16 to 19 Tuition Fund

What is the 16 to 19 Tuition Fund?

The 16 to 19 tuition fund is a one-off funding allocation for 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years only. The fund is being provided to support learners to catch up and close any gaps in their learning that may have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund is to support small group tuition for 16 to 19 year old learners in English, Maths and other courses where learning has been disrupted.

Who can be supported by this fund?

Learners must be aged 16 to 19 and have not achieved a grade 4 in English and/or Maths, priority will be given to learners that will benefit most from small group tuition. Regard will also be given to learners with special education needs and disabilities (SEND), particularly where they have experienced disruption to learning as a result of their specific needs and disabilities.

Learners could have a grade 4 or above in English and/or maths, but are from an economically disadvantaged background and would need catch-up support. These are defined as students from the 27% most economically deprived areas of the country based on the Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Young people across the country have experienced disruption to their education because of Coronavirus. The Government has recognised that young people from vulnerable and disadvantaged backgrounds may be among those who have been most affected and to support this have allocated specific funds. Skills Group will use the 16 to 19 tuition fund to provide small group tuition to learners who are in scope for this funding and who require additional teaching or support to get them back on track with their learning this academic year. This tuition will be in addition to the planned study programme hours.

How is Skills Group using this Fund?

Tuition Support offered will be based on each individual’s needs, this will be achieved through an individual starting point review and identification of learning gaps with clear learning goals, expectations and outcomes.

Tuition groups will comprise of up to 3 learners and the tuition sessions will be scheduled in addition to the planned learning programme of study hours already timetabled for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 academic years. Tuition sessions will be delivered face to face, online or through a blended delivery model.

Skills Group is committed to supporting learners to achieve to their potential and the following are some examples of what we will offer:

• Tuition may be delivered as face to face, online or blended learning in small groups of up to 3 learners for English and Maths (these may be offered during breakfast sessions, lunch and/or after hours sessions)
• Maths and English topic support through designated coaches/mentors
• GCSE revision workshops and Functional Skills assessment preparation support
• Additional technical knowledge and subject skills support to make up for any shortfall
• Access to specialist support to improve engagement for learners with SEND
• Development of other citizenship skills (due to work placements being restricted by the pandemic)

Skills Group will also:

• Encourage Skills Group staff development programmes to develop coaching/mentoring skills and online delivery
• Recruit new staff including pastoral care and/or reallocate existing staff to support learners to return to their studies and help learners to manage their mental health and wellbeing, to aid both with their studies and emotionally, to help them catch up

Staffing

Skills Group are committed to providing quality teaching and all staff involved in contract delivery are suitably qualified for their role and have up-to-date and relevant industry experience within each sector. A comprehensive CPD plan is in place to ensure that all staff are up-to-date with industry and regulatory requirements including new qualification standards and approaches to improving the quality of provision.

What is our pledge?

Skills Group is committed to ensuring the tuition fund is used in accordance with the Government’s guidance on the 16-19 tuition fund by:

• Producing a statement setting out how the fund will be used to support the most disadvantaged learners
• Publishing this guidance on our Skills Group website
• Recording the use of the fund, including references to individual learners who receive support, the needs of those learners, the number of hours of tuition delivered and retain the evidence of the tuition provided and demonstrate the impact of the support provided
• Delivering the extra tuition and spending the allocated funds in the academic years 2020-21 and 2021-22
• Notify the Education Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) of any underspend from the Fund for it to be reclaimed.

If you have any further questions regarding the 16 to 19 tuition fund please email Sarah Walker on swalker@skillsgroupuk.com