Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will make it her policy to provide free access to further education for people with SEND.

Most young people legally residing in England will be eligible for 16 to 19 study programme funding. Additionally, students aged 19 to 24 who have an Education, Health and Care plan are also eligible for young people’s funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA). Full details are set out in the ‘funding guidance for young people 2023 to 2024’, which is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1178949/16_to_19_funding_guidance_Regulations_2023_to_2024-Version_1.01.pdf.

The department is continuing to invest in education and skills training for adults through the Adult Education Budget (AEB), worth £1.34 billion this academic year. The AEB fully funds or co-funds skills provision for eligible adults aged 19 and above up to level 3, to help them gain the skills they need for work, life or further learning. This supports disadvantaged learners including those with learning difficulties and/or disabilities.

Currently, approximately 60% of the AEB is devolved to 9 Mayoral Combined Authorities and the Mayor of London, acting where appropriate through the Greater London Authority. These authorities are responsible for the provision of AEB funded adult education for their residents and the allocation of AEB to providers. The ESFA remains responsible for AEB in non-devolved areas.

The AEB supports four statutory entitlements to full funding for adult learners, which apply in devolved and non-devolved areas:

• English and maths, up to and including level 2, for individuals aged 19 and over, who have not previously attained a GCSE grade A* to C or grade 4, or higher, and/or:
• First full qualification at level 2 for individuals aged 19 to 23, and/or:
• First full qualification at level 3 for individuals aged 19 to 23.
• Essential digital skills qualifications, up to and including level 1, for individuals aged 19 and over, who have digital skills assessed at below level 1.

The ESFA funded AEB for learners resident in non-devolved areas also supports colleges and providers to help adult learners to overcome barriers which prevent them from taking part in learning. This includes learner support and learning support. Learning support funding helps providers to meet the additional needs of learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities to meet the costs of reasonable adjustments, as set out in the Equality Act 2010. 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.