15.0 Policy
15.1 Why is targeting based on income rather than skills levels?
Targeting people on low incomes will help to address financial concerns about getting involved in learning which research shows is a significant (though by no means the only) barrier to participation in learning by non-traditional learners. Also, we do not consider self declaration of attained skills to be a sufficiently robust assessment to prevent misuse of the scheme. Income on the other hand can be more reliably verified and low income individuals more readily targeted for promotion of the scheme.
15.2 Why is the income threshold set at £22,000? Will this not exclude a number of people who have low skills but earn more than the threshold?
The income threshold relates to individual income, not household income. Thus it is a considerably more generous and inclusive threshold than that which applies to most other broadly comparable funding mechanisms
15.3 What limits are there on the types of courses provided, e.g., will ECDL be allowed?
ECDL will be allowed, but there will be close scrutiny of the quality of the learning provided, including monitoring of the tutor and related support provided to learners.
15.4 Is the amount of the award standard?
Yes. It will not be tapered or stepped, you either qualify or you don’t.
15.5 Will ILA Scotland be available in addition to other funding?
Depending on the course being undertaken and the funding provision currently in place, ILA Scotland funding can be used by an individual learner alongside other funding.
15.6 Must providers hold a recognised quality standard?
Yes, providers must hold at least one of the quality standards shown on this website. Providers are required to have and provide evidence of the appropriate standard before being allowed to register. The quality standard must have been held for at least 6 months.
There will also be checks in addition to Quality Standards, including financial and other provider information, before registration is confirmed.
15.7 If my organisation is a university or college, do I still need to provide evidence of meeting QAA and HMIE standards?
For higher and further education institutions we have agreed arrangements with the Funding Councils whereby they will directly verify institutions’ ‘good standing’ for the purposes of ILA Scotland. Specific guidance on how universities and colleges should complete the Learning Provider Registration Agreement to cover this element will be given in the Guidance on Completing your Application section of this website.
15.8 Are there specific contractual arrangements which must be signed?
Yes. Providers must also sign as to the accuracy and veracity of statements. A checklist will be available to providers to take them through the different stages in the process.
15.9 Is there any restriction on the location of a distance learning provider?
No. However all providers must meet the set quality standards for the scheme, and will be subject to the scheme rules, checks and monitoring.
15.10 Will full payment be made to providers at the start of learning? If the learner drops out after a course starts will the money be reclaimed?
Full payment is available to the provider from first attendance at learning, provided always that the Learning Token is submitted at this time. It is made very clear to the learner in the scheme learner guidance that once they have commenced learning and provided the Learning Token, the learning provider is entitled to claim the full ILA Scotland grant payment set out in the Learning Token.
15.11 Will employers be allowed to make a contribution?
Yes. Contributions from employers will be welcomed. However, the choice of learning must always rest with the learner. An employer may not in any way coerce an employee to do learning of the employer’s rather than the learner’s choice.
15.12 A learner must be ‘ordinarily resident’ in Scotland. What does this mean?
This is defined in full in the learner zone of the ILA Scotland website.
15.13 Must a learner have an ILA Scotland account before the course starts?
Yes. There will be no retrospective arrangements and this will be made clear to learners.
15.14 What about ‘last minute’ bookings?
Learners must have an ILA Scotland account number before their chosen provider can book a course, so complete ‘last minute bookings’ where the ILA Scotland account is not yet set up will not be possible.
15.15 What happens if a provider cancels a course after it has started?
If a provider cancels a course after it has started, the provider may choose to reimburse the learner and may therefore also need to re-credit the learner’s ILA Scotland account on the same basis. Practices will vary among providers in relation to cancellation. Scheme guidance will make clear what arrangements will apply.
15.16 Will the learning provider be notified if a learner cancels with ILA Scotland?
Learners are not able to cancel their courses directly with ILA Scotland. They are required to contact the provider and inform the provider of their intention to cancel. Cancellation is then captured through the ILA Scotland system.
15.17 Does providers’ publicity material need to be approved if it does not carry the ILA Scotland logo but mentions ILA Scotland?
Explicit guidance on marketing and publicity material is contained in the Marketing Guidelines which are being issued to all providers. Additional guidance is available from the ILA Scotland marketing team.
15.18 Can providers use their own symbols in their brochures to indicate if a course is eligible?
Within the providers’ own brochures they can use their own symbols to differentiate those courses which attract ILA Scotland incentives. However, use of the ILA Scotland logo is controlled. Providers should refer to the Marketing Guidelines document for detailed information on the use of ILA Scotland related material and in particular the scheme logo.