Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps her Department is taking to help homeless young people access vocational courses.

Students and young people participating in vocational education or training that are homeless may access a range of financial support to help them to participate.

Students aged 16-19, or aged up to 25 with an education, health and care (EHC) plan may be able to receive support from the 16-19 Bursary Fund. This supports financially disadvantaged students, helping them remain in education or training, and supports them in meeting costs associated with studying, such as travel, books, equipment, and trips. In the 2022/23 academic year the department allocated nearly £144 million for institutions to help these students. In addition, the department has made available Bursary Funds of over £21 million for vulnerable 16–19-year-old students (such as those who are in care, care leavers and those who are supporting themselves and claiming benefits). The department has also made over £31 million available for free meals in further education, as well as childcare and residential support where needed.

The department wants more young people to benefit from apprenticeships that offer high quality training and opportunities for progression. The department is increasing investment in apprenticeships to £2.7 billion by 2024/25 and continuing to offer £1,000 payments to employers when they hire apprentices aged 16 to18, or those aged 19 to 24 who are care leavers or have an EHC plan.

The Adult Education Budget (AEB), worth £1.34 billion in the 2022/23 academic year, fully funds or co-funds skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above from pre-entry to level 3, to help them gain the skills they need for work, an apprenticeship or further learning.

The AEB includes funding to enable colleges and providers to help adult learners, including those who are homeless, to overcome barriers which prevent them from taking part in learning. This includes Learner Support for learners aged over 19 with a specific financial hardship, where providers have discretion to help learners meet the costs associated with studying. Learning Support also enables colleges and training providers to meet the additional needs of learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities and meet the costs of reasonable adjustments as set out in the Equality Act 2010. Learning Support can cover a range of needs including an assessment for dyslexia, funding to pay for specialist equipment or helpers, and arranging signers or note takers.