (non-English and maths) to support the costs of qualification verification, materials.
3. Tuition fee including assessment activity where required.
4. Examination fee (this is the fee charged by the awarding body to include registration/certification costs plus 10%) where applicable.
5. Materials fee levied for courses where materials used are a compulsory requirement of the course. Where a learner takes away products of their learning a charge will be made according to the actual costs of the materials which will be clearly defined to the learner on enrolment.
6. Concession (this is the fee adjustment made to address equality / access for priority learners.
Unemployed learners
| Unemployed learners | Non-qualification delivery |
| ESA claimants, JSA including higher skilled and/or older people. | |
| Delivery includes employability skills, Digital skills universal job-match. | |
| Course viability | 6 |
| Tuition fees per learner per hour | £0 |
| Material costs per learner | £0 |
Families
| Families | Non-qualification delivery |
| Families of under 8-year old’s, children starting school, transition to secondary, adults with low skills, qualifications, returning to work. | |
| Return to first principles of FL – targeted delivery in schools, children centres. Programmes include arts, crafts, with progression routes. | |
| Course Viability | 6 |
| Tuition fees per learner per hours | £0 |
| Material costs per learner | £0 |
Low skilled workforce
| Low skilled workforce | Non-qualification delivery |
| Those without GCSE grade A to C qualifications or level two qualification in NVQs or other vocational qualifications and are in work. | |
| As agreed by Project Application | |
| Course Viability | 6 |
| Tuition fees per learner per hours | £3.00 |
| Material costs per learner | £0 |
Arts, crafts and languages
| Arts, crafts and languages | Non-qualification delivery |
| Open provision available to all. Tuition fees include contribution to overheads. | |
| Concessions available only to priority learners complying with section 4 of Terms and Conditions | |
| Ineligible learners will be charged full fees complying with section 1 of course fee conditions | |
| Course Viability | 6 |
| Tuition fees per learner per hour | £6.00 |
| Concession tuition fees per learner per hour | £3.00 |
| Tuition fees for ineligible leaners per learner per hour | £12.00 |
| Material costs per learner (excluding languages) | £3.00 |
ALDD / Learning Disabilities
Non-qualification delivery, for leisure - arts, crafts and languages
| ALDD / Learning Disabilities | Non-qualification delivery, for leisure – arts, crafts and languages |
| Targeted provision for ALDD learners. | |
| Leisure and pleasure programme include arts, crafts, progression routes | |
| Course viability | 6 |
| Tuition fees per learner per hour | £3.00 |
| Material costs per learner | £0 |
Non-qualification delivery – employability
| ALDD / Learning Disabilities | Non-qualification delivery – employability |
| Targeted provision for ALDD learners. | |
| Improvement in employability skills | |
| Course viability | 6 |
| Tuition fees per learner | £0 |
| Material costs per learner | £0 |
Bespoke courses for organisations
| Bespoke courses for organisations | Targeted delivery |
| ALDD, low skilled workforce, priority learner groups | |
| Bespoke courses including Leisure and pleasure programme (arts, crafts, progression routes) and non-qualification programme for low skilled workforce. Max 12 learners. | |
| Course viability | NA |
| Tuition fees per course per hour | £24.00 |
| Material costs per learner | £0 |
English and maths
pre-GCSE provision
| English and maths | pre-GCSE provision |
| Targeted provision | |
| Note ESFA Funding Guidance and Definitions | |
| Course viability | 6 |
| Tuition fees per learner per hour | £0 |
| Material costs per learner | £0 |
| Examination Fees | £0 |
Examination / assessment
| English and maths | Examination / assessment |
| Learners are expected to attend examinations and assessments as agreed as part of their programme. *Failure to attend may result in a charge to cover the costs. Note: application to hardship fund may be made available | |
| Situation | Charge |
| Changes of tier made within the time allowed by the awarding bodies | £0 |
| Withdrawals made within the time allowed by the awarding bodies | £0 |
| Failure to sit and exam / formal assessment without notice or without medical evidence. | £ Awarding Body charge plus 10% |
| Re-sit Fees (for learners who have previously undertaken the qualification with Learn Devon) | £ Awarding Body charge plus 10% £cost of Invigilator £cost of room hire |
Qualification delivery
| English and maths | Qualification delivery |
| Targeted provision | |
| Note ESFA Funding Guidance and Definitions. | |
| Course viability | 6 |
| Tuition fees per learner per hour | £0 |
| Material costs per learner | £0 |
| Examination Fees | £0 – *note failure to attend |
ESOL Qualifications
| ESOL Qualifications | |
| Targeted provision Note ESFA Funding guidance and definitions | ESOL learners who do not meet eligibility requirements due to residency will be charged at the same rate as eligible learners – the contribution for funding is met through Economy and Skills funding |
| Course Viability | 6 |
| Tuition Fees | £3 per hour |
| Examination fees | Awarding body costs plus 10% |
