There are lots of free courses, and lots of discounts available. See below for more details.
What courses are free?
What does the course fee include?
Can I get a discount?
What's an income based benefit?
What proof do I need to bring?
What are clubs and self-financing courses?
What is your refunds policy?
What is the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)?
Can I get learner support and support for childcare?
Free courses
You do not have to pay for:
You can also get your course free if you get one of the following:
Council Tax Benefit
Housing Benefit
Income Support
Jobseekers Allowance (income based)
Working Tax Credit (if your household income is less than £15,276).
Or:
if you are not in paid work and you are dependant on someone from one of the categories listed above
if you are an asylum seeker and you are getting the equivalent of an income-based benefit, or someone you are dependant on fits in this category
if you are 16-18 years of age and in full time or part time education
if you are unemployed and getting Jobseekers Allowance.
There is a £5 enrolment deposit per course for non fee paying learners, on non Skills for Life courses, which will be refunded upon the successful completion of your course.
Over 60s can get courses free if you get Guarantee Credit (Pension Credit). Nearly all courses now have a 25% discount for over 60s.
We may be able to help with your course fees if:
Unless you are entitled to a free or discounted course, fees are:
* Special rates apply for HEFC Access to HE Diploma (Higher Education Foundation Course), HEFCs (Higher Education Foundation Course), NVQs (National Vocational Qualification) and the PTLLS (Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector). Please ask for details.
Full level 2 and level 3 entitlements
You may be entitled to your course free if it's a full level 2 qualification and if it is your first full level 2. You may also be entitled to your course free if it is your first full level 3 qualification (19-25 years only). For further details about this entitlement and whether it applies to your course please contact the administration office at the centre of your choice.
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What does the course fee include?
The course fee includes the cost of providing the course including the teaching and the venue. The examination fee (and/or registration fee) with the awarding body, where charged, is clearly shown in the listings. This is payable at the time of enrolment. Non-fee payers do not have to pay the examination fee.
Equipment and materials may not be included in the course fee. Please ask at the centre for details. There may be some financial assistance available to those who do not have to pay for our courses.
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How do I enrol?
As well as calling into our centres in person or contacting them by phone, you can now ring this freephone number (0800 073 0911) and we can book your place and take payment for it.
Do I need to bring identification?
Please bring along a form of ID such as your passport, driving licence, NI card or bank/credit or debit card. Ask your centre for details of what we can accept.
If you can get our over 60s or discounted rate, please bring proof when you sign up for the course. Depending on your reasons for getting the discounted rate, you may need to bring your benefit book etc.
Please also have your date of birth and National Insurance number as well.
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What is your refunds policy?
If you sign up for a course and it is cancelled before classes start or up to week 5 of the course, you will get a full refund.
If a course has been running for more than 5 weeks of study when it is cancelled, you will get some of your fee back.
We may also give partial refunds if you have to stop taking the course for a medical or employment reason. You will need to give us either a doctor's note or a letter from your employer.
If you decide to withdraw from a course before you start, or part way through, we will decide whether you can have a refund. This depends on when you have let us know you don't want to continue and why you don't want to go on.
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What is the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)?
If your course involves working with children or vulnerable adults, you will need to have a police clearance check. Please enrol for your course early so we receive the results of the check before the course starts. Placements cannot start until a satisfactory police clearance has been received by the centre. There will be charge for this.
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Can I get learner support and support for childcare?
We have some money available to help people on low incomes to study. 'Learner Support Funds' (LSF) may be available to help with your course fees, travel costs, childcare, books and equipment, including the ECDL log book.
To qualify you must:
- claim an income based benefit and/or
- have a household income of less than £15,276.
Check with your centre to see if you can get support as there are other conditions too.
To claim assistance with your childcare costs your child or children must be under 15 years of age, and being cared for by a registered childminder or nursery.
If you get financial assistance but decide to leave before the course ends you may have to repay the money.
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Other courses available
We can also offer literacy, numeracy, language and dyslexia support and help for those with disabilities. Please ask for details.
Funding for our courses
All the courses listed in our course listings brochure receive funding from the Learning and Skills Council. This means you pay less for the course. The courses are for people aged over 16 and, in some cases, only for people aged over 18. Please ask your training centre for details and other criteria.
This year we are offering free skills assessments to students on a range of courses. If your course is chosen, you may be asked to take part in a short assessment. This will help us find out if we can give you extra support to reach your goals. For example, we may be able to offer you free courses to refresh your English or maths.
Your can only receive funding to do a course once. If you have already done a course with us and got the qualification, you will not be able to do this course again. However we will try and find a suitable course for you at an appropriate level.
In some cases, if you're not able to get funding for a course through the Learning and Skills Council, you may be allowed to join courses at the centre's discretion. You may have to pay different fees.
All of this information is correct at time of being published, but funding rules change constantly so please check when you enrol.