STUDENTS from poorer homes will still be able to get cash help for further education courses after Bolton education chiefs refused to ditch discretionary grants.

New rules mean the council could have refused to pay discretionary awards for students facing special circumstances from this September.

But councillors have agreed that Bolton's Education Assistance Panel can still spend the £100,000 earmarked for this year. They cannot guarantee students starting courses in future years will be able to benefit because the decision will be reviewed on an annual basis.

However, it means qualifying students starting courses this September will receive the funding for the remainder of their courses.

The discretionary awards are to cover special circumstances and the panel considers each application on its merits.

But it includes some standard grants such as Junior Awards - which cover BTEC registration and examination fees for children whose parents receive income support or family credit.

Tuition fee grants of £200 for students from cash-strapped families who want to take further education courses have also been safeguarded by the decision.

But the panel will no longer consider applications from higher education students facing exceptional circumstances because they are now covered by the Government's loan scheme.

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