If you have a student in your practice that is looking to start training as a veterinary nurse then, due to changes in government funding, it may be worth them starting in January!
From 1 August 2013 students in England, aged 24 years of age or over, will no longer have level 3 programmes such as A Levels, Advanced Apprenticeships and Level 3 Diplomas subsidised by the Government; this includes the Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing programme. Instead, the student or employer will be required to pay the course fees plus the money which would have previously been funded by the Government.
To support learners with the resulting additional course costs, the Government has extended the learner loan system that is currently in place for higher education students. The new 24+ Advanced Learning Loans will be available to most learners aged 24 years or over who are looking to undertake a level 3 programme; household incomes are not taken into account and there are no credit checks. The new loans will only become payable once the learner earns at least £21,000 per annum. Repayments will be made at 9 per cent of any income over the threshold above; for example on an income of £25,000 per annum the monthly repayment would be around £30.
The new loans are good news for students who already have a degree as they will still be able to apply for one of these new loans to cover the course fees of a level 3 programme, where currently such students have to pay the full cost up front.
Read more information on Learning Loans and view frequently asked questions.
If your practice has a student that may be affected by these changes we recommend that you contact us on 0844 372 9410 and, if appropriate, consider them starting this January.