YPLA - The Young People's Learning Agency

The Young People's Learning Agency (YPLA) is a Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Dept for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

It supports the delivery of education and training to young people in England and replaces the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) together with the Skills Funding Agency (which funds and regulates adult Further Education and skills training in England).

What does the YPLA do for young people?

• Provides financial support to young learners

• Funds Academies for all their provision

• Supports Local Authorities to commission education and training for all 16-19 year old learners in England.

The YPLA also funds and manages the performance of Academies and provides direct support for learners, in particular the Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA), for those aged between 16 and 19.

The YPLA makes a difference to all young people's lives by raising aspirations and helping them attain the knowledge and skills they need to prosper in the economy.

What is the reasoning behind all this?

It is a known fact that if young people stay in some form of learning beyond 16, they are more likely to make the most of their talents and potential.

Improved skills lead to better jobs and a better quality of life.

Increasing investment in training and skills helps our country to compete more successfully in the global economy.

Gaining skills is the best route out of poverty and the best way to provide economic security for themselves and their families.

Fewer and fewer opportunities will be available for people who do not have the basic level of qualifications so more young people will need to be encouraged into Further Education or training to avoid social and economic isolation.

What is the Learner Support Programme?

The Learner Support Programme with YPLA helps to support learners who would otherwise not be able to participate in learning for financial reasons. It is made up of:

• EMA (Education Maintenance Allowance), which can provide up to £30.00 per week for 16 to 19 year olds, is proving effective in encouraging young people to continue in learning.

• The Care to Learn (Care2Learn) programme is another powerful way of encouraging young people who are classed as NEET (not in education, employment or training) to learn.   

• Dance and Drama Awards  

• Free Childcare for Training and Learning for Work

• Professional and Career Development Loans
• Discretionary Learner Support
• Local Authority Transport Partnerships
• Adult Learning Grant (ALG)

Academies

As the Dept for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) works towards a target of opening 400 Academies across England, the YPLA will act on behalf of the Secretary of State to deliver a range of functions in funding, supporting and challenging Academies.

Over time, and as the Academies programme continues to grow, the regional structure of the YPLA will mean that the necessary support will be offered as a more personalised and local service than the DCSF will be able to provide.

Further Information

For further information on the Young People's Learning Agency please visit http://www.ypla.gov.uk