Advanced Learner Loans

Agenda

• Application Statistics

• Application and Assessment

• Administration

• Enhancements

• Engagement and Next Steps

Agenda

Application Statistics

Application and Assessment

Administration Enhancements Engagement, Contact and Next Steps

Learner Numbers

Total number applications

31% increase in applications when compared to same reporting period in

AY 15/16

66,971 69,087

101,842

95,756

0

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

13/14 14/15 15/16 16/17

Application Statistics

14/15 15/16 16/17 YTD

Total Applications Submitted 69,087 101,842 95,756

Processed

Approved 54,051 68,915 69,125

Approved Awaiting Signature 6 22 1,678

Withdrawal/Suspension 8,342 9,899 4,176

Ineligible 3,284 5,020 2,436

Auto Cancelled 3,290 17,385 14,474

Total Processed 68,973 101,241 91,889

Outstanding

Awaiting Evidence 5 52 2,585

Awaiting Investigation 74 387 416

Work in Hand 35 162 866

Total Outstanding 114 601 3,867

Data Entry Incomplete 3 25 1,433

AY 17/18 Declaration

Feedback provided by

Learning Providers at

Advanced Learner Loan

Stakeholder Groups, along

with feedback from additional

engagement channels,

resulted in us changing the

structure of the declaration to

encourage learners to

complete their loan process.

Demographics

81%

19%

UK

Non UK

29%

71%

Male

Female

Of the total number of

applications submitted

in AY 15/16, 24-30 year

olds accounted for the

largest volume of

applications received.

Along with 71% of the

total volume being

female and 81% being

UK Nationals.

22%

30% 28%

15%

5%

19+

24-30

31-40

41-50

50+

31%

31%

23%

16%

8%

4%

8%

12%

15%

19%

57%

52%

56%

60%

64%

6%

8%

9%

8%

9%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

<=23

24-30

31-40

41-50

50+A/AS Level

Access to HE

Certificate

Diploma

Vocational

Age and Aim Type

Popular Learning Aims

24,810

13,980

9,550

9,450

8,230

3,620

2,090

2,090

1,900

1,340

1,180

1,170

430

290

0 5,000 10,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 30,000

Health, Public Services and Care

Business, Administration and Law

Education and Training

Retail and Commerical Enterprise

Leisure, Travel and Tourism

Construction, Planning and the Built Environment

Science and Mathematics

Social Sciences

Arts, Media and Publishing

Agriculture, Horticulture and Animal Care

Engineering and Manufacturing

Information and Communication Technology

History, Philosophy and Theology

Languages, Literature and Culture

Agenda

Application Statistics

Application and Assessment

Administration Enhancements Engagement,

Contact and Next Steps

Product Comparison

FE Fees only Non Means

Tested

Learning and Funding

Information Letter

Application for each aim

Four loans in Total

HE Fees and Maintenance

Option to be Means Tested

UCAS One

application each year

Gift Year

Product Expansion

Old 24 years and over

Levels 3 and 4 No concurrent

study No repeat

level and type

New 19 years and over

Addition of Levels 5 and 6

Concurrent study allowed

More than one loan for the same level and type

Providers must contact awarding bodies to show interest

Application Checklist

LAFIL

• Ensure your learners have their LAFIL prior to applying. SLC require details from this (UKPRN, LARN), EU learners are exempt from providing a NINO

ID

• Does the learner have a valid passport? If not, they can supply a birth/adoption certificate with accompanying Application Declaration of Identity Form (ADIF)

Residency

• Learners from outside the EU may need to provide additional supporting evidence, including evidence of settled status or proof of immigration status (EU learners must demonstrate 3 years residency in EEA/Switzerland)

Previous Study

• Encourage discussion around Previous Study? Should the learner be grant funded for their first Level 3? It is for the provider to ascertain if the learner should be in receipt of a grant if they are applying for the first Level 3

Declaration

• Has the learner signed their declaration form? Have they made a note of their account log-in details? Learners can manage their account online and amend many aspects of their applications via the ‘Change of Circumstances’ function

Application and Assessment

SLC Receives Application Form

Residency and Accompanying

Evidence is Verified

Check Provider

Check Learning Aim

Check Start and End Dates

Review Fee and Loan Amounts

Assess Application

If Online Application a Declaration is

Sent Out

When Fully Approved NINO

sent to DWP

LAFIL

Using UKPRN

Payment Note CRN

Access to HE write off

To be eligible for a “QAA Access to HE Diploma” loan write off, a

student must:

• Have taken out an FE loan for a “QAA Access to HE Diploma” course which

they have completed

• Be eligible to apply for support towards SFE funded course of Higher

Education (and not be deemed unfit for support by SFE)

• This includes EU domiciled learners who are studying in England

• Completed an HE qualification that was eligible for SFE funding

Repayment

Learners will repay their loans on the same income contingent basis as for HE

students:

• Learners start to repay once earning over £21,000 a year (£404 a week or £1,750 a month)

