July 2011
Important Notice – ILA Scotland Provider Registration
Registrations for ILA Scotland learning provider status in 2011/12 have now closed.
The programme has attracted significant provider participation with over 470 ILA Scotland approved learning providers across the public, private and third sectors offering over 20,000 learning opportunities throughout Scotland.
ILA Scotland provider applications which have already been submitted will continue through registration but no new providers will be considered this financial year.
We will keep the position for 2012/13 under review and will update the news pages of this site in due course.
February 2011
ILA500 – Operational Changes
In 2010, the Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning approved delivery and funding of the ILA500 scheme through the Students’ Allowances (Scotland) Regulations 2007, as amended, rather than through the existing ILA Scotland regulations.
This change means that from 1 April 2011 the scheme formerly known as ‘ILA500’ will be delivered solely by the Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) as a ‘part-time fee grant’. There will be very little impact on eligibility rules other than students will now have to comply with the existing residency criteria SAAS administers for full-time support. This will be reflected in the application form from the start of April.
Up to 31 March 2011, students should continue to apply for an application pack at www.ilascotland.org.uk. From the 1 April 2011, students should download an application form from the SAAS website (www.saas.gov.uk). The part-time section of the SAAS website has been revised to reflect the changes and SAAS will also issue updated operational rules to all institutions.
This change should streamline the process for students and universities/colleges, as well as providing anticipated administrative and cost saving efficiencies for both SAAS and Skills Development Scotland (SDS).
Please note that this change does not affect the ILA200 scheme which will continue to be jointly delivered by SAAS and SDS.