Learner Fees Policy

For learners enrolling on courses starting from August 2014

Learner Fees PolicyReview July 2015

1. Introduction1.1. The Pre-school Learning Alliance is

committed to providing clear information about charges made to learners. It is also in the best interests of their sponsors where an employer or other organisation is providing financial support to them. Prompt notification of fees and charges, as well as the arrangements for payment will be made.

1.2. Learners have the ultimate responsibility for the payment of their fees, even where they have been awarded a grant, bursary or 24+ learning loan.

1.3. Defaults on payments are treated seriously. They will lead to the appropriate sanctions being taken against the learner.

2. Fees and loans2.1. The Alliance fees policy is reviewed

annually. Tuition fees are liable to change over time. The Alliance aims to give at least three months notice of changes though this may not always be possible or practicable.

2.2. Tuition fees and fee policy will be sent to all learners as part of enrolment and will be available on the Alliance website and e-portfolio system.

2.3. Fees become due at the start date of the course unless alternative payment arrangements have been made. See Instalment payments.

2.4. Some learners may be entitled to full or partial fee remission provided they meet the eligibility criteria laid down

by the Skills Funding Agency or Education Funding Agency. Evidence of eligibility will be required to ensure learners meet these criteria. Learners will be advised of these arrangements as part of the enrolment process.

2.5. Student Finance England provide loans to eligible learners aged 24 and over for qualification, education and training at Level 3 and 4. Learners are provided with information about how to apply as part of the enrolment process.

2.6. The Alliance reserves the right to correct any clerical details or omissions.

2.7. The Alliance accepts no responsibility for any loss or damage, including without limitation, direct or consequential loss or damage or any loss or damages whatsoever arising from the terms and conditions and learner fee policy of payments and refunds.

2.8. Payment by instalment The following are not eligible to pay by instalments. A learner who: 2.8.1.has an Individual Voluntary

Arrangement (IVA), or is in the process of setting one up.

2.8.2.does not have a UK bank account, or has no other bona fide access to fund held in a UK bank account e.g. through another family member

2.8.3.has defaulted on instalment /payment arrangements in a previous year.

Learner Fees PolicyReview July 2015

2.9. The Alliance seeks to offer the facility of instalment payment arrangements wherever possible, but reserves the right to refuse.

2.10.A learner or employer may pay in instalments if:2.10.1. She or he is paying their own

fees, or the part of the fee not covered by bursary.

2.10.2. She or he wishes to apply for a student loan for a smaller figure than the total fee payable. This means that she or he could pay the tuition fee partly by a loan from Student Finance England and partly by paying agreed instalments while studying.

2.10.3. the outstanding fees are in excess of £100.

2.11.Learners/employers must agree to abide by the terms and conditions.

2.12.Learners will be sent an invoice detailing instalments dates and payment methods once the course has started. Instalments must be paid in monthly instalments. The number of instalments will be agreed at the beginning of the payment period.

2.13.Terms and conditions. Payment by instalment is subject to the following terms and conditions:2.13.1. Learners who withdraw from

their programme remain liable for full course fees.

2.13.2. Pre-school Learning Alliance charges an administration fee of £10 for instalment arrangements.

2.13.3. Instalment arrangements are not available for overseas

learners, sponsors or employers, or learners without a UK bank account.

2.13.4. Fee payments must arrive at the destination address or bank account by the due date, or next working day.

2.13.5. Fees charged will normally be for one academic year only. For the majority of courses lasting more than 1 year, fees will be charged at the start of each year.

2.13.6. Where Pre-school Learning Alliance does not receive a payment, the full balance of fees becomes due for immediate payment.

2.13.7. Any learner experiencing difficulty making a payment must immediately contact the Pre-school Learning Alliance Training Centre on 01732 363070

2.13.8. Pre-school Learning Alliance reserves the right to withhold application for certification for learners with an outstanding balance of unpaid fees.

2.13.9. If the Pre-school Learning Alliance does not receive instalment payment from the learner on more than one occasion, the learner may be asked to leave their programme but will remain liable for payment of any outstanding fees.

2.13.10. Pre-school Learning Alliance is prepared to take action where necessary through the County Court, to recover debts from learners who do not adhere to payment arrangements and/or fail to

Learner Fees PolicyReview July 2015

respond to correspondence from Training Administration Manager. This could result in a County Court Judgement against the learner. NB: all County Court costs will be added to the balance due from the learner.

3. Fee administration3.1. Any learner with a change of address

must notify the Training Centre immediately.

3.2. Learners should ensure that their applications with the Student Finance England, a bursary or grant provider is complete on or before enrolment. They remain liable as noted above

3.3. Defaults or delay in learner fees being received may result in appropriate sanctions being taken against the learner.

3.4. Where a learner has opted for an instalment plan that incorporates the use of a loan and such funding is found not to be available to them for whatever reason then the learner is immediately liable for the full fee. The learner may choose an alternative method of payment, including instalments.

4. Withdrawal from study4.1. Learners wishing to withdraw from

study before completion must inform the Alliance, unless they have been withdrawn for reasons of disciplinary or academic failure. For the purposes of tuition fee liability, only the Training Centre has been notified will the withdrawal be processed and recorded. The last date of attendance will be recorded as the withdrawal

date. In the case of withdrawal for disciplinary or academic failure the date will be when the decision was taken.

4.2. Where a learner with a student loan withdraws from their programme part way through the course, for whatever reason, Student Finance England will cease paying funds to the Alliance for that learner. If such learner is also paying through instalments the Alliance will adjust the liability for the remaining tuition pro rata.

4.3. Where a learner has funded her or his learning from themselves, (fully or in part), and then withdraws, a refund will be payable, calculated pro rata according to the withdrawal date and the proportion of the duration of the course on which he or she has been enrolled.

4.4. UK money laundering laws require that any payment made to and confirmed by the Alliance will only ever be refunded to the person making the original payment in source country of the payment.

4.5. The Alliance accepts no responsibility for any miscommunication that may arise where an applicant or learner’s contact details are inaccurate or where such details are out of date. It is the responsibility of the applicant/learner, and the parent/guardian where an applicant/learner is under the age of 18 years, to provide and confirm correct contact details for communication purposes.

Learner Fees PolicyReview July 2015

4.6. Refund requests may take up to 30 days to process.

Learner Fees PolicyReview July 2015