The Young People’s Learning Agency (YPLA) has recently released a document called ‘ Changes to SLN values for specific ain in 2011/12 funding’. What does this mean you ask?
Every year both the YPLA (for 16-18 year-olds) and the Skills Funding Agency (for adults) review the funding rates for all the qualifications that they fund. In a number of cases the funding rate for a qualification is then increased or decreased, usually based on analysis on delivery in the prior year. Why is this significant?
Colleges and training providers clearly rely on receiving funding to run their businesses, so funding rates will inevitably have an impact on how courses are delivered. So for example, reductions to rates are likely to mean fewer teaching hours. How much has changed?
The YPLA document contains a list of 87 qualifications that have rate changes, 17 that were ‘unlisted’ (rate based on actual delivery time) are are to be given a ‘listed’ rate (rate set nationally) and 18 qualifications that were listed and are to become unlisted. All the changes are in a table. What has changed?
The Level 3 Construction Skills qualifications stand out in terms of reductions. The rate for the Diploma in Painting and Decorating falls by 25%, Bench Joinery by 33%, Site Carpentry by 32% and Plastering by 25%. Clearly, colleges with significant 16-18 year-old Level 3 constuction provision will need to take a close look at what impact this will have on funding level. Top tip?
The rate for the Diploma in Painting and Decorating falls by 25%, Bench Joinery by 33%, Site Carpentry by 32% and Plastering by 25%”
Understand the impact of rate changes early.
Nick Linford, Author of ‘The hands-on guide to post-16 funding’ and MD of Lsect. Tweeting as @nicklinford
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