Enhanced Learning for the Armed Forces   
CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT ISSUES - UPDATED REGULARLY

Learning Providers

  • A new funding commitment commenced from 6th April 2009. For more details of the new scheme please goto the PF FE HE page. If you are eligible for the funding you must use a PF FE HE eligible learning provider, please note that NOT ALL ELC PROVIDER ARE PF FEHE ELIGIBLE. These providers can be identified via our Search engine. Please click here to use our search engine.
  • The only definitive list of Learning Providers is available from this website, you must double check that your chosen Provider is listed. All claim forms received by ELCAS for any provider not fully approved, at the time of receipt of the claim, will be returned to the authorising MoD Education Officer.
  • Learning Providers please note that Invoices for ELC only claims must be received by ELCAS on or after the course start date and within nine months of the course start date. Please see ELC only example invoice for guidance.PF FE HE Learning Providers please note that Invoices which include and element of PF FEHE funding must be dated and received by ELCAS no earlier than 6 weeks after the course start date, confirm that the learning is learner is participating and undertaking the learning effectively at the point of invoice.and confirm that learner is undertaking at least the equivalent of 50% of a full time course. Please see PF FE HE invoice for guidance.
  • Please click here if you would like to apply to become an approved learning provider you are publicly funded and provide FE HE qualifications. For guidance please go to the full Learning Provider application process flow
  • A significant review of none publicly funded providers has been undertaken in respect of ELC only provision. ELC only provision scheme membership is currently at its maximum ceiling and MOD considers that there is adequate provision across a broad spectrum of academic and vocational subjects. As such, no further expressions of interest from ELC only provider organisations are being considered.

TIPS FOR CLAIMANTS

A key stage of making a claim is choosing a suitable learning activity and Provider (please refer to the eligibility guidance on the claiming page). Your chosen organisation must be an ELC Approved Provider. For claims including and element of PF FEHE funding your chosen organisation must also be a PF FEHE approved provider. Use only the comprehensive list of Approved Providers available via the search engine on this website.

The easiest way to identify a suitable provider is to use the search filters available on the Search Providers page. Using these results you can then either refine your search to take into account other factors or you can explore the individual provider websites through the links provided. This search engine facility also allows searches for PF FEHE approved providers, Approved Learning Providers by name, The Geographic Area (for example the Open University will be listed in all areas as they support training on a nationwide basis), Organisation Type, Qualification Levels and/or Delivery Method. Please note that when searching for Learning Providers offering distance learning you should not search by geographic location.

TOP TIP: Please note the full ELC claiming procedure under the ELC Scheme: Please note the full claiming procedure for claims containing an element of PF FEHE : Claim procedure flow chart Annex 1 to the DIN

CLAIMANTS BE AWARE !

  • It is important that you do not set up a loan/credit agreement for the full fee amount under any circumstances.
  • You must not pay any money to the Provider or book the course before you receive your Claim Authorisation Note.
  • Learning Providers should not request payment for either the ELC portion of the fee or the PF FEHE portion of the fee from you directly. The Learning Provider will invoice DGFM separately for this.
  • Please note that although the Learning Provider as an organisation may be Approved you must still ensure that the Learning Activities that they provide are eligible. ELCs may only be claimed for learning which results in a nationally recognised qualification at Level 3 or above on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) (England and Wales), a Level 6 or above on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) or, if pursued overseas, an approved international equivalent qualification. Please see PF FEHE page for rules regarding eligible learning in respect of this funding element.
  • If you are not happy that your chosen Learning Provider is following the ELC scheme policies please detail your complaint in writing via your Education Staff or Single Service Representative.

INFORMATION FOR LEARNING PROVIDERS ? Claimants should read this too! Be aware of what Approved Learning Providers are required to do.

Learning Provider Responsibilities

Learning Providers are required to comply with all the ELC and PF FEHE scheme, rules as applicable and to keep up to date on changes to these by referring to this website and specifically the underpinning policy documents:

Defence Information Notice 2009DIN07-042.

Learning providers must also have read and understood the claim process flows appearing in both the JSP and DIN documents.

