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Adult learning

How to apply

You can apply by post or in person at Horton House for any of the courses listed in this guide.

Please read this information carefully as there are some changes this year.

You should post your form to:

• Address:
• Horton House Adult Learning Centre
  Horton Street
  Halifax HX1 1PU.

Alternatively if you wish to drop off your enrolment form in person you may do so at any of the three main centres (Halifax, Brighouse and Todmorden), during normal office opening hours.

There is no need to complete separate forms for each course you are applying for, as you can now apply for a maximum of 5 courses on one form.

For Skills for Life courses, do not send in an enrolment form - you must ring us to book an assessment first.

Adult learning courses booking form [PDF file 543KB]|

1. Select your course(s)
2. Fill in all sections on the enrolment form(s)
3. Post the following three items in one envelope per person:
   • Your completed enrolment form
   • Evidence for fee remission - if in receipt of Job Seekers Allowance / Employment Support Allowance
   • Stamped addressed envelope (SAE).

Closing date

Enrolment Forms need to arrive at Horton House Adult Learning Centre, by Monday 2nd January 2012, or at the very latest at least one week prior to the start of your chosen course. Places are limited and will be dealt with on a “first come, first served” basis, so please enrol as early as you can to avoid disappointment.

How much does it cost?

Course fees are listed in the course guide, and an Administration Fee of £5.00 per course must be added to this amount (the Administration Fee applies to each and every course you choose to enrol on).

The current fee pricing policy has changed as of 1st August 2011. The Skills Funding Agency (SFA) funding requirements specify that only learners receiving Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) or Employment Support Allowance (ESA) in the Work Related Activity Group are entitled to course fee remission (you will still need to pay the £5.00 Administration Fee per course and any test / exam / accreditation fees as applicable). Evidence of entitlement must be supplied with your Enrolment Form – i.e. letter from JobCentre (appointment cards will not be accepted), otherwise your enrolment form will be returned to you and your application for a place on your chosen course may be delayed.

Please note there will be no discounts or remissions on course fees for any other learners.

Considering the current economic climate and to address the new fee pricing policy, CAL has introduced a new lower hourly rate for the majority of its provision. Our Skills for Life courses continue to be free of charge to all learners (except for GCSEs and ESOL courses). However, some professional development and recreational courses have been priced at an appropriate market rate to ensure value for money, and a few of these courses will have no fee remission.

Note: Anybody not in receipt of JSA / ESA will pay the full course fee as listed in the course guide in 2011/12.

Methods of payment

By invoice

Where you are paying a course fee you will be invoiced directly from Calderdale MBC. All invoices can be paid either by phone via the number listed on the invoice or in person at one of Calderdale’s cash payment offices. Payments cannot be accepted at Horton House.

Don’t worry if you have not received your invoice before the start of your course. Just turn up to the first session and your invoice will be sent to you during the first weeks of your course. Please be aware that once courses have recruited enough learners to become viable to run, then an invoice will be sent out to you, irrespective of start date. Please note that ALL invoices must be paid within 28 days of receipt, otherwise the Council will issue you with a debt recovery notice. DO NOT IGNORE THIS INVOICE. If you have any problems please contact a member of the Admin Team on 01422 392820 as soon as possible.

By cheque, cash or credit / debit card

For learners not paying course fees or if you are on a course which has free tuition and you are ONLY paying the £5.00 Administration Fee, you must pay by cheque or cash.

Instalments

Where an individual course fee is over £100.00, you may pay the balance in 2 equal instalments which will be invoiced by Calderdale MBC (the second instalment will be due approximately half way through the course). For any individual course fee over £400.00 you may opt to pay the balance in 4 equal instalments. Please tick the relevant box on the enrolment form.

Remember - Every course carries a £5.00 administration fee (including free tuition courses).

How do I know if I have got a place on a course or not?

1. If your application is successful, you will be allocated a place on your chosen course(s). Unless you have supplied a SAE, we will not normally send you confirmation of your place on the course. You must assume you have been successful (unless contacted by telephone to the contrary), and turn up to your first class.
2. If the course is full you will be put on a waiting list and notified accordingly. You will then be contacted immediately if places become available.

Note: Some courses also attract a Test / Examination / Accreditation Fee. Your course tutor will advise you at your first session of the likely cost. There are no remissions available for such fees.

Class sizes and cancellation

Please note that some classes may be cancelled if they do not recruit the minimum number of learners required. We reserve the right to postpone or cancel any course due to unforeseen circumstances or insufficient numbers. In this event any course fees paid will be refunded.

Unique Learner Number (ULN)

When you enrol for a course you will be allocated a ULN which will remain with you for life and be used to support learners to build a record of participation and achievements in learning. We will therefore require all learners to produce evidence of their identity at the first class. This may be in the form of a passport, driving licence, bank/credit/debit card, or National Insurance Card. Please bring this evidence with you to your first class to show to your tutor.

Refund policy

Calderdale Adult Learning has provision for refund of fees where a person who has enrolled applies at least two weeks (i.e. 10 working days) before commencement of the course. A Cancellation Fee of £12.00 will still be made, however. If you apply for a refund of course fees once your course has started you will also have to pay for any sessions attended, plus the Cancellation Fee of £12.00. All applications for refund of course fees must be submitted in writing to the Admin Team, Horton House

You can visit us in person at any of our main centres, during normal opening hours:

• Horton House Monday - Thursday 9am - 4pm and Fridays 9am - 1pm;
• Brighouse Adult Learning Centre Monday - Thursday 9am - 4pm;
• Todmorden Community College Monday - Thursday 9am - 4pm and Fridays 9am - 1pm.

If you decide more information is needed to see which course is right for you, you can give our Administration Team a call on 01422 392820 or e-mail cyps.cal@calderdale.gov.uk .

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