Guidance for students aged 24 and above who are in receipt
of a 24+ learning loan for courses at level 3 and 4.
24+ Support
Funds Guidance
Notes
Students aged 16 – 18, 19 – 23 and those 24 and over and not in receipt of a 24+ Advanced Learning
Loan should refer to college website for further guidance.
If you have Additional Learning Support (ALS) needs such as Learning
Support Facilitator, an SpLD/Dyslexia Tutor or adjustments under the
Equality Act. Your household Income does not affect your entitlement.
Please tick this box if you will be assessed for ALS
Students should complete this application after they have applied for the 24+Advanced Learning
Loan at Student Finance England. Evidence of the loan agreement will be required, along with a
Customer Reference Number, provided by Student Finance England (SFE). This Bursary form and
all supporting evidence should be submitted to Student Services team as soon as possible.
Incomplete forms or those without evidence will not be assessed.
Please read these notes carefully to check whether you are eligible and to help you with your
application. Funding is awarded at the discretion of the college and eligibility does not guarantee
that an award will be made as funds are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served
basis.
Funds have re-opened with a £30K threshold and will close on 6th March
Eligibility
To be eligible for financial support, students must  Be age 24 years or over on the day you start your course.
 Be in receipt of a 24+ Advanced Learning Loan at level 3 or 4.
 Be enrolled on to a full or part-time courses requiring more than 12 hours a week attendance
in college for more than 6 weeks, which is funded by the Education Funding Agency (EFA).
 Be a national of any European Union country or you must have ‘settled status’ the right of
abode in the UK and you must have been ordinarily resident in the EEA for 3 years preceding
the first day of your course. There are other categories where a non EU national may be
eligible, if unsure if your nationality or residency rules meets the criteria then please ask for
College Registry for clarification.
 Have a household income of less than £21,000 (Net). This will include all income such as State
Benefits, Tax Credits or income from employment. Funds will be re-opened until 6th March
with a revised threshold for household income below £30,000 (net). After the closing date,
bursary funds will be awarded in order of household income. During this time there is no
guarantee that funding will be awarded. Once the funds available have been allocated the
application system will be closed.
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Household income
To assess an application, we must see proof of net household income (after tax/NI) for the current year.
Household income includes the student’s income and their partner or spouse’s income. T h e i n c o m e
o f P arents, or other relatives/carers should not be included.
Photocopies of all documentary evidence relating to the following must be provided:-
Note – do not send originals, as these will not be returned
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Tax Credits - Tax Credit Award Notification for 2014/15 – a copy of all pages
Salary - Photocopies of P60 Tax Year ending April 2014 and the most recent 3 months wage
slips for household income
Benefits - JSA, Income Support/Universal Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit,
Pension Credit.
A copy of the Award Letter from the Benefit Agency – all pages of the letter are needed which
must be current and dated within 2 months of enrolment
If your household income is NIL and you are supported financially by parents or another person (not
spouse/partner) please also complete the relevant income section and provide copies of the three most
recent bank statements from your own account.
Course related costs
Students are required to contribute a minimum of 10% towards essential course related costs.
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Equipment/Kit/Uniform/Tools- Funds can award 90% towards the approved listed cost.
Trips if they are a requirement of the course –Funds can award 50% towards trips, up to £100
max limit.
Books – specialist books for certain courses only.
Assistance is not available towards materials or resources fees.
Travel costs
If students live more than 2 miles away from the College, funds may be available to assist with up to
90% towards travel costs for timetabled college days. Priority is given to those using public transport,
including bus and train, but in exceptional circumstances, awards can be made towards petrol costs.
The maximum award for travel is £1500 for the full academic year.
Childcare
For those students aged 20 and over, funds can pay up to 90% towards childcare costs up to
maximum limits as follows:For those students aged 20 and over, funds can pay up to 90% towards childcare costs, up to
maximum limit of £5000 for the academic year and subject to funds being available.
