Advanced Learner Loan bulletin - September 2023

2023/24 Start of term checklist

Many of your learners will have started or soon be starting their loan funded courses. We’ve included a checklist in preparation for the release of timely loan payments:

• are all learning aim details, including start and end date, correct?
• has your learner entered the correct fee amount and applied for the correct loan amount?
• if not, have you submitted the appropriate change of circumstance (CoC)?
• have you entered ULNs to allow us to make payments?
• have you confirmed attendances for new and returning learners?

It’s important that the information held for each learner is correct before you submit the initial attendance confirmation. Please make sure you enter this within six weeks of the learning aim start date. If we approve an application more than four weeks after the learning aim start date, you must confirm attendance within two weeks of the approval date.

Please remember to check your CoC worklist and payment instalment report to ensure any outstanding admin tasks are completed for previous academic years.

Attendance confirmations

You must submit any outstanding attendance confirmations for learners currently in study by close of business on 12 October to ensure payment on 18 October.

You can find more information on the payment and drawdown section of the Learning Provider Portal user guide.

We’ll monitor your returns to make sure you’re complying with the service standards.

September performance management review point

The Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) have advised that, in line with their funding rules, you'll find out the outcome of the September review point the week starting 9 October.

If you’re being awarded an increase to your loan facility, you’ll receive an updated contract. You must digitally sign this before ESFA will tell us about the increase. Please do this as soon as possible. If you return this by 7 November, you’ll see an increase on LP Portal on 15 November. If you miss the deadline, please sign the contract by 5 December. You can find further details in the Advanced Learner Loan funding rules guidance.

Account Manager services

We will be in touch where performance issues are identified, however in the meantime, please contact your account manager if you would like to arrange any of the following:

• an account review
• an update on your organisation’s performance against SLC service standards
• a bespoke portal training session
• an academic awareness workshop

They will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the topics highlighted in this bulletin.