Post 16 Funding

Funding for Post-16 young people in care

Pupil Premium funding for Post-16 young people in care is paid directly to a college, 6^th form or training provider, if they have requested payment via the targets section of the PEP. The request needs to be directly linked to the further development of the YP's learning.

To find out more, send an email to :

 virtualschoolforsthelens@sthelens.gov.uk

The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund gives financial support to help students stay in education.

The bursary can be used for costs related to education such as:

• travel
• lunch
• equipment
• uniform
• trips

Children in Care and Care Leavers are defined as a vulnerable group and may be eligible for a bursary of up to £1,200 a year. Find out more about the fund.

This funding does not come to us at the Virtual School. Application forms are available from the education provider and will require a letter confirming their care status. Completed applications should be returned to them.

Depending on the young person's situation there may be other funding streams available to them. Search for available grants.

Funding

16 to 19 Bursary Fund

The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund Go to https://www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund/eligibility (opens new window) is money available to young people in care and care leavers aged 16, 17 or 18 at the start of your course.

You must be on a full time course (16 hours or more each week). Different colleges pay the bursary in different ways. You must meet your education provider's attendance requirements to get the payment.

The money can be used to pay for things like:

• clothes, books and other equipment for your course
• transport and lunch on days you study

You should apply for the bursary through your education provider. Your social worker, need to give evidence that you're in the care of the local authority.

The fund is currently up to £1,200 per year.

Apprenticeship funding

If you're doing an apprenticeship you'll get a one-off payment of £1,000. Your training provider pays this to you.

GOV.UK has information about becoming an apprentice Go to https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide (opens new window).

Free meals

Some post 16 students can get free meals. Talk to your college to see if you can get this.

Higher education

You can get support and guidance about going into higher education from:

• your school or college
• your training provider
• Propel - Become
• UCAS
• The HUB at the Beacon, supports care leavers up to the age of 25, including information about courses, open days, funding, accommodation and specific support from universities

If you apply for a course on UCAS, there's a box on the form to say that you've spent time in care. We encourage you to tick that box. It will give you access to the support the college or university you're applying to offers young people who've been in care.