The 16 to 19 Bursary Fund is money the government gives to schools, colleges and other education and training providers to give to students who need financial help to stay in education.
What a bursary is for
A bursary is money that you, or your education or training provider, can use to pay for things like:
- clothing, books and other equipment for your course
- transport and lunch on days you study or train
From September 2017 Sheffield families will be required to make a contribution of £540 for Post 16 Special Educational Needs transport. Families in receipt of the Post 16 bursary will be expected to use this fund to make their contribution.
To qualify for the Bursary Fund the student must be aged 16 or over but under 19 at 31st August and meet one of the two criteria listed below:
Students who meet the first criteria listed below will receive a guaranteed bursary payment of £1,200 – to qualify the student must be:
- In Care
- A Care Leaver
- Receiving Income Support, or Universal Credit because they are financially supporting themselves or financially supporting themselves and someone who is dependent on them and living with them such as a child or partner
- Receiving Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payments in their own right as well as Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit in their own right
A number of students at Talbot Specialist School will meet the second listed criteria below and qualify for a partial bursary to cover any transport contribution payable.
- In receipt of Free School Meals (FSM)
- Household Income below the Free School Meals qualifying criteria of £16,190
*If your child receives ESA you cannot claim child benefit for your child.
- The Discretionary bursary is awarded to meet individual student needs. For example, transport, meals, books and equipment. If you don’t fall into one of the vulnerable groups, but you need financial help to stay in education because you have a low household income, are on benefits and/or receive free school meals, you can apply for a discretionary bursary. In Sheffield this is an income below £16,190
Students who wish to apply for the 16-19 Bursary are advised to speak to Year Team Support. If a student wishes to apply for the discretionary bursary they are advised to apply as soon as they are able for that academic year, but would be able to apply throughout the year providing there is still funding available. APPLICATIONS WILL NEED TO BE MADE EACH ACADEMIC YEAR.
For more information please see https://www.gov.uk/1619-bursary-fund/overview
For Government benefits advice: https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/entitlement
For independent benefit advice contact the Citizens Advice Bureau 03444 113 111 https://citizensadvicesheffield.org.uk/