Children's
& Young People's Services
Extended Services In and Around Schools
Family Services
Information for Parents/Carers Studying or Training
It is important that you think about your childcare arrangements as soon as possible when considering returning to study or embarking on a training course. Financial help for students towards childcare costs is limited and if you are trying to survive on a student grant or benefits it will be almost impossible for you to pay for full-time childcare.
Points to consider
Some colleges/universities will provide on-site nurseries for students, often at subsidised costs. However, they are usually very small and therefore will not be able to offer every parent with pre-school children a place there. This means that college nurseries fill up very quickly and hold waiting lists that are very long.
If you have been unemployed for some time or have any disadvantages that are holding you back from gaining employment, the government have launched several initiatives. These are aimed at helping people back into the work force and assistance with childcare is also offered. There are also a number of courses available through your job centre, which will allow you to gain new skills and work experience. Such courses may provide childcare allowances and therefore make training a viable option for you. To find out more about training courses contact your local Employment Service.
How to finance your time at college
A free booklet is available from the DCSF, called ‘A guide to financial support for higher education students’; call the free information line on 0800 731 9133 for more details.
Student Grants - are available for students entering further education and are awarded by the local LEA where you live. Grants usually cover 38 or 39 weeks, meaning that you may have to work during holidays to make extra cash - as a parent you would need to consider childcare during these times. Contact your Local Authority's Education Department for more details.
Benefits - Lone parents, unlike most other students, are eligible to claim Income Support whilst studying, but there are restrictions, so always check with your local Benefits Agency.
Working Tax Credit - You may be eligible to apply for the Childcare element on the Working Tax Credit. For further information contact HM Revenue & Customs help desk on 0845 300 3900 or visit  www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits
The Childcare Affordability Programme (CAP) - is a London-only pilot, the largest childcare investment programme funded by the London Development Agency (LDA) and Sure Start. It provides lower income families with access to subsidised full day and flexible childcare. The programme is designed to offer such families greater choice, flexibility and quality to enable them to remain in, or return to, full or part-time work or training.
Subsidised childcare places are available until December 2008. All places are provided by Ofsted registered nurseries or NCMA accredited Childminding Networks.
Once you have started studying
Student Loans -
are designed to top up student grants and are available to all full-time students in higher education. They are repayable after you have finished studying and have found employment at a minimal wage set by the Government. To find out more about loans contact The Student Loan Company on 0800-405010
Career Development Loans - allow you to borrow from £300 up to £8,000 for a course that lasts up to two years, or for a three-year course that includes work experience. You have to begin repayment of the loan once the course has finished and you have started working. Call them free on 0800 585 505.
Access fund - is an emergency fund held at universities which students can apply for in times of need. This includes the allocation of funds to help towards childcare costs. Such funds however, are usually dependent upon a number of criteria e.g. you have to be eligible for a student grant, you have to have applied for a student loan during the academic year in which you are applying for funds and you should have used all your overdraft facilities; such criteria will vary widely between different colleges. To find out more about access funds available at your college ask in your Student Union.
Who will care for my child?
Childcare Providers - At the FIS we can provide information on different types of childcare in the area, giving you up to date vacancy lists, make suggestions of which childcare package would best suit you and your child’s needs and send helpful leaflets explaining the different childcare provision available. We hold information on childminders, nurseries, playgroups/pre-schools, nannies/au-pairs, playschemes and out of school clubs.
If you would like more information about returning to study or training or to discuss the different childcare options available in more detail, please call Bexley FIS where our information officers will be happy to help you and send you any further information we may have.
Useful Contacts:
- Your Local Job Centre Plus
- 020 8218 4700
- Citizens' Advice Bureaux (CAB)
- 020 8303 5100
- New Deal for Lone Parents
- 0800 868 868
- One Parent Families
- 0800 018 5026
- 255 Kentish Town Road, London NW5 2LX
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