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A group of MPs has criticised the way the government introduced cuts in Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) grants for 16 to 19 year-olds.
The Commons education select committee said the changes left students unable to make informed choices about their education and question the "poorly executed" replacement bursary scheme.
Its report, Participation by 16–19 year olds in education and training, the committee said: "The government misjudged the scale of support necessary when announcing the abolition of the EMA, and precious months were lost while it revised its plans and consulted on the bursary proposals."
The £560m EMA scheme had provided means-tested weekly grants of between £10 and £30, to help young people on low incomes to stay on at school or college.
In March, the government announced it would be replaced with a new fund worth £180m, to be allocated by colleges, at their discretion.
The cross-party group of MPs accepted that changes to student support were necessary, however it said that delays on decision who should receive funding "should not have been allowed to happen".
It said more should have been done to acknowledge the impact of EMA on participation, attainment and retention, before it decided how to restructure financial support.
The government focus on apprenticeships was supported, but the MPs called for quality to be protected at the same time as increasing the numbers participating.
Committee chair Graham Stuart said: "Young people taking life-defining decisions at 16 need clear information on the support hey may receive and deserve better than rushed and ill-thought through reforms.
"We accept that changes and savings need to be made but the organisation of the change has been far from smooth.
"Decisions on how much will be available for distribution by each school or college have been taken far too late, and it is 16 year olds who have suffered uncertainty as a result. That should not have been allowed to happen."
Toni Fazaeli, chief executive of the Institute for Learning, said: "IfL believes that all learners deserve outstanding quality teaching and learning, delivered through a well-supported and professional workforce of teachers and trainers.
"While the committee acknowledges that raising the age of participation will lead to greater pressure on teachers, we believe that teachers, trainers and lecturers are key to its success and that constructive engagement must begin promptly to ensure a smooth transition to the new system."
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