Welcome to the YPLA

YPLA e-bulletin

Apprenitce civil engineer

For the latest news from the from the YPLA take a look at our bi-weekly e-bulletin.

If you'd like us to send the bulletin direct to you on its release, just drop us an email.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Aircraft engineer

EMA is about helping young people to carry on learning and realise their potential. It pays 16 - 19-year-olds up to £30 a week in cash to stay in education or join a training programme.
Learner helpline: 0800 121 8989

Skills Funding Agency

SFA logo

The YPLA is one of two successor organisations to the former Learning and Skills Council, the other being the Skills Funding Agency, which has responsibility for funding education and training for adults (aged 20+). The two organisations work closely together.

Questions about learner support?

Providers and IAG services will probably find their questions answered on our learner support pages. Young people looking for help funding their learning will find a visit to the Directgov site worthwhile.

If you still have questions, then you can either

Email the learner support team

or 'phone one of our helplines:
0845 600 7979 for providers;
0800 121 8989 for learners; and
0845 000 0045 for questions about PCD loans.

Questions about academies?

Email the academies team

Championing Young People's Learning

The YPLA was launched in April 2010 with the mission of championing education and training for young people in England.

We do this by providing financial support to young learners, by funding academies for all their provision and by supporting local authorities to commission suitable education and training opportunities for all 16-19 year olds.

Science learning

Pakistan Floods Appeal - how you can help

The Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC), an umbrella organisation for 13 humanitarian agencies, has launched an appeal to help those affected by the floods in Pakistan. Find out what the British government is doing to help and how you can donate to the DEC Pakistan Floods Appeal.

Latest News

16 - 19 Funding changes: update

Following the announcement on 20 July of changes to the funding system for 16 – 19 education and training, our chief executive, Peter Lauener, has written to colleagues in local authorities and provider organisations updating them on this important announcement, which will mean significant change for the way local authorities, colleges, schools and independent providers work together. It is very important all are aware of these changes and the timetable for further information becoming available.

Revision of the National Commissioning Framework

Following the decision by the secretary of state to simplify and streamline the 16-19 funding system, much of the approach described in the National Commissioning Framework (NCF) relating to funding provision in 2011/12 is now obsolete. With that in mind we have withdrawn the main NCF document.

Changes to the funding system for 16 - 19 education and training

The secretary of state has announced changes to the funding system for 16-19 education and training. Local authorities’ crucial strategic role to meet the needs of young people and identify gaps in provision is reaffirmed. However, the new system will cut back on planning points in the allocations process and cut out the requirement on colleges for detailed planning submissions in order to access funding.