Your Guide to the John Leggott College Financial Support Package

Starting your studies at John Leggott College (JLC) in Scunthorpe is an exciting step toward your future. To ensure that financial barriers do not stand in the way of your education, JLC offers a comprehensive financial support scheme funded via the Education Funding Agency (EFA).

If your household is navigating tight budgets, you may be eligible for tailored financial assistance to help cover the day to day costs of college life. This comprehensive guide breaks down the eligibility criteria, bursary types, detailed documentation rules, and exact application steps for students living in North Lincolnshire and surrounding areas.

How do I qualify for the John Leggott College financial support package?

To be considered for financial assistance at JLC, you must meet the core income thresholds set by the college. Generally, you or your family must provide evidence of one of the following criteria:

• A net annual household income of less than £40,000.

• Current receipt of Universal Credit.

The 16-19 Financial Support Scheme at John Leggott College exists primarily to help students continue with and complete courses where they might otherwise be prohibited from doing so on financial grounds. 

However, this framework also extends to 19+ students who possess an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP), as well as 19+ students who are continuing on a course they originally started before they turned 19. All financial assistance is tailored to each individual student's needs, and support is provided on a strict case by case basis according to the guidelines in the financial bursary policy.

Free School Meals Eligibility

To qualify for a free school meal at the campus, you or your parent must be in receipt of specific qualifying benefits. These include:

• Income Support.

• Income-based Jobseekers Allowance.

• Income-related Employment & Support Allowance (ESA).

• Support under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.

• The guarantee element of State Pension Credit.

• Child Tax Credit, provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190 as assessed by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

• Working Tax Credit run-on paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit.

• Universal Credit.

Please note that households with a net income over £40,000 who claim Universal Credit will remain in receipt of Free School Meals based on government criteria, but they will not be eligible for any of the additional discretionary bursary support items provided by the college.

What does the JLC discretionary bursary cover for Scunthorpe students?

The discretionary bursary is accessible to any student with a net household income of less than £40,000 per annum, depending on funding availability. JLC sets out clear eligibility criteria, and priority is systematically given to those students from families with the lowest overall household income. 

When you are awarded a discretionary bursary, the support provisions are entirely tailored to your individual requirements and can cover multiple day to day campus and travel expenses.

First, the fund covers your standard campus charge and provides a daily meal allowance to ensure you can eat well while on site. To help you get to your classes safely, eligible students who live more than 3 miles walking distance from the college campus will receive a fully funded regional bus pass.

The bursary also addresses your digital and academic needs by granting you full access to a college Chromebook or tablet for the duration of the entire academic year. Additionally, you will receive financial help to purchase essential stationery, notebooks, and other specific course-related materials.

Beyond these standard provisions, JLC understands that your education involves experiences outside the traditional classroom environment. You can submit individual requests for additional funding to assist with the costs of essential educational trips and visits, course-required music lessons if applicable to your study track, mandatory Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for specific vocational courses, and your official UCAS application payments.

Who is eligible for the vulnerable groups bursary and Care to Learn funding?

JLC provides specialised funding options for young people facing unique personal circumstances or balancing parenthood with their sixth form education.

Bursary for Vulnerable Groups

This fund offers up to £1,200 per year, which can be used to provide additional support to students for their day to day living and not just learning costs. An individual assessment will be carried out once a learner has been deemed eligible for the fund. This targeted fund is specifically for students who are:

• In the care of the Local Authority or Foster parents.

• Care leavers who are 16, 17, or 18 years old.

• Receiving Income Support in their own name.

• Receiving Universal Credit in their own name.

• Disabled and in receipt of both Employment Support Allowance and Disability Living Allowance in their own name.

• Disabled and in receipt of both Employment Support Allowance and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in their own name.

Please note that this fund is used alongside the discretionary bursary. Therefore, learners who qualify for the vulnerable bursary will also be able to access the exact same support items from the discretionary bursary pool.

Care to Learn (For Young Parents)

If you are a young parent under 20 years of age on the start date of your course, you can access up to £180 per week, per child, to assist with childcare costs and additional travel expenses in relation to childcare provisions.

To qualify, you must be the main carer of the child and in receipt of child benefit for the children whom you are claiming for. The child must be in care at an approved provider, and payment is made directly to the childcare provider. This funding can only be used to cover costs relating to the time the student spends in college, and the weekly amount can and will vary based on your actual attendance.

How do I apply for student financial assistance at John Leggott College?

Applying for financial support at JLC has been completely digitised to make the entire process simple. Follow these quick steps to get your account set up:

1. Visit the website at https://www.leggott.ac.uk/financial-support.

2. To apply for the first time, you will need to complete the Register option.

3. To register, you will need to input your date of birth and a student ID number. If you are unsure about your student ID number, you can contact studentservices@leggott.ac.uk to obtain this.

4. Once you have entered the information, you will be sent an activation email. Please check your junk mail as sometimes it can go here instead of your main inbox. If you do not receive an activation email, email student services directly so they can investigate this for you; do not attempt to re-register.

5. Once you have your activation email, click the link and your account will be automatically activated. You will then have the option to log in and complete your application.

Please remember that you must apply for financial assistance and your college bus pass separately. If you are eligible for a free bus pass, your eligibility will not automatically enter a bus pass application into the system.

What documents and evidence do I need to submit for the JLC bursary?

To prevent processing delays, your application must be fully completed with clear, readable evidence that highlights the name of the person attached to the payments and the specific payment details. Use the following checklist to prepare your documents:

• Universal Credit: You must upload the last 3 months full Universal Credit statements from the online Universal Credit account. To do this, you must click into the month and open the statement fully, download the whole statement as a PDF file, and upload this to your application. If you are unable to download the PDF file, you may submit screenshots of all pages.

• Working Tax Credits / Child Tax Credits: You must upload all pages of the Tax Credit Award Notice for 2026/27 or all pages of the Tax Credit Review, year ending 2025/26.

• Payslips: You must upload the most recent payslips. For weekly pay, the college requires the last 12 payslips; for fortnightly pay, the last 6 payslips; and for monthly pay, 3 payslips.

• Self Employed: The admissions team requires the end of year Tax Return for the 2025/26 financial year.

• CSA Payments: You must upload the most recent CSA award letter. Where payments are being made by a private arrangement, you must upload a written statement confirming the payment details and frequency of payments.

• Any other Benefits / Pensions: You must upload an award letter which shows the payment amounts being received from April 2026 onwards. This includes Employment & Support Allowance, Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, Carers Allowance, Bereavement Benefit, Pension Credits, and State or Private Pensions.

• Proof of Child Benefit: This can be accessed from your Government Gateway Account if you are applying for childcare support provisions.

Important Deadlines

Please ensure you apply before 31st July 2026 for priority processing. Unfortunately, the student services team is unable to guarantee a specific processing time as every application is entirely different, and missing data can cause substantial delays.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I forget to say I need childcare support on my JLC bursary application?

Where childcare support is required, you must answer yes to these questions on the form. Support for these specific costs will not be applied if the college is unaware that it is a requirement.

Can 19+ students access the financial support packages at John Leggott College?

Yes, 19+ students who have an active Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) or 19+ students who are continuing on a course they started before they turned 19 are fully eligible to apply.

Do I get a bus pass automatically if I qualify for financial assistance?

No, you need to apply for financial assistance and bus passes separately. Qualifying for financial aid does not automatically trigger or enter a bus pass application into the college transit database.