Adult Learning - Enrolling & Fees

ADULT LEARNING PROGRAMME - SPRING 2008



	Enrolling & fees


	Enrolling, fees and conditions

OFFICE OPENING HOURS Ponteland Community High School, Adult Learning Service The adult learning office in school is open 10.00 am – 8.00 pm Monday to Thursday Tel: 01661 820431 Prudhoe Community High School, Adult Learning Service The Open Door Community Learning Centre is open 9.00 am-5.00 pm Monday to Thursday and 9.00 am-4.30 pm Friday. Tel: 01661 836215 INFORMATION, ADVICE AND GUIDANCE We will give you professional information and advice about our courses, entry requirements and progression routes. Please contact the Adult Learning Manager at the centre, if you require confidential individual advice. You may be unsure that the course you are thinking of enrolling on, is the right one for you. Please contact us at any time before enrolling and we will be happy to answer any questions you may have. We may also arrange for you to talk directly to the course tutor so that you can be sure we have answered your query. ENROLLING ON YOUR COURSE Enrolling: You must enrol and pay for classes before they start. Only classes with sufficient enrolments will commence. We will only contact you if a class is full or has not attracted sufficient enrolments. If you have not heard from us you should turn up to the first class as detailed in the brochure. Those enrolling by post are requested to follow their enrolment up with a telephone call to ensure we have received it. You should note that some courses have minimum entry or age requirements; therefore you may not be guaranteed a place. If this is the case, we will contact you to discuss the course requirements. You can enrol by post, telephone or in person. The enrolment form is in the middle of the brochure. If you have not lived in the UK or EU for the last three years then please contact the centre to see if you are eligible for a place on our courses. Paying Your Fees: You can pay for your course in the following ways:- By cheque (payable to Northumberland County Council) By credit card (VISA, Mastercard or Access only) By cash Please note we do not accept part enrolments and we cannot reserve spaces for you without a payment. QUALIFICATION COURSES If you choose to take a course leading towards a qualification you should be willing to participate in the assessment of it. If you are unsure about what this involves, talk to us about it prior to enrolment. If you are not willing to take the assessment, please browse through the courses which do not have a qualification and think about choosing one of these courses instead. Free Tuition: The categories that are entitled to free tuition are: Learners who are at least 16 and under 19 years of age on 31 August 2007 Learners studying their first full Level 2 qualification. If you do not hold a full level 2 qualification (5 GCSE passes at grade C or above or NVQ Level 2 or equivalent), you can study to achieve your first full level 2 qualification for free. Learners who are at least 19 and under 26 years of age on 31 August 2007 studying their first full Level 3 qualification. If you do not hold a full level 3 qualification (3 A Levels, NVQ Level 3 or equivalent), you can study to achieve your first full level 3 qualification for free. Learners in receipt of income-based benefits, formerly known as means-tested benefits, that is: a. Unemployed people in receipt of income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance b. Those in receipt of Council Tax Benefit c. Those in receipt of Housing Benefit d. Those in receipt of Income Support e. Those in receipt of Working Tax Credit with a household income of less than £15,050 f. Those in receipt of Pension Credits (Guarantee Credit only) Unemployed people in receipt of contribution based Jobseeker’s Allowance Unwaged dependants of those listed above Offenders who are serving their sentence in the community Those taking basic skills courses in literacy and / or numeracy (excluding English for speakers of other languages) Asylum seekers in receipt of the equivalent of income-based benefit (assistance under the terms of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999) and their dependants If you qualify for a concession please bring evidence of your benefits or tax credits with you to enrolment so that we can process your application quickly. Please note that incapacity benefit is not income related so it will not qualify you for a concession. Please note that our centre reserves the right to charge an administration fee of £5.00 per course to learners offered remission who fail to start the course or attend the class sessions. REFUNDS POLICY If the centre cancels the course: We will offer you a full refund if the centre cancels the course before classes start. We will offer you a partial refund for the number of remaining sessions after classes have started. If you cancel your place on a course: We will not offer you a refund if you cancel your place, unless it is for a medical reason and is supported by a Doctor’s Note. Any refunds given to you will be for the number of remaining sessions and will be subject to an administration fee of £5.00 per person per course. FINANCIAL HELP FOR LEARNERS Learner Support Funds: This fund may be able to help you meet costs such as travel, childcare, books, equipment and examination fees connected with a qualification based course. If you need financial help, then speak to the Adult Learning Manager and we will be able to tell you if you qualify for the fund and help you make an application. The Learner Support Fund is means tested and is a limited fund; you are therefore advised to apply as soon as possible after enrolment. Adult Learning Grants: These are means tested grants providing a weekly payment of up to £30, during term time to adults studying full-time for a first Level 2 qualification or a first Level 3 qualification (if aged 19-25). You could be eligible if your personal income is below £19,000, you are studying full-time and you are not receiving other allowances or benefits. You can get an