Our Discretionary Learning Support Fund (DLSF) enables as many students to learn as possible. The fund is limited and your application will be assessed in order of date received. It is part of our AEW Student Deal. Your application must be made as soon as your application to join a course is confirmed. To be eligible you need to be:

• Enrolled on an accredited course
• Aged 19 years of age on 31 August, in the year your course starts
• Have income below £34,194 if you live in WMCA or £25,750 if you live outside of the WMCA
• Meet the residency requirements for courses funded by the WMCA or DfE
• Unemployed, looking for work and in receipt of Universal Credit in a Work Group, Job Seekers Allowance, Income Support or Employment and Support Allowance (work related activity group and support group)
• Your household is in receipt of a means-tested benefit including Council Tax reduction, Housing Benefit, pension Guarantee Credit or Working Tax Credit

You must attend regularly and behave appropriately, or your funding may be withdrawn.

(Subject to change for 2026-2027)

To access this fund, we will need evidence of your earnings e.g., wage slip/P60 and/or your benefit evidence. All information is kept confidential and used only to review and process your application. You can apply via the AEW Student Deal Application 2026-2027 form.

Being a parent and attending a course shouldn’t be a problem. Use your government-funded free childcare before applying for the AEW Student Deal to help with childcare costs.

• If you are a working parent, you may be able to get 30 hours of free childcare a week if your child is aged 9 months to 4 years old. You’ll get these 30 hours for 38 weeks of the year.
• You may be able to get free childcare for more than 38 weeks a year if you take fewer hours over more weeks. Check with your childcare provider to find out if this is something they offer.
• All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of free early education or childcare per week. If you or your child get extra support, you may be eligible for free education and childcare for 2 year olds.

For more information about free early education funding or to check your eligibility, visit: https://www.gov.uk/find-free-early-education or to speak to a member of the Information for Families team please call 01902 554242.

We only pay registered OFSTED childcare providers, and only for the time you are in class. For more information Contact Us.