| Programme management | £10 per learner |
Digital
Qualification delivery
| Digital | Qualification delivery |
| Any programme aimed at improving digital skills | |
| Course Viability | 6 |
| Tuition Fees | £0 |
| Exam Fees | £0 |
Non-qualification delivery
| Digital | Non-qualification delivery |
| Any programme aimed at improving digital skills | |
| Course Viability | 6 |
| Tuition Fees | £0 per hour |
All apprenticeship / traineeship courses
| All apprenticeship / traineeship courses | |
| All apprenticeship / traineeship course offered through this route must satisfy the ESFA funding rules 2017-2018 requirements | |
| ESFA Co-Funded Learners | ESFA Fully-Funded Learners |
| To be agreed | To be agreed |
Single Qualificaiton - ESFA Funding Guidance
Vocational and general qualifications
| Vocational and general qualifications | English and maths |
| 16 to 23 core offer* – Tech Levels, Applied general, A levels, AS levels, Access to HE, Technical Certificates, GCSEs. | English and maths core offer – GCSE English and maths, functional skills in English and maths. |
| In addition – a limited number of other technical or professional qualifications from the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF). | In addition – a limited number of other ‘stepping stone’ English and maths qualifications from the RQF. |
Provision
| Provision | Aged 19-23 | Aged 24+ unemployed | Aged 24+ other |
| English and maths (as part of legal entitlement) | Fully Funded | Fully Funded
| Fully Funded
|
| Level 2 – First full level 2 as part of legal entitlement | Fully Funded | Fully Funded | Co-funded + |
| Learning to progress to level 2 | Fully Funded (up to and inc level 1) | Fully Funded | Co-Funded + |
| Level 3 | Fully Funded (first full level 3 only) | Loan Funded | Loan Funded |
| Loan-Funded | |||
| Traineeship | Fully Funded | NA | NA |
| ESOL up to and inc level 2 | Co-funded + | Fully Funded | Co-funded + |
| Fully Funded – Unemployed | |||
| Learning aims up to and inc level 2 where learner already has level 2 | Co-funded + | Fully Funded | Co-Funded + |
| Fully Funded – unemployed |
All Single Qualification - (non-Apprenticeship/Traineeship) courses - ESFA
For funding purposes, a learner is defined as Unemployed if one or more apply:
- They receive Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), including those receiving National Insurance credits only OR
- They receive Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) OR
- They receive Universal Credit, and their earned income from employment (disregarding benefits) is less than £338 a month (learner is sole adult in their benefit claim) or £541 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner) OR
- are released on temporary licence, studying outside a prison environment, and not funded by the Ministry of Justice
Providers may also use their discretion to fully fund other learners if both of the following apply. The learner:
1) 152.1. receives other state benefits (not listed in paragraph 151) and their earned income (disregarding benefits) is less than £338 a month (learner is sole adult in their benefit claim) or £541 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner), and
2) 152.2. wants to be employed, or progress into more sustainable employment, and their earned income (disregarding benefits) is less than £338 a month (learner is sole adult in their benefit claim) or £541 a month (learner has a joint benefit claim with their partner), and you are satisfied identified learning is directly relevant to their employment prospects and the local labour market needs.
+ Learners in receipt of a low wage
We are able to fully fund learners who are employed, or self-employed, and would normally be co-funded for provision, up to and including level 2. The learner must be:
- eligible for co-funding, and
- earns less than £16,009.50 annual gross salary
Evidence of gross annual wages must be provided. This could be a wage slip or a Universal Credit statement within 3 months of the learning start date, or a current employment contract which states gross monthly / annual wages. Please note this is not an exhaustive list, other forms of proof may be accepted at the discretion of Learn Devon.
English and maths for those aged 19 or older
We will fully fund individuals aged 19 or older, who have not previously attained a GCSE grades A* to C in English and maths, as part of their legal entitlement on the day they start the following qualifications:
- Individuals who have already achieved grades A* to C (grade 4 or above) will not be able to access English and Maths provision
E13.1. GCSE English language or maths.
E13.2. Functional Skills English or maths from entry to L2.
E13.3. Stepping-stone qualifications (including components, where applicable) in English or maths approved by the Department for Education or SFA. These can be found on GOV.UK. If a learner wants to ‘retake’ their GCSE English and maths because they did not achieve a grade 4 or above (C or above), we will not fund the learner to only re-sit the exam. Under the new GCSEs a ‘good pass’ will be a grade 5. However, for the next two years we will use grade 4 and will introduce grade 5 as a condition of the entitlement nearer the time.
Partnership Payment
All delivery agreed through formal sub-contracting processes.
