Published: 30/09/2026 · Last Updated: 30/09/2026
Bulletin for September 2026
Welcome to academic year (AY) 2026/27
Welcome back to a new year of EMA. As always, we appreciate your help with administering EMA for your students.
Student applications
Students should apply now. To help promote the service, we’ve created posters to download and print. Please display these in areas where students will see them. New EMA students must apply by 30 September to be eligible to receive full backdated payments.
Students can contact us about their application on our helpline number 0300 200 7089. This will be open from Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.
Students can contact us about their application on our helpline number 0300 200 7089. This will be open from Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.
Missing Evidence status
Some new students' records may show on the LC Portal as ‘Missing Evidence’. You can check this in the view application worklist section. You can select 'Missing Evidence' and it will give you an idea of what is missing. For example, it may say proof of identity. This may mean that they still need to send in evidence, such as a birth certificate. Once we have this information we can continue with their application.
Service standard reminders
All new and returning students should sign a Learning Agreement. Students should sign this within 10 working days of an approved application, or the 2nd Monday in September whichever is later.
You should confirm attendances every week. This should be done before 5pm on a Wednesday for the previous week’s attendance.
Remove any students who are no longer studying with you. You should remove them within 10 days of an approved application.
Full details of the service standards and guidance documents are available on the LC Services website.
You should confirm attendances every week. This should be done before 5pm on a Wednesday for the previous week’s attendance.
Remove any students who are no longer studying with you. You should remove them within 10 days of an approved application.
Full details of the service standards and guidance documents are available on the LC Services website.
If you've had a change in staff at your learning centre, please contact me to arrange EMA training.
EMA Learning Agreements
Please remind your students they must sign part 2 of their EMA Learning Agreement form before 2 December to be eligible for the January bonus payment. This should still be completed by 2 December if an application shows as 'Missing Evidence' on the LC Portal. This will allow students to secure the January bonus if we approve their application.
If students do not sign by this date, they won't be eligible for the January bonus.
If students do not sign by this date, they won't be eligible for the January bonus.
LC Services website
Please remember you can find our EMA guidance documents on the LC Services website. Take the time to familiarise yourself with the layout. You can find Learning Agreement templates and the payment information guide for AY 2026/27 on the downloads section of LC Portal.
EMA support desk
Our support desk team is available to answer any day to day operational questions about individual students, application processing, payments and system issues.
You can contact the support desk on 0300 200 7089 option 5 or email emainfo@slc.co.uk.
You can contact the support desk on 0300 200 7089 option 5 or email emainfo@slc.co.uk.