The Office for Students (OfS) is responsible for safeguarding standards within the sector. It ensures that the Department for Education works collaboratively with the sector to make sure that it acts in the best interests of students. The regulatory framework is designed to ensure that higher education providers are: providing value for money for students; are taking action to improve access and participation; and they have student protection plans in place in case of any market failure.

My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education’s guidance to the OfS sets out that student interests should be central to the mission of the OfS and that the OfS should promote a positive higher education experience.

In relation to the student experience, the government has asked the OfS to promote providers’ active engagement with the welfare and wellbeing of students and in particular encourages measures to support student mental health.

Undergraduate students who are required to repeat a year of study on their course due to compelling personal reasons (e.g. illness, ill health or pregnancy) can apply for an additional year of tuition fee loan and living costs support from Student Finance England for their repeat year of study.

Undergraduate students who suspend their studies due to illness, caring responsibilities or pregnancy can apply to Student Finance England to continue paying their living costs support during their period of absence.

From data published in March 2019, covering the period 17/18, there were around 360,000 informal carers that care for more than one individual.

The information is published and available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/family-resources-survey-financial-year-201718

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/789338/frs-carers-data-tables-2017-18.xlsx

(Table 5_1 and table 5_7)

Data on release on Childcare Resettlement Licence (CRL) is published regularly in the Offender Management Statistics:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/offender-management-statistics-quarterly-october-to-december-2018

Table A3.7 of Prison Releases: 2018 shows that there were 32 incidences of release on CRL for men and 322 incidences of release on CRL for women. This is the number of releases rather than the number of individuals released, which is not available by type of release on temporary licence (ROTL).

CRL is a form of ROTL which allows primary carers of children under 18 to be released to help maintain the relationship with their children. As with any ROTL there is a stringent risk assessment and the release must be in the child’s best interests. The higher incidence of release on CRL for women reflects the fact that primary carers of children are more likely to be women.

The Adult Education Budget (AEB) currently supports 3 legal entitlements to full funding for eligible adult learners:

• English and maths, up to and including level 2, for individuals aged 19+, who have not previously attained a GCSE grade A* - C or grade 4, or higher.
• First full qualification at level 2 for individuals aged 19 - 23.
• First full qualification at level 3 for individuals aged 19 - 23.

A fourth legal entitlement to fully funded specified digital skills qualifications for adults, aged 19+, with no or low digital skills will come into effect from 1 August 2020.

In addition, the AEB supports delivery of flexible tailored provision for adults up to level 2 which is either fully funded or co-funded depending on a learner’s age, prior attainment and circumstances.

For the 2019/20 academic year, the AEB is continuing a trial to support those in work on low incomes, which allows providers to fully fund eligible learners on low wages, who would otherwise be eligible for co-funding. The trial will apply in respect of learners who are resident outside of devolved areas.

From August 2019, approximately 50% of the AEB has been devolved to 6 Mayoral Combined Authorities and the Mayor of London, through the Greater London Authority. They are now responsible for commissioning and funding AEB provision for learners resident in their areas.

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) remains responsible for funding learners resident in non-devolved areas. For those learners, we will continue to consider how we can most effectively support learners. However, currently there are no current plans to extend full fee remission to full time carers under the ESFA AEB funding rules.