Colleges can apply for additional funding to provide meals to students during the coronavirus pandemic and to be part of the national voucher scheme also introduced in schools, the government has announced.
However, institutions will have to submit a business case to be considered.
Guidance published this afternoon says 16 to 19 providers with a free meals in FE allocation will be able to apply to the national voucher scheme, “with the value of any vouchers claimed being charged to your FE meals and/or 16 to 19 discretionary bursary allocations”.
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‘Huge impact on the FE sector’
It adds that a business case has to be submitted to the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) to access the voucher scheme and for institutions wishing to apply for additional funding to cover support student meal costs that you cannot service from existing free meals in FE or 16 to 19 discretionary bursary allocations.
Gillian Keegan, apprenticeships and skills minister said: “We recognise the huge impact the coronavirus is having on the FE sector and are working to make sure all students have the support they need during this unprecedented time.
“I’m grateful to colleges and other providers for their efforts to make sure students who are eligible for free meals are supported whilst learning remotely. I’m pleased to announce that the national voucher scheme is available to FE providers that may need it.”
New criteria before seeking support
While the free meals in FE and 16 to 19 bursary guidance continues to apply, further criteria will also apply during the coronavirus pandemic and should be applied before approaching the ESFA to access to the voucher scheme, or putting in a business case for additional funding.
“The criteria should be applied in order - that is, if the first criteria cannot be met - proceed to the second, and so on,” the government explains.
“Institutions are reminded they must ensure they maintain records of all payments and decisions for future audit, including how the existing guidance and these additional criteria have been considered when making decisions on any awards, including new / additional awards, from their free meals in FE or 16 to 19 discretionary bursary allocations.”
The criteria
Access to the national voucher scheme
Institutions should apply to the national voucher scheme if they are having practical difficulties in providing meals, providing payments or providing vouchers to students entitled to free meals.
Local processes should continue where these are working and supporting coronavirus (COVID-19) guidelines, and institutions are reminded that ESFA will look to claim back the value of any vouchers claimed from your allocations.
Putting a business case for additional funding
1. Institutions should use underspends they have rolled forward from their 2018 to 2019 academic year free meals in FE and/or 16 to 19 discretionary bursary allocations to support students in need of extra support due to coronavirus (COVID-19) related issues.
2. Institutions should use their 2019 to 2020 academic year free meals in FE and/or 16 to 19 discretionary bursary allocations to support students in need of extra support due to coronavirus (COVID-19) related issues.
3. Where existing allocations have been exhausted, institutions should apply to the ESFA explaining their need for additional funding. These applications should only be made with the knowledge that their existing funding has been exhausted, having followed the steps above.
“For A or B, institutions will be asked to submit a business case using the form on the Free meals in further education GOV.UK page. Institutions should consider whether they would be in a position to continue to support existing students whilst a business case is being considered, however, there is no guarantee that additional funding will be available.”