application pack from us or by calling learndirect advice on 0800 100 900. If you would like further information on the ALG you can look at the following website www.direct.gov.uk/adultlearning or you can contact us for advice. Educational Maintenance Allowance: This is money to study after 16. EMA is a weekly payment of £10, £20 or £30, depending on your household income. You can get EMA if your household has an income of £30,000 or less, and your course involves at least 12 hours of learning a week. You need to fill in an application form, and provide evidence of your household income if you want to get EMA. If you would like further information on the EMA you can look at the following website www.dfes.gov.uk/financialhelp/ema or you can contact us for advice. STARTING YOUR FIRST CLASS Unless you have heard from us to say otherwise, you should turn up to the centre where your course is held on the start date detailed in the prospectus. You may want to arrive early to help you find your way around but information boards and staff will guide you to the right classroom and facilities in the centre. At your first class you will be given a receipt for any fees paid and a copy of the learner handbook. Your tutor will outline the course and any examination or assessment requirements. You will also be asked to complete a learner agreement. These forms are also essential to support the funding for your course and keep the costs to you as low as possible. INFORMATION ABOUT OUR CENTRE Car Parking: Free car parking is available on site. Designated parking bays for disabled learners are only to be used by learners with a disability. Learners park at their own risk. Attendance Policy for Learners: Please try to attend all classes punctually and regularly. If you are unable to attend a class you should contact us at your earliest opportunity so that we can tell your tutor and note your absence in the class register. We will endeavour to contact you if you do not attend your class regularly. If we are unable to make contact with you, you have not informed us of your absence and have been absent for three or more consecutive sessions, you will be removed from the class register. If you wish to continue the course you will need to re-enrol. CANCELLATION OF SESSIONS In the event of bad weather, tutor illness or unanticipated changes in school, we will make every effort to inform you of any changes to your learning activity. However some changes occur at short notice and so this may not always be possible. We will make every effort to arrange replacement sessions. LEARNERS WITH A DISABILITY If you have a disability we will make any reasonable adjustment to our building or course delivery to help you access the course and get the most out of it. You are strongly encouraged to let us know as soon as possible if you require any special arrangements to be made, particularly if you think you may need special consideration during an examination as this may require prior approval from the examination body. This brochure and the Learner Handbook can be reproduced in large print and on CD for anyone with a visual impairment. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES The Service welcomes diversity in its learner population. We are committed to providing a caring and supportive environment inclusive of all learners. The Service operates proactively to prevent discrimination in any form. A copy of the Equal Opportunity Policy is available on request. HEALTH AND SAFETY Smoking is prohibited at all our venues. Emergency escape procedures and first aid arrangements will be explained by tutors at the start of each course. Learners attending any course involving physical activity, however gentle, should notify the tutor of any medical condition. You will receive a health questionnaire if you are attending a course of this nature. All accidents and incidents (including damage to property) must be reported to the course tutor immediately. SKILLS FOR LIFE We know how important it is to have good skill levels in English and Maths for successful study. We offer free tuition in: Speaking, reading, writing and listening skills Maths, number skills and dealing with money and finance At Ponteland Community High School and Prudhoe Open Door Community Learning Centre we offer a wide range of timetabled courses, drop in facilities so you can study when you want, and staff who can arrange a programme especially for you. You can work at your own pace and will have the opportunity to take a National Test in English or Maths, which is a great way of improving your skills and helping you get on and progress at work. You can study as many of our “Skills for Life” courses as you wish. If you require any further information on “Skills for Life” courses or wish to make an appointment please call Ken or Victoria on 01661 836215 (Prudhoe). All information is treated with the strictest of confidence. CUSTOMER CARE We do everything we can to ensure our programme runs satisfactorily. If you wish to register a comment, complaint or compliment, please speak to the Adult Learning Manager at any time. Alternatively we have “Tell Us What You Think” leaflets available in the centre for you to note down your comments and share them with us at any time. We have a complaints procedure published in our learner handbook. The information provided on this website is, to the best of our knowledge, accurate at the time of publication. We accept no liability for any errors or omissions and we reserve the right to alter, amend or remove courses listed without notice.
TYNDALE LEARNING PARTNERSHIP Offers learning opportunities throughout Tynedale. Contact:

Bellingham Middle School Bellingham Judith Latty Tel: 01434 220797		Ponteland Community High School Ponteland Linda Nicholls Tel: 01661 820431
Haddon Bridge High School Haydon Bridge Barbara Mansfield Tel: 01434 684422		Prudhoe Community High School Prudhoe Linda Nicholls Tel: 01661 836215
South Tynedale Middle School Haltwhistle Jane Dunn Tel: 01434 320491		Queen Elizabeth High School Hexham Sandra Burton Tel: 01434 610321