Single Qualification Courses – Partner received 80% of Learning Aim Value as listed on ESFA Hub
Community Learning – Project Delivery – Delivery payment agreed according to outcomes and nature of project – sign-off required by senior manager from Learn Devon.
Learn Devon Premises Rental (All Sessional rental)
The following acts as a guide – Area Managers may use their discretion to tailor charges according to the demand in their local area. Any reductions in pricing must apply across the offer not on an individual customer basis (other than to sub-contractors).
General classrooms and meeting rooms
| Non-profit making organisation | £9.00 per hour £54.00 per day |
| Commercial / profit making organisation | £15.00 per hour £90.00 per day |
School Halls and Art Rooms
| Non-profit making organisation | £15.00 per hour £90.00 per day |
| Commercial / profit making organisation | £25.00 per hour £150.00 per day |
Out of hours fees – an additional levy to cover caretaking costs
| Saturday | £15 per visit |
| Sunday | £19 per visit |
Cancellation Fees
| 20+ working days | 100% refund |
| 16-19 working days | 75% refund |
| 11-15 working days | 50% refund |
| 5-10 working days | 25% refund |
| 4 or less working days | Full charge |
Terms and conditions
Learner Fees
1.Where a fee is payable by the learner, the means by which they payment is to be made must be agreed prior to attendance on the course. Failure to meet this will mean exclusion from the course/cancellation of the booking.
2.Acceptable payment terms are:
2.1. In full cash, cheque, credit or debit card at a Learn Devon Centre, by credit or debit card through My Devon or online.
2.2. Payment of 10% of total course costs as a non-refundable deposit at the time of booking. Full payment will be requested prior to the start of the course. This is available for courses where the total costs of the course exceed £50.
2.3. Pay by instalments via a standing order, this can be arranged by any Learn Devon Centre or My Devon. The initial payment should be made in enrolment followed by 3 monthly instalments – this applies for courses over £100.
Note: When payment by instalments is agreed, the learner is agreeing to full payment for the course and will be liable for full charges subject to the booking being made.
2.4. Payment by invoice to the learner’s employer where the evidence of employer agreement is confirmed within 7 working days of the booking being made.
3.Where a concession is being claimed that requires evidence, this must be submitted to the Centre within 7 working days of the booking being made. Failure to provide acceptable evidence will mean payment of full course fees being required or removal from the course/cancellation of booking.
4.Where a concession is being claimed for the following, approval is subject to an entry and exit interview with a Learn Devon member of staff:
4.1. Stage 1 – both of the following must apply:
4.1.1. Is the learner at least 19 years of age on 31st August 2019
4.1.2. Is the total household income less than £16,009.50 per year or living in a supported living environment?
4.2. Stage 2 – one of the following must apply:
4.2.1. Is the learner a full-time carer for a dependent adult or child with disabilities?
4.2.2. Does the learner have a physical disability which has a significant and long term negative effect on the learner’s general well-being?
4.2.3. Does the learner have a learning difficulty which has a significant and long term negative effect on the learner’s general well-being?
4.2.4. Does the learner have a mental or emotional health condition which has a significant and long term negative effect on the learner’s general well-being?
4.2.5. Is the learner a non-EU resident / not eligible for ESFA funding undertaking an ESOL qualification?
5. Where a learner has had a course cancelled by Learn Devon during the 2019-2020 academic year, they will receive a 5% discount on any course commenced in the 2019-2020 academic year.
6. Where a learner joins a course after the start date, a pro-rata discount may be applied. Entry after the start date is at the discretion of the Area Co-ordinator responsible for the course and is subject to the agreed learning aims being met and the impact on the existing group of learners. No discount is applicable for sessions missed after the learner has started.
7.Where a learner refuses to settle outstanding fees Learn Devon may:
7.1. Seek legal recourse to the settlement of the fees, where the costs of such recourse are added to the learner fees.
7.2. Refuse entry to examinations.
7.3. Refuse entry to further courses supplied by Learn Devon.
Refunds
1. Where Learn Devon cancels a course prior to the start date, a refund of all fees will be paid to the learner.
2. For non-qualification courses, where Learn Devon cancels a course after the start date, a pro-rata refund of all fees will be paid to the learner.
For qualification courses, where Learn Devon cancels a course after the start date, a full refund including any examination fees will be paid to the learner.
3. Where the learner cancels their enrolment prior to the start of the course, they will receive a full refund.
4. Where the learner cancels their enrolment once a course has started they will receive no refund.
Special Conditions
Illness: Where a learner is unable to attend on medical grounds and produces a doctor’s certificate, a pro-rata refund will be made according to the time spent on the course. No refund for examinations where entered.
Transfers: Where a learner is on a course at an inappropriate level and wishes to transfer, prior to the second session, they can do so. The learner would be expected to receive or make payment to cover any differences in costs of the courses.