ACL DLSF Policy 2025-2026

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Title  ACL DLSF Policy
Responsible Group  ACL Senior Leadership Team
Author  Ceri Fishlock
Intended Audience  All Managers, academic and support staff, volunteers, learners, and other service users.
Status  
Version  1
Last Review and Approval  July 2025
Approved By  ACL Senior Leadership Team
Next Review   July 2026
Original Date of Acceptance  31st July 2024
Changes Made 
Stored Location   Master Copy on ACL Teams/ACL Essex/Line Managers

ACL Website (service users)

ACL Staff Portal (staff)

 

 

Changes Made  Removed References to ESFA
  Updated Annual Guidance years

Our Vision

Giving Essex residents the opportunity to be the best they can be and achieve their goals.

 

Our Mission

To provide a high-quality learning offer that makes a positive difference to the lives of residents and businesses of Essex.

 

Our Values

Inclusion:

Treating each other with respect and kindness and embracing the diversity of our communities.

Respect:

Being kind to each other, acting with integrity and being considerate of each other’s feelings.

Inspiring:

A sense of purpose and responsibility, to create positive change.

Ambitious:

Helping colleagues and learners to realise their potential and overcome barriers to reach their goals.

Sustainable:

Making green choices so that we leave a smaller impact on our environment now, and don’t compromise future generations.

Collaborative:

Pulling together as a team so everyone can learn and succeed.

 

1) Purpose & Strategic Objectives

The Discretionary Learner Support Funding (DLSF) provides financial support to eligible adult learners (19+) where hardship is a barrier to participation, retention and achievement. The policy aims to:

  • Widen participation and progression by removing financial barriers to learning for adults on ESFA/DfE‑funded provision and those with Advanced Learner Loans, within national funding rules.
  • Target limited public funds to need, with transparent, consistent criteria and robust audit evidence.
  • Support local priorities (skills for employment, community inclusion and health/wellbeing via tailored learning) in line with ASF policy intent.

2) Scope

This policy covers the use of:

  • Discretionary Learner Support Funding (DLSF for DfE-funded adult skills provision (levels 1–3 including legal entitlements, Free Courses for Jobs where applicable) and Tailored Learning (non-regulated community learning where a separate bursary line is available), in line with ASF rules.
  • Advanced Learner Loan (ALL) Bursary for learners with approved ALLs on eligible Level 3–6 courses.

Note: This policy should be read alongside the published Financial Support Guidelines 2025/26 issued to learners, which set out practical arrangements and evidence requirements.

3) Governance & Accountability

  • Panel governance: A DLSF Panel (members of SLT and Learner Finance rep) reviews complex cases, exceptions, and childcare claims for 3+ children, and approves caps when budget pressure arises.
  • Assurance: Compliance with ASF/ALL rules, allocations guidance, monitoring and funding assurance requirements. Internal audit sampling each term; readiness for external audit.

4) Eligibility Principles

  • Age & funding status: Learners aged 19+ (as at 31 August 2025) on eligible DfE-funded courses or with an approved Advanced Learner Loan may apply.
  • Residency/immigration: Apply ASF residency rules and specific exemptions (e.g., refugees, humanitarian protection, eligible EEA/Swiss/Irish categories). Providers must ensure visa holders can complete courses before visas expire.
  • Financial hardship test: Assessment is based on household or personal income evidence (e.g., P60, payslips, qualifying benefits) with the local thresholds and evidence standards defined in the learner guidelines. Eligibility does not create entitlement; awards depend on budget and need.
  • Attendance/engagement: Awards are conditional on continued attendance/engagement and adherence to code of conduct; support may be reduced, paused or recovered if conditions are not met.

5) What We Can Fund

5.1 DLSF (ASF-funded learners)

Subject to need and budget, we may fund:

  • Travel to attend timetabled lessons/tutorials/exams based on actual cost incurred.
  • Course‑related costs (books, essential equipment, PPE/tunics, mandatory educational visits). Reimbursements only for pre‑approved purchases; contributions may be capped per item.
  • Digital inclusion (loan of laptops/essential tech on loan basis; return required).
  • Childcare aligned to timetabled hours via Ofsted‑registered providers (caps may apply; term‑time only; no deposits/retainers/holiday periods).
  • Exceptional contribution to tuition fees where justified (e.g., targeted upskilling with household income between local thresholds), case‑by‑case.

5.2 Advanced Learner Loan (ALL) Bursary (Loan-funded learners)

  • No fee support from the bursary; support may cover travel, essential course materials/equipment, childcare and loaned devices following ALL bursary rules.

5.3 Tailored Learning Bursary (Community learning, non‑regulated)

  • Contributions to travel, compulsory books/equipment, and childcare to support participation, in line with ASF tailored learning scope.

