Funding and Vocational Pathways for Level 2 Adult Learners
New Funding Rules 2024
Funding Your Future Skills
The way adult education is funded in England is changing. The old system, known as the Adult Education Budget (AEB), has been replaced by the new Adult Skills Fund (ASF) for the 2024-2025 academic year. This isn't just a name change. The ASF is designed with a clear goal: to help adults aged 19 and over gain the skills they need to find good jobs and build careers.
Think of the Adult Skills Fund as the government's investment in your potential. Completing your ESOL Level 2 qualification is the key that unlocks this opportunity.
Lancashire's New Path
For learners in Preston and the wider Lancashire area, there's another important change happening. A new local governing body, the Lancashire Combined County Authority (LCCA), is being formed. The long-term plan is for the LCCA to take direct control over the adult skills budget for our region, a process called devolution. This will allow funding to be targeted at the specific needs of Lancashire's economy.
However, this transition takes time. For the 2024-2025 academic year, funding rules are still set nationally by the Department for Education (DfE). The full devolution of the skills budget to the LCCA is not expected until August 2026. So for now, you'll be accessing nationally funded programmes.
Types of Funding Available
Under the ASF, there are two main ways your future courses can be funded. It's important to understand the difference.
First, there are legal entitlements . The government considers certain skills so essential that they must fund them for any eligible adult who hasn't already achieved them. This includes courses in English and maths up to a Level 2 (equivalent to a GCSE). If you qualify, these courses are fully funded, regardless of how much you earn.
The second category is where your ESOL qualification becomes particularly powerful. This funding combines two streams: 'Local Flexibility' and 'Free Courses for Jobs'. Both now use a single, unified earnings threshold to determine if you can study for free. If you earn below the annual threshold (or are unemployed), you can access a wide range of vocational courses fully funded. This is the main route to gaining job-specific skills after you've mastered your English.
The government's ambition is that public investment in adult skills will primarily flow through two channels: the Adult Skills Fund and the Growth and Skills Levy.
| Funding Type | Who is it for? | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Entitlements | Eligible adults without Level 2 English/maths. | Fully funded, regardless of your income. |
| Local Flexibility / Free Courses for Jobs | Adults seeking vocational skills. | Fully funded if you earn below the annual threshold. |
By completing ESOL Level 2, you are not at the end of your learning journey. You're at the starting gate, ready to access a much wider world of training that can lead directly to employment.
Let's review the main ideas before moving on.
Now, check your understanding of these new funding rules.
What is the new name for the fund that has replaced the Adult Education Budget (AEB) for the 2024-2025 academic year?
What is the primary goal of the new Adult Skills Fund (ASF)?
Understanding these changes is the first step. Next, we will explore what kinds of courses this funding can open up for you.