KCC LA College Student Awards

Answer :

Students aged 16 to 18 (i.e. under 19 before the 1 September 2008) can apply for help towards the cost of Home to College transport in 2008/09 if they live more than 3 miles from the nearest appropriate Publicly-Funded Further Education college offering the non-advanced qualification or a comparable course.

This assistance will require an advanced payment of £490 or alternatively payable at a rate of £165 for terms 1& 2 and £150 for term 3, though this charge will normally be waived if the parent(s) are in receipt of Income Support / Income based Job Seekers Allowance / Child tax credit only and your taxable income is less than £15,575 / Pension Credit.

Furthermore, free transport will also be awarded if any student previously held a Statement of Special Educational Needs and was prescribed free transport to school. If you meet the criteria described above we will ask you for the appropriate termly payment and the method of transport that is to be undertaken (i.e. bus or rail). Your tickets will then be issued before the start of the Autumn term provided you apply by 31 July 2008 (if you apply after this date, it will take up to 6 weeks to process your ticket application). A renewal Form AW3 will then be issued for completion and return for the remaining 2 terms. Transport assistance will not normally be considered for second qualification courses.

KCC LA Sixth Forms

Answer :

Students aged 16 to 18 (i.e. under 19 before the 1 September 2008) can apply for help towards the cost of Home to College transport in 2008/09 if they live more than 3 miles from the nearest appropriate Publicly-Funded Further Education college offering the non-advanced qualification or a comparable course.

This assistance will require an advanced payment of £490 or alternatively payable at a rate of £165 for terms 1& 2 and £150 for term 3, though this charge will normally be waived if the parent(s) are in receipt of Income Support / Income based Job Seekers Allowance / Child tax credit only and your taxable income is less than £15,575 / Pension Credit.

Furthermore, free transport will also be awarded if any student previously held a Statement of Special Educational Needs and was prescribed free transport to school. If you meet the criteria described above we will ask you for the appropriate termly payment and the method of transport that is to be undertaken (i.e. bus or rail). Your tickets will then be issued before the start of the Autumn term provided you apply by 31 July 2008 (if you apply after this date, it will take up to 6 weeks to process your ticket application). A renewal Form AW3 will then be issued for completion and return for the remaining 2 terms. Transport assistance will not normally be considered for second qualification courses.

Canterbury College

Answer :

Provided they are attending their nearest college, students aged 16 to under 19 at the start of the course can apply in the first instance to their Local Education Authority for subsidized travel before 31st July for Kent County Council and four weeks prior to the start of the course for Medway Council to receive it for the start of the Autumn Term.

It may be more economical to purchase weekly or daily travel from the bus or train stations.

Students who are not entitled to a travel pass from their Local Education Authority or who have difficulty funding the cost of the KCC travel pass should contact the Student Information Centre at Canterbury College to get further details regarding:
- an application to the discretionary Learner Support Fund for assistance towards travel providing they meet the general eligibility criteria for funding
- discounted Park and Ride season cards are available from Canterbury City Council, telephone number 01227 862429

Who can apply for discretionary Learner Support Funds?
We aim to assist students who are economically or socially disadvantaged and are facing financial difficulty. Priority will be given to those in care or recently leaving care, on probation, young parents and those considered to be at risk. Also considered are adults on their first full Level 2 course, those aged 19 – 25 on a first Level 3, on a Skills for Life programme and those with learning difficulties or disabilities.
- Students enrolled on a course at Canterbury College for a minimum of twelve guided learning hours per week over six or more consecutive weeks.
- Students in receipt of a means tested benefit or on a low income. This includes students dependent on parents or guardians on low income.
- A student who has been 'ordinarily resident' in the United Kingdom or the European Union for three years prior to the start of the course.
- Receipt of an Educational Maintenance Allowance or Adult Learning Grant will be taken into consideration.

What kind of travel support can I apply for through the discretionary Learner Support Funds?
- 1 If you come under one of the above groups and are 16 – 18 in some circumstances we may be able to assist with the travel charge made by KCC and Medway Council.
- 2 Those who do not qualify for subsidised travel from KCC or Medway Council may be able to apply for either bus or train travel. Only under special circumstances would any other form of transport be considered.
Emergency travel costs
A student who experiences difficulty getting to and from college due to financial restraints should contact the discretionary Learner Support Fund team for advice and support.
For further information, please contact the discretionary Learner Support Fund on 01227 811197.

Hadlow College

Answer :

No information available.

Mid Kent College

Answer :

Travel assistance from Mid-Kent College:
 
Mid-Kent College may provide travel permits in exceptional circumstances if you do not qualify for support from KCC.
 
Eligibility: If you are not entitled to subsidised or free travel, the Mid-Kent College Learner Support Fund (LSF) maybe able to support you. The LSF can only assist learners that fall under great hardship, i.e. those not eligible for EMA or ALG. Learners on full time or part time courses who are eligible under LSF criteria and who live more than 3 miles from campus (exceptions exist for physical and mental restrictions).
 
How do I apply? A Learner Finance Information Sheet and Application Forms are available from Learner Finance at the College or can be downloaded directly from the College website at www.midkent.ac.uk

North West Kent College

Answer :

The College cannot provide any direct financial assistance to Students aged 16-18 for travel costs.