Claimants will expect Learning Providers to understand the ELC and PF FEHE schemes as applicable and the whole claiming process. Please ensure that as an Approved Learning Provider you have familiarised yourself with this process, the administrative requirements of the scheme and ensure that you can comply with everything within the published policy and within this website.

ELC funding is only available for courses that result in a Nationally Recognised Qualification at level three or above on the National Qualification Framework or level six or above on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. Learning Providers may be required by MoD or ELCAS to provide evidence that their courses meet this criterion at any time.

PF FE HE funding is only available for the following learning purposes:

First Level 3 or national equivalent. This refers to a first full Level 3 i.e. the achievement of two GCE A levels (A2) (passes at A-E) or vocational equivalent as defined by the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) or the Qualifications and Credit Framework (QCF) (England and Wales); or in Scotland a Level 6 qualification (SVQ Level 3 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF).

Or a first foundation degree or first full undergraduate degree or national equivalent. Typically to be eligible for this support, the higher education qualifications would be at levels 4-6 of the Framework for Higher Education and Qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ) eg: a first undergraduate degree (including foundation degree) or Higher National Certificate or Diploma for which the entry qualification is lower than a degree and which normally takes place at a publicly funded institution.

In Scotland the equivalent qualification is a Higher National Certificate (HNC), Higher National Diploma (HND) or a first undergraduate degree, undertaken at a further education college (FE college) or a higher education institution (HEI).

In addition to adhering to the relevant policies Learning Providers must ensure that they proactively use their login account to update and provide any changes to contact details, course provision, training location and Learning Provider description appearing on the ELCAS website.

LEARNING PROVIDERS PLEASE NOTE THAT FAILURE TO FULLY COMPLY WITH THE SCHEME REQUIREMENTS TO SUBMIT YOUR INVOICES EXACTLY IN LINE WITH THE GUIDANCE PROVIDED ON THIS PAGE WILL LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT DELAYS IN YOU RECEIVING PAYMENT FROM MOD. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF LEARNING PROVIDERS TO READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL OF THE INFORMATION WITHIN THIS WEBSITE AND FURTHER ENSURE THAT THE DEPARTMENT RESPONSIBLE FOR SUBMITTING INVOICES TO ELCAS FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT IS REQUIRED AND HOW TO ACHIEVE THIS.

Quality Assurance of Learning Provision

As part of our process to ensure continuous improvement and consistency throughout all aspects of the Enhanced Learning Credits Scheme, aspects of Learning Provider service provision will be evaluated. This process will be two-fold. Firstly, upon completion of the learning activity the Learner will submit to ELCAS an evaluation form. Secondly, we will carry out a series of evaluation visits throughout the financial year to cover a sample of 5% of the active Learning Provider organisations over this time. This sample is selected using these criteria. Should your Organisation be selected for such a visit we will contact you in advance.

WHAT SHOULD LEARNING PROVIDERS BE PREPARED TO DO?

Unsatisfactory Learning Provider performance as defined by the MoD may result in Learning Provider Approved status being revoked. As a minimum requirement Approved Learning Providers should:

  • Have sufficient equipment / materials available to facilitate learning
  • Provide a high quality of learning provision
  • ELC claimants should receive the same level of service as none ELC claimants
  • Encourage claimants to complete ELCAS evaluations forms which should be returned directly to ELCAS not via the Learning Provider
  • Achieve at least 80% satisfaction score on every evaluation received from a claimant
  • Respond fully in a timely and efficient manner to complaints
  • Make themselves available for pre-arranged ELCAS evaluation visits
  • Act appropriately on recommendations made as a result of an ELCAS evaluation visit or MoD authorised investigation
  • Adhere to the administrative, invoicing and payment term requirements of the ELC and PF FEHE schemes as appropriate
  • Be aware of the ELC and PF FEHE scheme rules and policies as appropriate in respect of ELCAS claimants

In addition to ensuring quality provision within the Approved Supplier List ELCAS are also required to ensure there is claimant demand for those Learning Providers available. If a Learning Provider has no claiming activity logged against their claiming record for more than twelve months they will be notified that their Approved Provider status has been revoked.