CEF is open to students in Year 6 and above. If your child is in Year 5 or below, our standard flexible-contribution approach still applies — for primary-age children we simply ask families to contribute what feels manageable, with no minimum.

¶ How does eligibility work?

There is no separate application. We assess eligibility automatically during the enquiry process, through one of three routes:

¶ What are the two tiers?

CEF Standard Full Bursary Contribution £5 per session £0 per session How to qualify Postcode check, contribution preference, or benefit receipt Referral letter from a qualified professional (teacher, school staff, GP, social worker, youth worker, or counsellor) What you need to do Nothing extra (benefit pathway: self-declare on the form) Provide the letter at enquiry

¶ What about siblings?

If one child in your household is already receiving tutoring on a CEF tier, younger siblings may automatically qualify for the same tier -- no new assessment needed -- for up to 24 months from the original eligibility decision. If the original case was borderline (for example, a Full Bursary letter was pending), each sibling will need their own professional referral letter.

¶ Is the fund always available?

The CEF is funded by families who choose to contribute above the standard floor -- so availability can vary. During periods of high demand, the minimum Standard contribution may be temporarily adjusted for new enquiries. Families already on CEF Standard or Full Bursary are protected from any such changes. A monthly cap applies to benefit-declared admissions (see above). Other CEF routes are not capped in Healthy or Monitoring bands.

Community Education Fund (CEF)

Community Education Fund (CEF) - NSEMM Help Centre