The College does provide a free minibus service from the centre of Dartford to the Dartford Campus.

Sheppey College

Answer :

Provided they are attending their nearest college, students aged 16 to under 19 at the start of the course can apply in the first instance to their Local Education Authority for subsidized travel before 31st July for Kent County Council and four weeks prior to the start of the course for Medway Council to receive it for the start of the Autumn Term.
It may be more economical to purchase weekly or daily travel from the bus or train stations.
Students who are not entitled to a travel pass from their Local Education Authority or who have difficulty funding the cost of the KCC travel pass should contact Sheppey College to get further details regarding:
- an application to the discretionary Learner Support Fund for assistance towards travel providing they meet the general eligibility criteria for funding.

Who can apply for discretionary Learner Support Funds?
We aim to assist students who are economically or socially disadvantaged and are facing financial difficulty. Priority will be given to those in care or recently leaving care, on probation, young parents and those considered to be at risk. Also considered are adults on their first full Level 2 course, those aged 19 – 25 on a first Level 3, on a Skills for Life programme and those with learning difficulties or disabilities.
- Students enrolled on a course at Canterbury College for a minimum of twelve guided learning hours per week over six or more consecutive weeks.
- Students in receipt of a means tested benefit or on a low income. This includes students dependent on parents or guardians on low income.
- A student who has been 'ordinarily resident' in the United Kingdom or the European Union for three years prior to the start of the course.
- Receipt of an Educational Maintenance Allowance or Adult Learning Grant will be taken into consideration.

What kind of travel support can I apply for through the discretionary Learner Support Funds?
- If you come under one of the above groups and are 16 – 18 in some circumstances we may be able to assist with the travel charge made by KCC and Medway Council.
- Those who do not qualify for subsidised travel from KCC or Medway Council may be able to apply for either bus or train travel. Only under special circumstances would any other form of transport be considered.
Emergency travel costs
A student who experiences difficulty getting to and from college due to financial restraints should contact the discretionary Learner Support Fund team for advice and support.
For further information, please contact the discretionary Learner Support Fund team at Sheppey on 01795 582507/8.

South Kent College

Answer :

Kent County Council offer free/subsidised fare for 16-19 in full time education whose course is more than 3 miles away from home and college is nearest appropriate college.  Students need to apply to their Local Education authority using Form AW3.

2008/2009 free travel granted if in receipt of Income Support or Income-based Job Seekers Allowance, Pension Credit, Child Tax but only if parent/guardian does not receive Working Tax Credit and they have an assessed income of £15,575 or less per year. (no other benefit/Tax Credit qualifies them for free travel).
Subsidised travel (for those not in receipt of these benefits) is £490 for whole year (paid in advance) or there are three payments of £165 (one payment per term).

2008/09 South Kent College Learner Support Funds only assist students that fall under great hardship. Students on full time and part time courses who are eligible under Learner Support Fund criteria and who live more than 3 miles from campus can apply, (exceptions exist for physical and mental restrictions) with full cost train or bus to upper limit of £25 per week. In certain circumstances this limit can be increased.

Thanet College

Answer :

At interview students are advised of the potential cost of their course, and asked to consider if they need support for travel, equipment, or childcare. When an applicant needs help with travel they are advised that they should contact their local LEA office for an AW3 form. If they are ineligible for support from the LEA then application may be made in cases of exceptional hardship to the Learning Support Fund. (LSF) Application forms for support from the LSF is made by contacting the Welfare team in the Lodge at Thanet College or by calling 01843 605043 Applicants for LSF may be asked to provide evidence of their income and benefit status. Failure to do so will delay the assessment and this delay may impact on the funds available to the individual. Applications are encouraged before the beginning of the academic year, but monies can not be released until term commences.

Where students are in receipt of an Education Maintenance Allowance, this will be taken into consideration when calculating the amount of assistance available.

Thanet College funds either bus or train ticket, but will in special circumstances consider other forms of transport where public transport is unavailable or inappropriate. For those students who can not travel independently, or require an escort, consideration will be given on an individual basis.

West Kent College

Answer :

All students aged between 16-19 must apply to the Local Authority for transport funding. If eligible, they will receive either free or subsidised transport as per the criteria published by KCC. If funding is refused, the student can apply for help through the College Learner Support Fund and help may be given but only in exceptional cases. If a learner has chosen West Kent College and there is a nearer college offering the same course, we are not permitted to assist with travel costs.

In exceptional circumstances, West Kent College may offer assistance to students who are not eligible for Learner Support Funds. These cases will be assessed on an individual basis. For example, where a student needs emergency assistance to get home, we may offer loan which should be repaid to the College.

In addition, any student travelling by train can obtain a 20% discount on a season ticket of at least 4 weeks duration. The ticket MUST be purchased at Tonbridge Station. This concession is not income dependent and is available to everyone.

We advise all parents and guardians that they will need to calculate whether the subsidised travel from the LEA is cost effective, based on how many days the student must attend college.

Students living in the Greater London area can obtain an Oyster card which will entitle them to free or subsidised travel within the relevant zones. Forms are available in Student Services.

For an explanation of eligibility to any of the above concessions or awards, please contact Student Services on 01732 358101