What evidence is needed to claim learning support funding?

Learning support funding is designed to help apprentices who have learning difficulties or disabilities and may need extra support.

What evidence is needed to claim learning support funding?

Learning support funding is commonly referred to as ‘additional learning support’ or ‘additional learner support’. It helps to promote inclusion and ensure that everyone can benefit from the same education and employment opportunities. 

Training providers can use this funding to make reasonable adjustments to better support learners. It covers costs such as: 

• Bringing in additional staff 

• Buying specialised equipment

• Enabling extra time on exams and tests

In this article, we’ll explain how learning support funding works and what evidence is required.

How does learning support funding work?

Learning support funding is a fixed amount of £150 per month. Training providers can claim this for each month where they:

• Provide reasonable adjustments

• Have evidence that they have done this 

• Spend money on the reasonable adjustments

For months where no reasonable adjustments are necessary and no costs have been incurred, training providers can’t make a funding claim for learning support. 

If the cost of providing support exceeds £150 per month but less than £19,000 per year, providers can claim the additional costs via the earnings adjustment statement (EAS). 

For example, you might invest in assistive software that costs £1,000, which the learner will use for the duration of their apprenticeship. In this case, you’d claim for one month’s learning support funding (the fixed £150) and then claim £850 through the EAS. Once those claims are made, you can’t make further monthly support claims for that piece of equipment. 

How does learning support funding help learners?

This funding empowers learners with disabilities or learning difficulties to achieve the best possible outcomes from their apprenticeships.

It ensures that learners have the time or resources needed to complete their training effectively. Whether it’s access to specialist tutors or tailored assessment methods, learning support funding is critical to help level the playing field.

Going through the process can also boost learner confidence and engagement in their apprenticeship. Training providers will often encounter learners who haven’t had learning difficulties or disabilities formally identified, and will only come to light during the initial assessment.

It can be a huge relief for learners to discover the reason for difficulties they’ve encountered previously with education or training. It’s an opportunity for them to finally take part in a programme with the tailored support they need.

How does learning support funding help providers?

The training sector has faced rising costs and staff shortages in recent years. Learning support funding ensures that providers can continue to make reasonable adjustments and assist learners without worrying about the additional costs.

Making a claim for funding will also encourage you to put a formal structure in place around learner support, which is frequently evaluated. In addition to raising the standard of assistance, you’ll be able to evidence to Ofsted that you’re continually improving the quality of your support.

What evidence is needed for funding?

You can make a claim for learning support funding once you’ve assessed a learner’s needs and collected the evidence required. You’ll need to:

• Show that an assessment has been carried out and be able to provide a copy of the results, which identifies the learner’s learning difficulty or disability

• Show that reasonable adjustments are necessary to enable the learner to complete their programme

• Describe how progress would be directly impacted if the reasonable adjustments weren’t put in place

• Document how you plan to deliver the reasonable adjustments throughout the apprenticeship (this plan will need to be agreed and signed off by the learner) 

For months where you’ve claimed learning support funding, you’ll need evidence of the reasonable adjustments that have been made during that period. Remember that you can’t claim for adjustments that haven’t cost money.

As per the latest funding rules, training providers must review ongoing delivery and the need for learning support at least every three calendar months. You’ll need to have evidence that these reviews have taken place and that reasonable adjustments are still necessary.

Visit this page for the full government guidance on evidence requirements. 

What can make the funding process easier?

Claiming learning support funding has historically been a daunting process for training providers. However, the Department for Education has responded to feedback and made a number of positive changes in recent years. 

This includes updating the language around funding requirements and adding clarifications on the process and evidence. It’s now much easier to understand what’s expected of providers, so you can make your next claim with confidence.

Drive funding compliance with Bud

Bud is built to support compliance every step of the way, from onboarding to end-point assessment. 

The Bud platform automatically collects the evidence required for funding claims and provides real-time visibility over learner activity. This includes:

• Which learners are receiving support

• The type of support they’ve had

• When the support was last delivered

• Any subsequent planned support

Want to see the platform in action? Book a discovery call now.