The Scottish Government has announced significant changes to the Individual Learning Account (ILA) system from Skills Development Scotland (SDS). All SCMA members will be notified by email or letter about the forthcoming changes and how they may affect you.
Until now, those who have been eligible to apply for and receive SDS ILA accounts will have received up to £200 to use towards a variety of learning programmes. For SCMA members, this enabled the option to use ILA to pay for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) workshops or e-Learning programmes from Learn with SCMA.
Potential childminders also benefited from ILA accounts as they could use the funding to pay for either the Induction to Childminding course or the Induction to Childminding e-Learning programme.
How is ILA changing?
SCMA and all other registered training providers have been informed that ILA is getting a refresh over the summer. This means the existing scheme will close to new applications, and those who currently have ILA funding to spend, will need to use the funding for a course beginning no later than 30 September 2017. This course must be booked by 30 June 2017.
The Scottish Government, together with SDS, has reviewed the current ILA criteria and administration of ILA’s. The revised scheme will come into effect in October 2017 and the funded will be renamed as an Individual Training Account (ITA).
If you’re eligible for an ITA then you’ll be entitled to funding of up to £200 per year towards a course. The key differences are only courses resulting in a recognised qualification will be eligible for funding, and learners can only use their funding to complete one course within one year.
What does this mean for Learn with SCMA?
For SCMA members, if you have unused funds in your current ILA account you can still book onto one of our interactive CPD workshops, provided you book before 30 June and it is due to take place before the 30 September.
Alternatively, you can purchase any of our existing range of e-Learning programmes, provided you book before 30 June. SCMA e-Learning programmes are not restricted by time, therefore you can access the programme at a time that best suits your needs.
SCMA is currently exploring opportunities going forward and is in discussion with the Scottish Government regarding this. Further announcements will be made in due course.
More information is available at
skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk.