Commentary on Sections Article 35B – Employment, education and training
Article 35B replaces the powers to provide assistance with employment, education and training previously found in Article 36(2) and (3) of the Children Order before amendment by the Act. In addition to the general powers to provide assistance under Article 35A, an authority has specific powers to provide assistance to young care leavers where this is in connection with the young person’s employment (Article 35B(1)), education or training (Article 35B(2)).
Paragraph (1) provides that a relevant authority may give assistance to a person under 21 who was looked after by the authority after reaching the age of 16, by contributing to expenses incurred by the young person in living near the place where he or she is, or is to be, employed.
Paragraphs (2) and (3) provide that a relevant authority may give assistance to a person under the age of 24 who was looked after by the authority after reaching age 16, by contributing to expenses incurred by the young person in living near the place where he or she is, or will be, receiving education or training. The authority may also make a grant to enable the young person to meet expenses in connection with his or her education or training.
Paragraph (4) enables an authority to disregard any interruption in a young person’s attendance at a course connected with education or training if he or she resumes it as soon as is reasonably practicable.
Paragraph (5) places a new duty on an authority to provide, should it be needed, suitable out of term accommodation, or the funds to secure it, to young care leavers in full-time further or higher education.
Paragraph (6) gives the Department the power to make regulations to define the terms “full-time”, “further education”, “higher education” and “vacation” for the purposes of this Article.