Adult Education in Gloucestershire Fees & Charges Policy 2025/26

1. Purpose

This policy sets out how Adult Education in Gloucestershire (AEiG) determines, publishes and administers tuition fees, examination fees, material costs and other learner charges for provision delivered during the period 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027.

The policy ensures compliance with the current Adult Skills Fund (ASF) Funding and Performance Management Rules and provides a transparent framework for fee setting, fee remission, concessions, payment arrangements, refunds and learner support. The policy supports Gloucestershire County Council's commitment to widening participation, improving skills, promoting inclusion and ensuring the sustainable use of public funding.

This policy applies to:

Ø  Accredited learning funded through the Adult Skills Fund (ASF)

Ø  Tailored Learning provision

Ø  Full-cost and commercial provision

Ø  Advanced Learner Loan eligible provision

Ø  Learning delivered directly by AEiG

Ø  Learning delivered through subcontracted providers on behalf of AEiG.

2. Policy Principles

Adult Education in Gloucestershire is committed to providing high-quality, affordable and accessible learning opportunities whilst ensuring the sustainable and effective use of public funding.

Fees and charges will be reviewed annually and determined with reference to:

Ø  Adult Skills Fund funding rules

Ø  Local skills priorities

Ø  Learner demand

Ø  Delivery costs

Ø  Market benchmarks

Ø  Service sustainability

AEiG will ensure that:

Ø   Compliance: All fee decisions will comply with current Adult Skills Fund funding and performance management rules

Ø Equity and Access: No learner entitled to fully funded provision under ASF rules will be prevented from accessing learning because of financial barriers

Ø Transparency: Clear information about fees, concessions, remission arrangements and eligibility criteria will be published before enrolment

Ø Inclusion: AEiG will consider equality of opportunity and the needs of disadvantaged and underrepresented groups when setting fees and charges

Ø  Value for Money: Fees will be proportionate and reflect delivery costs, funding eligibility, local market conditions and affordability.

3. Funding Context (Gloucestershire)

AEiG receives grant funding through the Adult Skills Fund (ASF) to deliver adult learning provision across Gloucestershire.

As the accountable body, Gloucestershire County Council enters into the funding agreement and is responsible for the management, delivery, quality assurance and oversight of ASF-funded provision, including learning delivered directly and through subcontracted partners.

The Adult Skills Fund supports adults aged 19 and over to gain skills that support progression into employment, further learning and improved life opportunities. Tailored Learning provision supports wider outcomes including health and wellbeing, family learning, stronger communities and learner confidence.

4. Definitions

Adult Skills Fund (ASF)

The national funding programme supporting adult learning and skills provision for eligible adults aged 19+.

Legal Entitlements

Statutory entitlement qualifications including:

Ø  English up to and including Level 2

Ø  Mathematics up to and including Level 2

Ø  Essential Digital Skills Qualifications up to Level 1

Ø  First Full Level 2 (eligible learners)

Ø  First Full Level 3 (eligible learners)

Tailored Learning

Flexible learning provision designed to achieve outcomes related to health and wellbeing, family learning, community engagement, confidence building, employability and progression.

Unemployed

A learner who meets the current ASF definition of unemployed and associated evidence requirements. Eligibility will be assessed in accordance with the latest ASF Funding and Performance Management Rules.

Earnings Threshold

For 2026/27 the ASF low-wage threshold is £26,800 gross annual earnings. Learners meeting the eligibility criteria may qualify for fully funded provision.

5. Fee Categories and Eligibility

5.1 Fully Funded Provision

AEiG will not charge tuition fees to eligible learners undertaking provision funded through:

Ø  Legal Entitlements

Ø  English and Maths up to Level 2

Ø  Essential Digital Skills up to Level 1

Ø  First Full Level 2 entitlement

Ø  First Full Level 3 entitlement

Ø  Low-Wage Eligibility

Employed or self-employed learners with annual earnings below £26,800 may qualify for fully funded provision, where permitted under ASF rules. Evidence must be provided at enrolment.

Unemployed Learners

Eligible unemployed learners may receive full funding in accordance with ASF rules. 

Free Courses for Jobs (FCFJ)

Eligible learners may access approved qualifications through the government's Free Courses for Jobs offer in accordance with current eligibility rules and qualification lists. 

Evidence Requirements

AEiG will retain evidence of funding eligibility in line with ASF audit requirements

Co-funded Provision

Where learners do not meet the criteria for full funding but remain fundable under ASF rules, AEiG will charge a contribution towards the cost of learning.

Fee levels will be determined annually and published before enrolment.

Full Cost Recovery Provision

Provision that falls outside ASF eligibility will be offered on a full-cost basis.

Fees may include:

Ø  Tuition

Ø  Materials

Ø  Examination costs

Ø  Accreditation fees

Ø  Venue costs

Ø  Overheads

Ø  Employer requirements

Pricing will be reviewed annually through curriculum and budget planning processes.

Advanced Learner Loans (ALL)

Where applicable, eligible learners may access Advanced Learner Loans for approved Level 3, 4, 5 and 6 qualifications.

Information about eligibility and application processes will be provided prior to enrolment.

