Academic Year 2025 -2026

Wirral Lifelong Learning Service has a policy of charging fees for some courses. Our funding is received from Liverpool City Region; they expect us to set fees for some courses, the government view being that adults who can afford to pay for learning should pay, and public subsidy should be targeted at the most disadvantaged learners. Any income generated from fees is used to fund more courses and growth. The fee policy is based on a rate comparable to other local providers who run similar courses.

Wirral Lifelong and Family Learning Service – Fees Statement

• Adult Learners, who are on an income, based benefit, or who earn no more than £35,864.40 before deductions, will not pay course fees.
• Skills for Life / Functional Skills - Adult literacy and numeracy / Family Learning literacy, numeracy courses are free (this is a national Adult Learning policy).
• English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) at level 2 or below are free.
• Multiply courses are free.
• Test and Learn courses are free.
• Essential Digital Skills courses are free.
• Very short tasters or workshops, comprising of one session, can be free, as a tool to
• Courses targeting specific vulnerable groups are often free for learners.
• For specialist courses and courses commissioned by another organisation or with sponsorship from employers, a higher fee will be charged to cover costs.

Encourage learners to progress to further learning.

Fee policy 2025/26 - Rates

The following table indicates banded rates for courses:

Please note that:

• Any course / workshop below 6 hours are free
• EDS / ESOL / Eng & Maths are all free
• Test & Learn and similar provision is free.

The prices above are for all learners who live in the Liverpool City Region and have an appropriate postcode. Any learners outside the LCR are not eligible for these subsidised courses. A full-cost recovery fee would be applicable (prices for full-cost are available on request).

Instalments: 

There is an option to pay in instalments (learner will need to complete a short application form).  Payments on a weekly basis are discouraged due to practicalities of collection, transporting and receipting, but 4 equal payments, for example, would be acceptable. These can be negotiated with our admin team on 0151 666 3330

Remission Of Fees:  Wirral Lifelong Service Fee Remission policy 

In the 25/26 year, more Wirral adults than ever before will receive their courses at no charge.

Courses are free to learners in receipt of an income based / means tested benefit. Courses are also free for all learners who individually earn no more than £35,864.40 Gross, annually. 

Fee remission Categories

Evidence 

All proof of entitlement must be produced at the enrolment session or first teaching session.

Proof of entitlement must be current and /or dated within the last 3 months. 

Certification Costs

• certification will be absorbed by the Lifelong Learning Service, for the majority of adult learners, in the 2025-6 academic year, exceptions being:
• Where a learner is an employee of or is a client of another organisation, costs can be recovered from that organisation by way of invoicing.  
• Where learners cannot evidence fee remission category as detailed above

Refund of Fees

We recognise that there are circumstances in which learners have a genuine reason to claim a refund. 

Refunds are offered in the following circumstances to all people who have enrolled on a class:

• Where the course closes as a result of lack of numbers to make the class viable.
• Where a class is cancelled by the service for any reason.
• The meeting times, venue or day of the class are changed so that it is no longer possible for an individual to attend.
• A learner enrols in advance of the course starting and pays a fee but prior to the course starting their circumstances change so that they are entitled to a free class.  Note this would not apply once the course has started.
• In addition, a refund may be offered where personal circumstances change so that it is impossible to attend the class.

Instalments

Instalment payment options will be offered; in circumstances where a learner is paying for a course by instalments they are not paying for part of the course, merely spreading the payment.  If they dropped out of a course, they would be liable for the full amount of the course – we don’t operate a ‘pay as you learn’ system.

Appeals 

In exceptional circumstances learners who are not eligible for fee remission can appeal, in writing to the Business Support Manager, to be considered for fee remission. 

Email: lifelonglearning@wirral.gov.uk

Review

This policy will be reviewed annually in light of national changes in funding for adult Learning. 

Version 1.1, September 2025