Commentary Part 9: Miscellaneous Section 176: Support schemes relating to education and training for persons aged 10 to 15
688.This section confers on the Learning and Skills Council for England (LSC) a power to manage and fund particular types of support for learners aged between 10 and 15, for the purpose of encouraging them to undergo education and training. This will allow the DfES to continue the transfer of the management of learner support to the LSC as recommended in the Department’s efficiency scrutiny.
689.Examples of provision that may be made by the LSC include support for childcare under the Care to Learn scheme. The Care to Learn scheme is a Departmental scheme to give financial support to teenage parents who want to continue their education or training and need help with the cost of their childcare. Responsibility for managing this scheme has already transferred to the LSC for young parents aged 16 to 18 and it is considered important for the scheme to be managed as a single and efficient scheme to offer support to return to learning to all young parents under 19. Provision in respect of learners aged under 16 is currently made by the Secretary of State under sections 14 to 17 of the 2002 Act.
690.It is also expected that the LSC will be involved in arranging other types of learner support including transport for students under 16 who are following a mixture of academic education and vocational training in further education institutions.