Tailored Learning

AEiG uses its Tailored Learning allocation to support learning that contributes to:

Ø  Health and wellbeing

Ø  Family learning

Ø  Employability

Ø  Digital inclusion

Ø  Green skills

Ø  Community engagement

Ø  Progression towards further learning and employment

Fees for Tailored Learning may be waived, subsidised or set at a nominal level to maximise participation amongst priority groups

7. Setting, Publishing, and Reviewing Fees

• Fees are reviewed annually and informed by:

  Ø  National funding rules

  Ø  Local skills priorities

  Ø  Labour market information

  Ø  Historical delivery performance

  Ø  Quality assurance findings

  Ø  Benchmarking against similar providers

  AEiG will publish:

  Ø  Course fees

  Ø  Fee remission information

  Ø  Funding eligibility criteria

  Ø  Additional costs where applicable

  Fees may be reviewed during the year where changes to government policy or funding rules require amendment. 

8. Payment Terms

Ø  Fees are normally payable at enrolment

Ø  Instalment arrangements may be available for selected courses

Ø  Co-funded learners will be informed of both the learner contribution and the public funding contribution

Ø  Employer-funded provision will be invoiced in accordance with agreed contractual terms.

9. Refunds, Transfers, and Cancellations

AEiG reserves the right to amend course details, including dates, times, venues, tutors or content where necessary.

Where AEiG cancels a course:

Ø  An alternative arrangement may be offered

Ø  Where this is not suitable, a full refund will be provided.

Learners withdrawing due to medical or exceptional circumstances may be considered for a partial refund subject to supporting evidence.

Assessment and examination fees may be subject to awarding organisation conditions and deadlines. Where reassessment is required, learners may be responsible for associated costs.

10. Concessions and Hardship Support

AEiG may waive or reduce fees where this supports participation by priority groups and remains consistent with ASF funding rules.

Support may include:

Ø  Fee remission

Ø  Learner support funds

Ø  Travel assistance

Ø  Childcare support

Ø  Equipment and materials support

Assistance will be administered fairly, consistently and within available funding.

11. Pound plus

Pound Plus refers to additional income, resources and in-kind contributions secured beyond AEiG's core Adult Skills Fund allocation.

Sources may include:

Ø  Grants and external funding

Ø  Course income

Ø  Sponsorship

Ø  Donated resources

Ø  Volunteer support

Ø  Free or reduced-cost accommodation

Ø  Partnership contributions

Additional value generated through Pound Plus activities will be reinvested to:

Ø  Support disadvantaged learners

Ø  Extend learning opportunities

Ø  Develop new provision

Ø  Sustain delivery in rural and priority communities

Ø  Improve learner outcomes

12. Subcontracting

Where learning is delivered through subcontracted providers, fees and charges will be managed in accordance with:

Ø  ASF Funding Rules

Ø  DfE Subcontracting Funding Rules

Ø  AEiG Subcontracting Fees and Charges Policy

Ø  Gloucestershire County Council contractual arrangements

Funding retained by AEiG will reflect the services provided, including contract management, quality assurance, safeguarding oversight, MIS support and compliance activity.

13. Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG)

AEiG will provide impartial Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) to support learners in:

Ø  Choosing the right course

Ø  Understanding eligibility and fees

Ø  Accessing learner support

Ø  Planning progression routes

14. Communications and Complaints

Queries relating to fees, charges, refunds or eligibility will be managed through AEiG's complaints and appeals procedures and Gloucestershire County Council policies.

Any errors in fee information will be corrected promptly and fairly.

15. Evidence and Audit

AEiG will maintain appropriate records to demonstrate compliance with funding and audit requirements, including:

Ø  Eligibility evidence

Ø  Learner declarations

Ø  Fee payment records

Ø  Refund records

Ø  ILR data

Ø  Funding claims

Records will be retained in accordance with funding, contractual and data protection requirements.

16. Governance and Review

This policy is approved by the Impact and Insights Group and will be reviewed annually.

The policy will also be updated where changes to legislation, funding agreements or Adult Skills Fund Funding and Performance Management Rules require amendment

Appendix 1

Government contribution table 1: 19 to 23-year-olds

Provision Type	Funding Status	Notes
English and Maths up to and including Level 2	Fully Funded	Must be delivered as part of the legal entitlement offer.
Essential Digital Skills Qualifications up to and including Level 1	Fully Funded	Must be delivered as part of the digital entitlement offer.
First Full Level 2 Qualification	Fully Funded	Applies to eligible learners who have not previously achieved a full Level 2.
First Full Level 3 Qualification	Fully Funded	Applies to eligible learners who have not previously achieved a full Level 3.
Learning aims up to and including Level 2	Fully Funded	Where the learner is unemployed or earns below the ASF low-wage threshold.
Learning aims up to and including Level 2	Co-funded	Where the learner does not meet the unemployed or low-wage criteria.
Free Courses for Jobs (FCFJ) Level 3 Offer	Fully Funded	Subject to ASF eligibility and inclusion on the approved qualification list.
ESOL up to and including Level 2	Fully Funded	For learners who are unemployed or meet the low-wage criteria.
ESOL up to and including Level 2	Co-funded	For learners who do not meet the unemployed or low-wage criteria.
Advanced Learner Loan Eligible Qualifications	Loan Funded	Where ASF funding is not available and the qualification is eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan.