Introduction

Discretionary Support Funds has been shaped in recent years to provide an effective set of arrangements that work alongside EMAs to maximize achievement, participation and retention. It is available in FE colleges and school sixth forms to help towards costs that students may have when starting or following a course. These costs could include: books and equipment, extra for visits or field trips, hardships affecting a student's living, learning or personal circumstances, and emergencies.

The funding forms an effective safety net for disadvantaged students from low-income households who wish to remain in education.

Evaluation of the funds shows that overall they reach 15% of the most disadvantaged young people in FE and are having a positive effect on retention with a higher retention rate than that of the general student cohort.

Priority groups for these funds include: students with disabilities and /or learning difficulties, those leaving care, probationers and those students who have or whose families have financial difficulties. The funding has a disproportionate impact on ethnic minorities, the disabled and most disadvantaged. Disadvantaged students who were supported achieved almost as well as the main cohort of students.