Understanding LSC Funding - March 2009

2 hours

To be honest, the matter of funding has always been difficult. The LSC doesn't always seem to know what 'the rules' are, and to some extent, getting the best deal from the LSC is determined by who you know and experiences in the past of your local branch!

However, when Len delivers CPD, he makes it sound 'logical'. He is good at taking a complex issue and making it make sense.

During Len's session, he spoke about SLNs - I can't say that I've committed this to memory, but know of the SLNs existance. Given that SLNs are capped, it does mean that some courses are more expensive or hours rich to run than they'll get money for, and this 'capping' seems to admit that. It's also a connundrum to me that there is a 'provider factor'. This would seem to be ensuring that poor performers are eliminated (since they cannot stay in business), however, the criteria aren't fair. And to improve, there are often resource needs.

I'm even more confused by the different branches of government funding different things.... ARGHHHH!

It is very useful to have the context and mechanisms by which to work out funding, however, as I've said above, it does take someone with a deep knowledge of the people in the local LSC, the history and relationship with the college and the local 'quirks' plus an understanding of the history in order to 'pull the strings' in favour of the college.