Question: I am a further education student. Can I take a break from learning at this time and what are the implictions if I do?

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers
section_headers: Data collection and recording
Breaks in learning
section_content: ESFA funded AEB and advanced learner loans (including bursary fund) funding
rules for 2019 to 2020 already make provision for ‘breaks in learning’ for a
range of circumstances.
You and the learner can agree to suspend learning while the learner takes a
break. This allows the learner to continue later with the same eligibility
that applied when they first started their learning.
We are extending the current breaks in learning rules for ESFA funded AEB and
advanced learner loans to:

allow a break in learning at the learner’s request where a learner is self-isolating, or caring for others affected by coronavirus (COVID-19) and is unable to continue by distance learning and/or an online offer
allow a break in learning to be recorded where a provider is unable to deliver because of the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on their own business and there is no possible delivery by distance and/or online learning

Where some learning aims have been delivered, this should be evidenced in the
usual way. However, where a break in learning is now beginning or expected,
providers should include these learners in their individualised learner record
(ILR) submission and record breaks in learning as starting on the date of the
last learning activity for the aim. It is likely that these aims will have
been suspended knowing that it will be reviewed at stages over the coming
months. Under no circumstances should the current planned end date be changed.
To record breaks in learning for coronavirus (COVID-19) reasons, providers
should:

include these learners in their ILR submissions
record, retain and submit evidence in the usual way
record a break in learning in their ILR submission
ensure that the affected learners are not recorded as permanently withdrawn from their learning, by entering the ‘completion status’ field of the ILR as ‘6’, denoting that the learner has temporarily withdrawn from learning due to an agreed break in learning as a direct impact of COVID-19

Further information on data collection is included in reducing burdens on
educational and care
settings.
[ESFA]: Education Skills Funding Agency
  [AEB]: adult education budget
  *[ILR]: individualised learner record

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Has detailed information specifically about taking a break from education. Fully addresses question.
This response does a great job directly answering the question. There are a couple of bullet points that mention the exact situation where the student wants to take a break and what the implications are

Reviewer ratings:
Excellent
Excellent

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Maintaining education and skills training provision: further education providers
section_headers: Traineeship flexibilities
Extending 16 to 19 study programme traineeships
section_content: Our funding guidance sets out that planned hours should not be changed after
the qualifying period unless correcting an error or starting a new study
programme in-year. However, we recognise that in the current circumstances
some students may need more hours than originally planned in order to complete
their traineeship programme.
Where learners need longer than originally planned to complete their
traineeship programme, we expect, in most cases, stretching their existing
planned hours over a longer duration should provide the flexibility providers
need.
In exceptional circumstances, where a learner with part-time hours requires
significant extra delivery, while they are unable to deliver work experience
with an employer, providers can increase the planned hours. Providers should
record where an increase of planned hours is required in the learner file and
demonstrate the need for increased hours to ensure learners remain engaged. We
may ask for this evidence through monitoring processes.
The planned end date must not under any circumstances be changed or extended
within the ILR. Providers should continue to record the end date of the
programme using ‘Learning Actual End Date’.
We expect providers to arrange alternative provision to cover the delivery
that cannot take place. The alternative delivery needs to be above the already
planned work experience hours as these cannot be funded again within the same
time period.
This is a temporary measure that applies only in this period of social
distancing and while students are not able to access work placement activity.
*[ILR]: individualised learner record

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Appears to strongly recommend against pausing or reducing hours for education during the pandemic.
This response doesn't really answer the question. It briefly touches on it stating that the planned end date must not change so that might be relevant to what's being asked but that's not really clear

Reviewer ratings:
Acceptable
Could be Improved

Answer passage (source: UK):
page_title: Guidance Guidance for current students
section_headers: I’ve had to come back from the UK before the end of my year abroad. I’m now doing alternative study, will I still get my student finance?
section_content: Yes. If you are continuing your studies remotely, your tuition fees and living
costs will still be paid as planned.

Reviewer feedback on this answer:
Doesn't discuss discontinuing education during the pandemic. Instead talks about remote learning.
This response seems to be answering a different question. It just says if you're continuing studies remotely but the question wants to know what happens if you take a break

Reviewer ratings:
Bad
Bad