Local flexibility
WMCA also supports delivery of flexible tailored provision for adults, including qualifications and components of these and/or non-regulated learning, up to level 2 – we call this ‘local flexibility’.
Local flexibility provision either is fully or co-funded, depending on the resident’s age, prior attainment and circumstances. Please refer to the ‘level of government contribution’ table and paragraphs 39 to 61 for resident eligibility. Where appropriate for the resident, you can deliver local flexibility provision alongside a legal entitlement qualification.
Residents aged 19-23 progressing towards their first full level 2, must undertake learning at entry and/or level 1 only from local flexibility
Local flexibility and legal entitlements
Residents aged 19 to 23 who progress to their first full level 2, must only enrol on a qualification we have approved for funding from the Qualifications website.
Residents aged 19 to 23 and aged 24 and over, who have already achievement at level 2, or above can undertake learning up to and including level 2 qualification from the local flexibility offer or qualifications in the level 2 legal entitlement list on the Qualifications website or Find a learning aim.
Residents aged 24 and over, who have not achieved a level 2 qualification can undertake learning up to and including level 2 qualifications from local flexibility offer or qualifications in the level 2 legal entitlement list available on the Qualifications website or Find a learning aim.
WMCA contribution table
The table below shows the level of WMCA contribution from devolved AEB funding:
- fully funded*
Low wage
- fully funded*
Employed
- fully funded*
Essential Digital Skills Qualifications up to and including level 1
Unemployed
- fully funded*
Low wage
- fully funded*
Employed
- fully funded*
First Full Level 2 (excluding English and maths)
(National policy legal entitlement)
Unemployed
- fully funded*
Low wage
- fully funded*
Employed
- fully funded*
Learning to progress to level 2
Unemployed
- Fully funded^ (up to and including level 1)
Low wage
- Fully funded^ (up to and including level 1)
Employed
- Fully funded^ (up to and including level 1)
Learning aims up to and including level 2, (Inc. level 1, and full level 2) where the resident has already achieved a first full level 2 or above
Unemployed
- fully funded
Low wage
- Fully funded
Employed
- Co funded
First full Level 3 (National policy legal entitlement)
- fully funded*
Low wage
- fully funded***
Employed
- fully funded***
Level 3 Adult offer (learners without a full
- fully funded-
Low wage
- fully funded-
Employed
- fully funded-
Level 3
(previously achieved a full level 3 or above)
Unemployed
- loan funded*
Low wage
- loan funded*
Employed
- loan funded**
Additional Level 3+ covered
under WMCA Flexibility
Unemployed
- fully funded=
Low wage
- fully funded=
Employed
- fully funded=
Level 4+
Unemployed
-
Loan funded**
Low wage
- Loan funded**
Employed
- Loan funded**
English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) learning up to and including level 2
Unemployed
- fully funded
Low wage
- fully funded
Employed
- co funded
- fully funded
- fully funded
- fully funded
- fully funded
- fully funded
- fully funded
- fully funded*
- fully funded*
- co funded
- Fully funded (up to and including level 1)
Low wage
- Fully funded (up to and including level 1)
Unemployed
- Co-funded (up to and including level 1)
Learning aims up to and including level 2, (Inc. level 1, and full level 2) where the resident has already achieved a first full level 2 or above
Unemployed
- fully funded
Low wage
- fully funded
Employed
co-funded
First full Level 3 (National policy legal entitlement)
- fully funded ***
Low wage
- fully funded***
Employed
- loan funded**
Level 3 Adult offer (learners without a full level 3 accessing a qualification on the Level 3 Adult Offer qualifications list)
- fully funded-
Low wage
- fully funded-
Employed
- fully funded-
Level 3
(previously achieved a full level 3 or above)
Unemployed
- loan funded*
Low wage
- loan funded*
Employed
- loan funded**
Additional Level 3+ covered under WMCA Flexibility
Unemployed
- fully funded=
Low wage
- fully funded=
Employed
- loan funded**
Level 4+
Unemployed
- loan funded**
Low wage
- loan funded**
Employed
- loan funded**
- fully funded
Low wage
- fully funded
Employed
- co funded
* Must be delivered as one of the English and maths, Digital Entitlement and/or first full level 2 or first full level 3 qualifications required as part of the legal entitlements.
^Must be delivered as entry or level one provision from local flexibility.
** Availability of loans at level 3+ does not replace the legal entitlement to full funding for residents aged 19 to 23 undertaking their first full level 3.
***Level 3 flexibility may apply if agreed within an agreed flexibility and delivery plan
- Learners without a full level 3 or above can access a qualification on the level 3 adult offer qualification list
=WMCA approved flex list – The level 3+ are full funded, where they support WMCA priorities related to the movement of residents into work or upskilling those in low pay jobs. This cover:
-
Those who do not meet the first full Level 3 (National policy legal entitlement) where they are unemployed/low wage i.e. 2nd level 3 and/or the qualification is not listed on either the legal entailment or NSF list
-
Those taking their first full level 4/5 – where they are unemployed/low wage
-
For non-low wage employed – providers will still need need prior approval through a business case