Lees Brook Community Sports College

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Skills Academy - Lees Brook Community Sports College

EMA – Policies and Procedures for learners studying at the Skills Academy

EMA – all you need to know

EMA is a weekly payment to help you cover the costs of attending college. The money is paid directly into your bank account and will be really handy when it comes to paying for travel to and from college, course books and any other equipment that you may need to buy for your course.

EMA relies on good attendance, behaviour and participation. You will only be paid your weekly EMA payment if:

you have attended all of the sessions that make up your programme of study for that week, and
you have behaved and participated in all of your lessons.

You signed your EMA Agreement to accept this. Read on for more information and guidelines about acceptable behaviour and participation.

If you do not attend one of the sessions that make up your weekly programme of study, you misbehave or you do not participate in your lessons, you may not receive your EMA payment for that week. If you need to be away from the Skills Academy on a certain day, you will need to apply for an authorised absence in advance.

EMA – acceptable behaviour and participation

EMA relies on you attending all of the sessions that make up your programme of study, behaving well and participating in all lessons. If you display any of the following behaviour while you are at the Skills Academy you will not receive your weekly EMA payment.

Reasons why you will not be paid your weekly EMA payment

Deliberately being disruptive whilst in class – interrupting the teaching and learning of other students in the classroom
Swearing , using foul or abusive language or making sexist or racist remarks towards members of staff, students or visitors
Persistent lateness to class
Being physically violent towards other students or members of staff
Bullying or intimidating members of staff or other students, or committing acts of physical or verbal abuse
Being in possession of, or under the influence of, alcohol or drugs
Using language or displaying behaviour that other students or members of staff think is offensive – this could be of a racial, sexual or homophobic nature, or offensive to those with learning or physical disabilities
Not being properly dressed or equipped for lessons
Not paying attention in class
Using a mobile phone during lesson time
Listening to an MP3 player during lesson time
Failing to complete class work and coursework on time
Smoking on the college grounds
Chewing gum in college
Arguing with or answering back to members of staff, teachers, support staff, office staff, catering staff, mid-day supervisors or anyone else
Deliberate acts of vandalism to the building or equipment in or around the Skills Academy and the main school site

If you exhibit any of the above behaviour, not only will you have your EMA payment stopped for the week that the incident occurred you may also have disciplinary action taken against you.

What happens if you are away from the Skills Academy?

In some cases, the college will consider an absence to be authorised. If your absence has been authorised, you will still get your weekly EMA payment as though you had attended in full – this only applies to authorised absences.

If you know you are going to be away from college on a particular day, you can apply for an authorised absence. You need to do this at least two days before the day that you need to be away. Reasons why you might apply for an authorised absence are listed below. If you need to apply for an authorised absence, speak to your form tutor or Student Services Officer at the Skills Academy.

Reasons to apply for an authorised absence

If you have a medical or dental appointment that cannot be arranged outside of college hours
If you need to look after a family member or another person who you have caring responsibilities for – this should be a one off incident and should not happen on a regular basis.
A religious holiday or festival
A visit to another college for either an open day or an interview
An appointment with your Connexions Personal Adviser- although these will normally be arranged at the Skills Academy
A work experience or work placement that forms part of your course – you should not get a wage for doing this
If you’re taking part in an extra-curricular activity – such as drama, sport or volunteering. Authorised absence will only be given if the activity you are involved in reflects a significant level of personal achievement – such as taking part in a regional or national event or some other high profile one off event
A meeting with your probation officer
Going to the funeral of a close family member
A driving test – you will not be given authorised absence for driving lessons
A Skills Academy Council Meeting

We will consider other reasons for authorised absence on an individual basis.

If you know that you’re going to be away but don’t apply for authorised absence we will assume that you didn’t have permission to be away – therefore, you won’t get your EMA payment for that week.

If you’re ever away for a reason that you couldn’t have predicted in advance, you should contact the Skills Academy no later than 10am on the day that you’ll be away. The Skills Academy telephone number is 01332 676479. We will then consider whether or not your absence was really avoidable and if we are going to pay your EMA for that week. Unless you have a really good reason why you cannot contact us on the day, your absence will automatically be considered unauthorised and your EMA payment for that week will be stopped.

Applying for an authorised absence

Remember – you need to apply for an authorised absence at least two days before the day that you need to be away. When you apply for an authorised absence we will ask you for evidence to support your request for an authorised absence – for example, you may be asked to show your appointment card if you’ve got a medical appointment or a letter if you have an interview at another college.

Reasons that are not valid for authorised absences

You will not normally be granted an authorised absence for the following reasons:

If you’re taking time off to go on holiday in term time
Part-time or full-time work that is not part of your programme of study
Time off for leisure activities
Birthdays or similar celebrations
Babysitting
Shopping
Driving lessons – you should arrange these to take place in your free time

This list is not complete and we have the final decision on whether an absence is authorised or unauthorised.

What if I don’t know I’m going to be off?

You won’t always know that you’re going to be away from the Skills Academy in advance. The following reasons for absence would usually be classed as authorised, as long as you let us know on the day that you are not able to make it to the Skills Academy:

An emergency involving a family member or another person you have caring responsibilities for – such as a sudden severe illness.
Unforeseen transport problems that mean you cannot get to college. You should try to use an alternative means of transport where possible.

Again, this list is not complete, and we have the right to make the final decision on whether absence is authorised or unauthorised.

General authorisations

In some cases we may give you a general authorised absence – for example:

If severe weather means that we cannot open the Skills Academy
Where a session cannot run because the tutor is ill and there is no replacement
Some other emergency which means we have to close the Skills Academy

What happens if I’m too ill to attend the Skills Academy?

As EMA is a payment to help cover the costs of attending college, sickness is not accepted as a reason for authorised absence. At the Skills Academy we will allow you one episode of illness up to three days maximum per term as long as you provide a letter from your parent/carer. If you are absent for more than three days due to illness in a term or if you are absent a second time in a term, even for one day, you will not get your EMA payment for that week.

Exceptions to this rule include:

Students with ongoing medical conditions – a flexible learning pattern may be agreed between the Skills Academy and the student, or
Genuine exceptional circumstances that have been agreed by the Skills Academy.

Bonus Payments

There will be no bonus payments during 2010-11 due to a decision made by the Government at the end of last year.

If you are unsure of any of the points raised in this booklet, please contact your Form Tutor or Student Support Officer at the Skills Academy.

Useful telephone numbers:

The Skills Academy – 01332 676479

Learner Support Helpline (EMA) – 0800 121 8989