The Tuition Fund has been provided nationally for students on a 16 to 19 study programme to receive additional support in light of missed learning due to the coronavirus pandemic. This fund enables the College to deliver targeted support sessions for students who have been impacted by our College closure and remote education.

City College Plymouth will use the fund to support identified students from across faculty areas. These students will take part in small group sessions with teaching and learning support staff in order to support their progression. The Tuition Fund can be used to support students with their vocational programme in addition to English and maths.

The Tuition Fund is designed to support students who have been most impacted by the effects of COVID-19 and the resulting disruption to their learning. With this in mind, the fund is aimed at students aged between 16 and 19 on a full-time study programme. Support is also prioritised to those students meeting the criteria that have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including students aged 19 to 25 with an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Participating students must not have already achieved a grade 5 in English and/or maths by the age of 16.

City College Plymouth will identify small groups of up to five students to receive additional support. In some cases, it may be appropriate to have one-to-one sessions which will be especially relevant for students with SEND. Staff within faculty areas across the College will identify students following an individual needs assessment which will also meet the eligibility criteria. Tuition sessions will be delivered face-to-face, online or through a blended delivery model in line with national coronavirus guidelines.

Examples of some Tuition Fund sessions are as follows:

• academic study skills sessions – tailored support for students to develop their study skills so that they can successfully engage with curriculum content
• vocational programme support sessions – specifically designed to support students with the content of their main study programme and develop technical skills in practical areas
• English and maths support sessions – targeted identification of gaps in English and maths knowledge, whilst also incorporating pastoral support aimed at developing confidence, motivation and aspiration building
• exam preparation for GCSEs and functional skills – designed to equip our students with the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful in their examinations
• pastoral support – tailored guidance to enable students to overcome personal barriers and feel adequately supported to progress with their learning.

City College Plymouth is committed to using the Tuition Fund to support our community and enable our students to achieve their potential. This will be delivered in accordance with the Government’s guidance on the 16 to 19 Tuition Fund by:

• producing a statement which outlines how the fund will be used in line with Government guidance to provide support to disadvantaged students and subsequently publishing this guidance on our website
• recording the use of the funding, including information relating to individual students that receive the support, the needs of those students, the number of hours of tuition delivered and retaining the necessary evidence of the tuition provided
• delivering the extra tuition and spending the tuition fund in the 2023/24 academic year
• notify the ESFA of any unspent funding from this fund for it to be reclaimed.