Parents Guide

The new Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a government initiative to help ensure that continuing education is accessible to all young people. The EMA provides much needed money to encourage school-leavers to seriously consider Further Education.

EMA is currently being undertaken in pilot areas. Following successful adoption, a national EMA rollout will start in September 2004.

EMA will:

• Be available to Year 12 entries within Further Education (this will based upon an assessment of the family’s income).
• Be paid within current pilot areas under new criteria to Year 12, 13 and 14
• Be available for two years for many students
• Be available for three years for some students
• Include a £30 weekly payment paid according to a ‘learning agreement’ in association with the school or college. This may also include periodic bonuses.