The
Enhanced Learning Credit Scheme (ELC) has been launched as a new
educational initiative to compliment the Standard Learning Credit
Scheme (SLC). The Scheme provides financial support to eligible
Service personnel who wish to enhance their educational or
vocational achievements at Level 3 or above.
Two Tiers of Resettlement ELC
ELCs are available in two tiers: The Lower Tier has a level of
up to £1,000 per annum and the Upper Tier a level of up to £2,000
per annum. These amounts may be claimed as a single payment in each
of a maximum of three separate financial years. The Scheme is based
upon the principle that individuals will make a personal
contribution toward the cost of their learning. The ELC contribution
may be up to 80% of the gross course value. Applicants will also be
responsible for payment for food, accommodation, travel and
subsistence.
Before submitting an application or claim for an ELC please refer
to your Education Staff and to Defence Council Instruction (DCI)
reference 'DCI JS 30/04' The Enhanced Learning Credit Scheme -
Sponsorship of Service Personnel for Personal Development. It is
essential that you do this in order to obtain a full understanding
of the eligibility criteria, both for yourself and any development
activity.
The Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Service (ELCAS)
provide the administrative support for the ELC Scheme. Education
Staff are responsible for approval of both ELC Application and
Claims. All completed forms should therefore be submitted to
Education Staff who will send the forms to:
ELCAS, Farncombe House, Broadway, Worcestershire WR12 7LJ.
Any enquiries regarding the Scheme and eligibility criteria should
be made to Education Staff.
Applications for Scheme Membership
To qualify for the Enhanced Learning Credits applicants must be in
the service when they apply for Scheme Membership.
On Enlistment: From 1st April 2003 all new recruits were made
aware of the existence of the Scheme. Recruits were briefed and
encouraged to join the Scheme by completing and signing an
application form. New recruits may only join the Scheme during their
first 12 months of enlistment.
Serving Personnel: Those already serving on 1st April 2003 were
permitted to join the Scheme by forwarding a completed application
form to ELCAS, signed not later than 1st April 2004 to arrive by
28th April 2004, and subject to meeting the eligibility criteria
described in the current DCI reference 'DCI JS 30/04'.
Late Entry: is permitted in a six-month period between eight years
and eight and a half years of service. Service personnel interested
in late entry should consult their education staff for more
information.
Making a Claim
How
to claim and do a booking with ELCAS
In order to claim for funding, Scheme members must:
Have completed not less than four years eligible service for "low
tier" funding
Have completed not less than eight years eligible service for
"higher tier" funding
Complete the required length of service before commencing the
course of study for which support is being claimed
Submit their claim prior to the tenth anniversary of leaving the
Armed Forces
Calculating Eligible Service
Eligible service (for the ELC Scheme only) includes only that time
on active service after 1st April 2000.
Qualifying Service may include a mix of periods of regular and
non-regular service and need not be continuous - in such cases
please contact your Education Staffs for more information.
For those already serving before 1 April 2003 and who registered
on the scheme by 1 April 2004, eligible service runs from 1 April
2000 or date of enlistment, whichever is the later.
For those entering the Armed Forces on or after 1 April 2003 and
who join in the initial 12 month joining window, eligible service is
taken from the date of enlistment, regardless of when in the twelve
month window they joined the scheme.
For late entrants to the scheme, who join in the six month window
from their eight to eight and a half year service point, eligible
service is taken from the start of this joining window (the eight
year point) regardless of when in that six month window they elect
to join the scheme.
The ELC scheme is designed to provide assistance to Service
personnel with a single payment in each of a maximum of three
financial years, to help pay towards higher-level learning. ELCs may
be claimed for learning which leads to nationally recognised
qualifications at Level three or above on the NQF, as defined in the
current edition of "British Qualifications" UK NARIC or UCAS.
ELC support may be claimed for:
Full or part time study
Individual, group or distance learning
Courses which lead to a nationally recognised qualification
Study towards a first degree, including Foundation Degrees
Study towards postgraduate qualification
Teacher training
A2/AS level study
Higher Education Institute access courses
Foreign language study
Pursuit of professional self development
Accreditation of prior learning assessment fees including
accreditation of Service professional skills provided the individual
has produced new, original work
Vocational course
Examination fees in respect of types of courses listed above*
Initial registration fees and accreditation fees for professional
bodies and institutes*
Remedial training for Specific Learning Difficulties, e.g.
dyslexia or dyscalculia, where an educational psychologist has
previously diagnosed these difficulties. NB ELCs cannot be used for
initial assessment or diagnosis
* SLCs may be a more useful vehicle for claiming funding as these
fees are likely to be quite modest.
ELC support may not be claimed for:
Sports courses except where they result in the award of a
professional sports coaching qualification as part of an
individual's resettlement strategy as evidenced in an individual's
personal Development Record (PDR)
Adventure training
Anything that forms part of Service training courses or Service
on-job training
It is the Learner's responsibility to ensure that the development
selected is eligible under the Scheme and meets the development
requirements. Before submitting a claim for an ELC please refer to
your Education Staff and DCI reference 'DCI JS 30/04' The Enhanced
Learning Credit Scheme - Sponsorship of Service Personnel for
Personal Development for confirmation of eligibility.
Learning Providers
Eligible Scheme members who wish to claim an ELC must choose an
appropriate activity supplied by an Approved Learning Provider.
Applicants, with guidance from their Education Staff, are
responsible for choosing their learning activity and identifying a
suitable organisation to provide the activity.
The Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Service (ELCAS)
website includes a search engine facility which enables applicants
to search for Approved Learning Providers by Geographic Area,
Organisation Type, Qualification Levels and/or Delivery Method.
Please refer to the guidance notes provided below when looking at
the detailed Approved Learning Provider information.
If your chosen Learning Provider is not listed then they have not
yet been approved.
Please note that although the Learning Provider as an organisation
may be Approved you must still ensure that the Learning Activities
that they provide are eligible. ELCs may only be claimed for
learning which leads to nationally recognised qualifications at
Level three or above on the NQF, as defined in the current edition
of "British Qualifications" UK NARIC or UCAS.
Guidance notes for using the Approved Learning Provider (ALP)
Information.
All providers have responded to the questions raised in the Pre
Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ). You will see on The Enhanced
Learning Credits Administration Service (ELCAS) website that the PQQ
covers a number of issues that concern you, the learner, e.g. what
support is available if you are posted overseas or if you are
detached on operations.
Some Providers offer a complete support package regardless of the
circumstances, although others may not be able to offer every
facility that we have asked for. This does not mean that the
Provider is in any way inferior and in these cases the organisations
have provided the information that they wish you to be aware of.
Regardless of the information on the website you should still
check with your Provider that they are able to offer a complete
support package for your chosen qualification as Providers may be
constrained by Exam and Awarding Body regulations
Contact
For all queries with regard to the application/registration
process and eligibility please consult your Education Staff.
Guidance is also provided in the Defence Council Instruction
reference 'DCI JS 30/04' The Enhanced Learning Credit Scheme -
Sponsorship of Service Personnel for Personal Development.
Before registering as a Scheme Member or submitting a claim for an
ELC please refer to your Education Staff.
Number for general ELC Enquiries 0870 411 5600
The
Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Service (ELCAS) website can
be found at www.enhancedlearningcredits.co.uk
Copyright 2004 Enhanced Learning Credits Administration Services
Ltd. All Rights Reserved
How
to claim and do a booking with ELCAS
