Our Policies and Standards

Fees for courses published on our website will also include any supplementary fees, such as registration fees, materials fees and exam fees, where applicable to the course. Any additional costs not included in the course fee will be listed in the course outline (e.g. materials needed for the course).

Payments, Transfers & Waiting Lists

Instalments

Learners can pay by instalment for courses which cost more than £120 and run for over 8 weeks.  Learners must enrol in person and pay the first £80 of the course fee.  The balance will be paid by Direct Debit.   The Direct Debit payments will be the balance of the course fee split into equal monthly instalments, over the length of the course.  

Learners who wish to pay for more than one course by instalment must pay a £80 first instalment fee per course.

If a learner cancels the direct debit arrangement, without prior agreement from KAE, before the full fee has been paid, an invoice will be issued immediately for the outstanding balance.

Sanctions against non-payment of fees 

• Learner will not be re-enrolled on any further courses 
• No refund will be given to a learner in debt with KAE 
• Learner will be not allowed to continue the course until the debt is paid

Waiting List

Where learners wish to enrol on a course and places are already full they should be offered the option to be placed on a waiting list. If a space becomes available they can be offered a place at a pro-rata rate based on the remaining number of weeks on the course plus any supplementary and admin fees.

Late Enrolments 

Where a course has already started and places are still available enquiries should be passed to the curriculum manager who will be able to confirm the possibility of joining part way through the course. For non-qualification courses, the pro-rata fee is due based on the remaining number of weeks on the course plus any supplementary and admin fees. For qualification courses, the full fee is due.

Fee Remission and Concessions

For 2023-24 the ESFA and GLA will continue to consider the following groups of learners to be eligible for full fee remission (subject to satisfying all ESFA requirements): 

• adults exercising their legal entitlement for specific English and Maths qualifications (excluding ESOL) 
• unemployed* adults in receipt of specific income-related benefits studying approved accredited qualifications or non-regulated learning up to (and including) level 2
• employed adults on a low wage income** studying approved accredited qualifications or non-regulated learning up to (and including) level 2
• eligible adults aged 19-23 undertaking learning aims to progress to a level 2 qualification (local flexibility)
• eligible adults aged 19-23 taking their first full level 2 qualifications (as part of the legal entitlement offer)
• eligible adults aged 19-23 taking their first full level 3 qualifications (as part of the legal entitlement offer)
• adults exercising their legal entitlement for specific digital skills qualifications up to Level 1
• eligible adults without a full level 3 studying qualifications listed under the level 3 free courses for jobs offer
• unemployed* adults in receipt of specific income-related benefits studying qualifications listed under the level 3 free courses for jobs offer
• employed adults on a low wage income** studying qualifications listed under the level 3 free courses for jobs offer
• adults Studying for British Sign Language qualifications up to Level 2  whose first or preferred language is British Sign Language (BSL) - GLA funded learners only
• teaching and Learning support staff undertaking SEND qualifications under the “Upskilling of teaching staff offer”  - GLA funded learners only
• any other concessions, unpublished at the date of this policy, as may be granted by the ESFA or GLA in due course .

* definition of unemployed as described in ESFA and GLA funding rules ** low wage income as defined by the applicable funding body (ESFA or GLA). (2023/24 ESFA based on National Living Wage: £10.42 per hour / £20,319 per annum from 01/04/2023 and GLA based on London Living wage: £13.15 per hour / £25,642.5 per annum) 

Fee concessions 

A 30% discount on tuition fees is available on all specialist skills and leisure and privately funded courses,  for learners on any of the following income based benefits:

• Job Seeker’s Allowance
• Employment and Support Allowance (income-based)
• Income Support benefit
• Universal credit
• Disabled persons Tax Credit 
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit (not single occupancy discount)
• Working Tax Credit 
• Pension Guarantee Credit
• Carer’s allowance
• Dependent of someone on the above listed benefits

Learners will be required to provide relevant documentation as evidence.This cannot be used in conjunction with any other concession.

Financial Support & Loans

DLSF & Advanced Learner Loan Bursary 

We recognise that in some circumstances financial support may help be required to enable learners to undertake a qualification. Discretionary funding is available to provide exceptional support to learners aged 16 and above, who are experiencing financial difficulty with meeting costs associated with learning leading to a qualification. For further information please contact adult.education@kingston.gov.uk to discuss further what support is available to you.

Advanced Learner Loans 

Adult Learners aged 19+ studying at Level 3 or above are able to apply to the Student Loans Company for an Advanced Learner Loan for approved ESFA courses. Loans may be used to fund vocational courses at KAE and should be discussed with the Curriculum Manager or appropriate Skills Officer.

The loan will be paid directly to KAE by the Student Loans Company. If the learner decides to apply for a loan, KAE must supply information through a KAE Learning and Funding Information Letter to assist the learner in making the loan application. 

For a copy of the Learning and Funding Information Letter, required to complete the application to the Student Loans Company please email skillsforworkandlife@kingston.gov.uk

Liability for the loan will be incurred by the learner after the learner has attended their course for 2 weeks and on a monthly basis thereafter. If a learner is funded using the Advanced Learner Loan, they must sign an agreement at the time of their enrolment to confirm that if they withdraw from their course of study for any reason after the initial two weeks liability period, they will be liable to pay the balance of the fees no longer covered by their student loan. 

Early booking discount

Learners enrolling and paying for their course up until the early booking deadline will receive a 5% early booking discount on the total cost of the course for specialist skills and leisure, privately funded and community learning courses. This discount cannot be claimed in addition to any other concession.  

Refunds

Learners should bear in mind before they pay that fee payments are non-refundable.  Neither refunds nor credits are given for absences due to changes in work commitments, personal or financial circumstances or any other reasons for not being able to attend the course. Refunds are only available in the following circumstances:

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this policy is accurate as possible.  KAE reserves the right to cancel any course or change its charging policy where its costs may result in financial loss; cancel any course where there is lack of appropriate resources; and/or refuse entry to a course on any non-discriminatory grounds.

For a full copy of the KAE fees policy please email adulteducation@kingston.gov.uk