6) What We Will Not Fund

  • Childcare during holidays/bank holidays/half terms where no classes or exams are scheduled; deposits/retainers/advance payments; food costs for children
  • Costs unrelated to participation or outside ASF/ALL rules and local priorities (e.g., non-essential kit, non‑course travel).

7) Prioritisation & Targeting

When funds are constrained, priority will be given to:

  1. Lowest income learners and those with qualifying means‑tested benefits.
  2. Learners at risk of withdrawal due to financial hardship, where support demonstrably enables continuation or completion.
  3. Statutory entitlements/ASF priorities (English, maths, digital, first full Level 2/3, Free Courses for Jobs, tailored learning with community outcomes).

8) Application, Evidence & Decision‑Making

  • Apply early: First‑come‑first‑served within budget; incomplete applications are returned.
  • Evidence: As set out in the learner guidelines (P60, recent payslips).
  • Assessment: Trained Learner Finance staff conduct needs‑based assessments; the Panel reviews exceptions and high‑value childcare. Au pairs are treated as family members for household income assessment.
  • Decision notice: Written outcome with conditions, amounts, duration, and review points.

9) Payment & Controls

  • Travel or equipment: Paid via reimbursed support wherever possible (e.g., bus/train tickets, purchase orders, pre‑approved reimbursements).
  • Attendance‑linked payments: These include childcare and travel; pro‑rata reductions for non‑attendance/withdrawal.
  • Device loans: Learners sign loan agreements; devices must be returned on course completion/withdrawal.
  • Income interactions: Learners are advised to notify DWP where required as DLSF payments may affect benefits.

10) Appeals & Complaints

  • Appeals: Learners may appeal DLSF decisions in writing to the Senior Leadership Team within 10 working days, presenting additional evidence if applicable or where requested.
  • Escalation: Unresolved issues follow the ECC’s complaints policy and statutory routes.

11) Budget Management & Performance

  • Allocation control: Awards are managed within the academic year ASF/ALL bursary allocations and performance management frameworks; spend and commitments are profiled by term and reviewed monthly.
  • Controls: No overspend beyond allocation without approved business case; underspends managed per DfE rules. Data quality must support funding assurance and reconciliation.
  • KPIs: Participation uplift among eligible learners; retention/achievement of supported learners vs peers; timeliness of decisions; audit error rate.

12) Monitoring, Audit & Data Quality

  • Records: Keep clear decision rationales, evidence, and payment/audit trails (including device loan logs).
  • ILR/returning rules: Record support accurately (including ALL bursary ALB codes where relevant) and comply with monitoring of post‑16 funding.
  • Funding assurance: Adhere to DfE monitoring and reconciliation requirements; rectify errors promptly.

13) Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI)

  • Decisions are needs‑based, objective and non‑discriminatory. We will make reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities and ensure accessible information and support to apply. (Learning support and exceptional learning support are managed under separate rules where applicable.)

14) Safeguarding & Prevent

  • Financial hardship can be a safeguarding risk factor. Staff triage applications sensitively and signpost to support services where appropriate. Persistent non‑engagement triggers welfare checks in line with safeguarding procedures.

15) Data Protection & Information Security

  • We collect and process personal data only as necessary to assess need and administer funds, retaining evidence for audit for the required period and then securely disposing. We follow DfE data guidance and local data protection policies.

16) Local Operating Rules (2025/26)

(Aligned to ACL’s published learner guidance)

  • Income thresholds & evidence: Use the thresholds and evidence set out in the learner guidelines (e.g., household income bands up to £35,000 and specified benefit evidence), noting that eligibility ≠ entitlement.
  • Childcare: Ofsted‑registered only; paid term‑time only against attendance; caps may apply; EYEE must be used first; 3+ children cases go to Panel
  • Equipment/visits: Pre‑approval required; contributions may be capped; Hair & Beauty tunics reimbursed where pre‑approved.
  • Technology: Loan only (must be returned).
  • Fee support: DLSF may contribute in exceptional cases; ALL bursary cannot be used for tuition fees.

 

17) References

  • Adult Skills Fund (ASF): Funding & Performance Management Rules 2025/26 (DfE/ESFA) – residency, eligible provision, tailored learning, learner support, childcare, devices, evidence, and audit principles. [gov.uk]
  • Advanced Learner Loans: Funding & Performance Management Rules 2025/26 – ALL bursary scope and provider duties. [gov.uk]
  • Allocations Guidance 2025/26 – performance management, reconciliation, and assurance context. [gov.uk]
  • Local Learner Financial Support Guidelines 2025/26 – operational detail issued to learners (this policy aligns and governs).