The EMA process
Apart from raising awareness about EMA, the key stages for schools and colleges in running EMA are at enrolment stage and monitoring and reporting attendance stage.
On application a young person will receive a Notice of Entitlement to EMA. Once received the school or college will agree an EMA Contract Part 1 with the student. This explains the conditions the student must meet to receive their fortnightly payment. The school or college then has to notify the Scheme Provider through the EMA Secure Website that the student has enrolled, signed the EMA contract Part 1 and is now eligible to receive fortnightly payments if they attend.
Schools and colleges should monitor attendance and notify the Service Provider of their decision on whether a young person should be paid or not. Attendance and monitoring systems will therefore need to be sufficiently robust. Schools and colleges will need to keep evidence to support EMA payment decision. There must be an appeals process administered by the school or college for any students who may wish to challenge the reason for stopping their weekly payments or bonuses.
Students are also entitled to receive a bonus if they meet certain conditions. These are explained in the EMA Contract Part 2, which should identify specific learning goals so that a teacher or tutor can assess the learning progress made over the term. This EMA Contract Part 2 need not be a separate document but could be either built in to the Contract Part 1 or could be part of the existing Learning Agreement developed by the school or college. Again, the school or college is required to notify the Service Provider via the EMA Secure Website that the EMA Contract Part 2 has been signed by the student.