• Repayments automatically deducted from earnings through the HMRC tax system or via self

assessment as explained in this flowchart from the SLC Repayment website (9% of earnings above the

threshold)

• If earnings drop below £21,000 repayments will stop

• Learners are due to start repaying their loan in the April after they finish or leave their course –

whichever comes first

• Any outstanding balance will be written off 30 years after entering repayment

Agenda

Application Statistics

Application and Assessment Administration Enhancements

Engagement, Contact and Next

Steps

• Application, Assessment and Customer Contact

• Timely Attendance and Payments

• Provider Relationship and Enquiry Management

• Service Management Framework

• Repayments

• Work alongside the Skills Funding Agency and Department for Education

SLC Roles and Responsibilities

Provider Responsibilities

Best Practice

Encourage learners to apply early

Information steps in place for learners

LAFIL holds accurate funding

information

Promote digital

application and

resources

Comply with our Service

Standards

Comply with the Skills Funding Agency Funding Rules

Monitor and

manage your loan position

• Fees Policy and Offer

• Skills Funding Agency ILR and Audit

• Application and Assessment

• LP portal and service compliance

• Bursary Funding

Service Standards

Activity Right First Time Elapsed Time Notes

Ensuring the data is correct for Approved Applications

before confirmation of attendance by submitting pre-

liability CoC's

100% No Timescale

Learner Personal Data, Learning Aim

Reference, Start Date, End Date, Fee and

Loan Amounts

ULN entry to Approved Application 99%

4-6 Weeks after the start date OR 2

weeks after application received date is

a retrospective application

Attendance Confirmation (Initial) 99% 4-6 weeks after the start date

Although the measure is 4-6 week initial

attendance can be confirmed from 2

weeks after the start date

Attendance Confirmation (Subsequent) 99% Drawdown Date

The measure will deem “drawdown

date” as the Thursday evening in the

week before the main monthly payment

date

Suspending Learners 99% 60% within 60 days, 40% within 90

days Must withdraw after 12 months

Withdrawing learners 99% 60% within 60 days, 40% within 90

days

Agenda

Application Statistics Application and

Assessment Administration Enhancements

Engagement, Contact and Next

Steps

Key Enhancements

Summary Description Impact

Auto Cancel Functionality

Implementation of auto-cancel functionality on approved, awaiting

signature, missing evidence and in data entry applications.

Allows applications to be auto-cancelled within specific timescales. To date this has resulted in

the cancellation of 24,566 applications.

CoC bulk uploads Allow the bulk upload of CoC’s via CSV and

XML. This allows bulk upload without need for ICT

development by Learning Providers.

Evidence Requirements visible to Provider

System enhancement allows providers to see a learners outstanding evidence

Enables providers to provide accurate next steps to the learner promoting the timely approval of

applications.

Updated Declaration Correspondence

Learning Providers advised of challenges with learners returning their declaration

due to content of correspondence.

Clear next steps highlighted on Declaration to encourage learners to return correspondence

Agenda

Application Statistics Application and

Assessment Administration Enhancements

Engagement, Contact and Next

Steps

• Engagement events

• Tailored events for new providers

• Communication Bulletins

• Advisory Groups

• System Enhancement communications

• Account Manager Visits

• Online Resources

Engagement Advanced Learner

Loan Seminars delivered to 520 delegates in four

locations New Provider

Seminars delivered to 78

delegates in London and

Leeds

Regional Forums

delivered annually

105 Account Manager

Visits in 12 months

Engagement

Seminars are opportunity to share knowledge and gain a detailed insight in the

operational policy, systems and resources that support Advanced Learner Loans

Plymouth

• New Continental Hotel

• 27th April

Leeds

• The Met

• 10th May

London

• AMBA Hotel

• 11th May

London

• AMBA Hotel

• 16th May

Stratford-Upon Avon

• Crowne Plaza

• 17th May

SLC Support Network

• Direct training and guidance for partners

• Focus on communicating policy, applications, repayment and resource messages

• Regional point of contact for all funding issues

Funding Information Partners Account

Manager

• Provide on-going business to business support

• Expert advice and training on SLC systems

• Guidance and support in associated functions including attendance confirmations

FE Account Managers

• Dedicated telephone and email support for FE Learning Providers

• Practitioner and Policy support

• Customer contact centre

Wider SLC Support

Learning Provider Portal

Resources

Read Advanced Learner Loan online material available to you:

lpservices@slc.co.uk

Learner facing Information and Guidance:

www.practitioners.slc.co.uk/further-education

Review Skills Funding Agency Provider Pack:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/advanced-learning-loans-provider-support-

pack

Katy Barge

Partner Services

FE Account Manager

katy_barge@slc.co.uk

07827 449280

www.lpservices.slc.co.uk

Rachel Thorpe-Lavin

Partner Services

FE Account Manager

rachel_thorpe-lavin@slc.co.uk

07500 785712

www.lpservices.slc.co.uk