Students can apply for financial support for childcare after receiving the ‘Joining Letter’ from
Admissions.
Applications should be submitted with essential documentary evidence
 A completed 19+ Learner Support Funds application form with all required documentary
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evidence of household income.
Birth Certificate or Passport or Adoption papers for relevant children
KCC Registered Childcare Providers Certificate with Ofsted Number.
Details of your Course Timetable (Tutor will have a copy of this).
Childcare Provider Fees/charges list
The name, address, email address and contact details of the manager/supervisor at the
childcare provider.
Assessment Childcare Application
On receipt of completed applications, a Student Support Assistant will arrange a meeting where the
application will be assessed and confirmed. The student will be notified in writing via their college
email address. The Childcare Provider will also be notified of the award allocated and the conditions.
Please note – the contract for childcare is between the student and the childcare provider. The college
will not be liable for any outstanding monies, or other issues relating to the contract.
Supplementary information relating to funding for Childcare.
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Childcare costs will be paid for the period from first day of attendance up to last day of
attendance on course, subject to actual attendance. Bank Holidays/college holidays cannot be
funded.
The Student is required to submit a monthly receipt from their Childcare Provider.
If a student’s attendance falls below 90% the monthly childcare funds award will be stopped
until attendance improves.
It is the responsibility of the student to immediately notify both their Childcare Provider and
Student
Support team of any changes in attendance requirement at college.
It is the responsibility of the student to immediately notify Student Support of any changes in
their personal circumstances which might affect their eligibility for funding.
If a student’s timetable changes and this results in changes to childcare costs (up or down), a
funding award cannot be changed without full re-assessment and approval. Students must reapply for extra funding, but due to demand for funds at the start of the year extra funding
may not be available after October.
If a student is overpaid childcare funds, the student will be required to repay the College.
The student is liable and responsible for all Childcare Provider costs incurred; any agreement
or contract is between the student and the childcare provider.
If the student’s children are eligible for 2/3/4yr old Nursery Grant Funding – the grant
amount will be deducted from the Funds Awarded.
Payment of childcare funds – will be paid monthly by BACS into the student’s bank account.
Application Process
Applications will be processed after the students has enrolled on their course and can take up to 4
weeks to process – therefore the first payment may not be made until October. However, it will be
backdated to the start of term subject to satisfactory attendance.
Completed applications and photocopies of required evidence must be handed to a member of Student
Support. Incomplete applications will not be assessed and will delay the allocation of funds.
Successful applicants will be notified via their college email account.
Applications are assessed in priority of receipt and awards made dependent on the availability of
funds. Early applications is advised. Funds will be reopened until 6th March. After the closing date,
bursary funds will be awarded in order of household income. During this time there is no
guarantee that funding will be awarded. Once the funds available have been allocated the
application system will be closed.
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Payment
All payments will be made by BACs direct to the student bank account. Single payment for essential
course related costs will be made at the start of the year and regular payments for travel will be
made monthly at the start of the month.
It is important that bank account details are completed with care to ensure payment into the correct
account. Only in exceptional cases can a payment be made to a person other than the student.
All monthly payments are dependent upon the student maintaining a minimum of 90% attendance.
Awards will be stopped if attendance falls below 90%, until attendance improves. Students should
also adhere to the student code of conduct.
Repayment of Funds and return of equipment:
The college reserves the right to require repayment of funds and the return of any equipment
purchased. This includes the Kent16+ Travel Card if it has been funded by the Bursary Funds.
Complaints and Appeals Procedure:
In the first instance, the student should speak to a member of Student Support at their campus to
request a reassessment of their application. . If the student is still not satisfied with the outcome,
they can follow the complaints procedure as detailed on the college website.
Contact Us
 Email - studentfinance@ashford.ac.uk
 Telephone - 0845 207 8220
(Student Finance - Ashford/ Tonbridge/Tunbridge Wells)
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