We receive funding from the ESFA for our courses, meaning that our learners only pay a fraction of the full-cost price. The funding guidance for August 2023 to July 2024 asks us to:

• support learners to progress according to their own circumstances
• to encourage and support learners to progress onto new or more stretching provision which will help them into more formal learning or employment.

Additionally, we cannot use funding to enrol learners on courses at a similar level or with similar content as a previously taken funded course.

We are required to follow this guidance to continue to provide a high quality learning offer that makes a positive difference to the lives of residents and businesses of Essex.

We will continue to offer courses that build on an individual’s previous learning and experience. Our newly created pathways will enable individuals to progress through the different levels and then decide whether to take a qualification or carry on with a learning for enjoyment course.

If you have previously completed a non qualification course with us, and wish to continue you will be required to a progress on to a course which allows you to develop new skills and build on existing skills at a higher level. If you are unsure of the next course you should progress on to, please either talk to your tutor who will be able to advise you, or contact us before enrolling.

We will be offering a range of Learning for enjoyment courses in subject areas, such as pottery, art, silversmithing, woodwork, photography, which will provide learning in a relaxed and sociable environment without the need to focus on progression routes, and qualifications. These courses will be available to enrol on later this year, with the intention of launching in January 2024.