uk girls at college

divershona · Mar 27th, 2012, 12:40 PM

I've had to move down to england, and I want to go back to college after the summer to do my a-levels. Now there are a couple of college's near me that do a-levels but as I will be 20 or 21 when I start the course (dependant on start date) I obviously won't be eligible for ema ... If that's still running in england I don't know! So used to the scottish system!

Anyways what I wanted to ask is what kind of help do you girls get? Like do u get help with childcare costs? If so how much % wise? Do you get help with ur travel costs to and from college? Or help with living costs etc?

Sorry for all the questions! Just need to know if its even financially possible for me to go back and study!

Lissa3120 · Mar 27th, 2012, 12:52 PM

you should be entitled to "care to learn" which will cover your nursery costs, and possibly your travel to the nursery. But you would have to look into a nursery a bit before your course is due to start as Care to Learn takes a while to process, and also i personally found nursery placements were hell to get. i put my name down when i was 6 months pregnant for a nursery place, i went back to college when she was 5 months old, and they still didn't have a place! so i had to look into a private nursery which care to learn covered for me.
you can ring them up and do some inquiries before having any info of dates and stuff, and they can tell you over phone if and how you qualify for the funding

jemmie1994 · Mar 27th, 2012, 12:53 PM

you can get a bursary if your eligasble for it and can get a scholar pass so get charged half fare on public transport also dont know if this applies to you but there a scheme called care to learn which helps with childcare costs think that only goes up to 19 though :/ get in touch with connexions they'll be able to tell you more

divershona · Mar 27th, 2012, 13:05 PM

Thanks girls, think I know what I need to do tomorrow ... Go to connections!!!!!

My best friend is a deputy manager in a nursery and that's where I'd want kaya to go, and my friend already has a space reserved for kaya ready for september so that's alright

just a case of costs now!

LauraBee · Mar 27th, 2012, 14:54 PM

I believe that Care to Learn is only if you're aged 20 and below on the day you start your course, so that may not be an option for you. It would cover 100% of your childcare costs (although there's a limit of about £255 a week I think) as well as any EXTRA travelling you'd have to do to from the nursery to college (for example, the nursery I use is onsite, therefore I have spent no extra money to get there).

If you aren't eligible for C2L, you would apply for the Parent's Learning Allowance and/or Adult Learning Grant (not sure which is applicable here, but that is one) - they're usually a set amount so it's not about percentages in that case.

I receive the Student Support Bursary from my college in the place of EMA (this year was the last chance to get that I believe) and that's usually only for student's aged 19 and under on the start of their course, but the college you choose may make an exception.

That's as much knowledge as I hold on this, I'm looking more at what university funding there is for the coming academic year

_laura · Mar 28th, 2012, 06:10 AM

Laura, university funding is hell. Apply as soon as possible!
For uni you will get 80% of your childcare paid for a week (up to £448) a parent allowance, you will be assessed on your income aswell. the childcare bit is the hellish part. 3 months before the end of the year and it still isnt sorted for us!

LauraBee · Mar 28th, 2012, 11:46 AM

Thanks, I already know about most of that

I've sent my application and they've returned my evidence of a dependant and I have the Child Care Grant forms but I haven't started them yet... I was gonna phone up at some point and ask, but I may as well ask you now - do I have to get the Childcare Provider details filled in for the ESTIMATED childcare costs? Because I actually don't know which one she'll be at yet, if so should I ask the one who costs the most? If I don't need to do that bit yet, I'll just fill in my part with the highest estimated ones and send that off now.

(Sorry to hijack your thread, Shona

)

divershona · Mar 28th, 2012, 13:38 PM

Well I called the local college today to ask about doing the a-levels that I want ... And apparently I'm too old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm only 20!!!!! I have to do an access to higher education course so I could go to uni! Well that's not what I want, I want to do my a-levels!!!!!

Arghhhhhhhh so annoyed!!!!!!

LauraBee · Mar 28th, 2012, 13:48 PM

Awh, that sucks. My friend wants to do her A-Levels too, but she's 27 (took so long due to personal problems) so she can't do what she wants either.

Although, I feel too old to still be at college (despite knowing people there that are older) so one positive for you is that you won't have to put up with adolescent behaviour from classmates.

_laura · Mar 28th, 2012, 14:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LauraBee

Thanks, I already know about most of that

I've sent my application and they've returned my evidence of a dependant and I have the Child Care Grant forms but I haven't started them yet... I was gonna phone up at some point and ask, but I may as well ask you now - do I have to get the Childcare Provider details filled in for the ESTIMATED childcare costs? Because I actually don't know which one she'll be at yet, if so should I ask the one who costs the most? If I don't need to do that bit yet, I'll just fill in my part with the highest estimated ones and send that off now.

(Sorry to hijack your thread, Shona

)

Yes you do, basically so they know you are using a credible nursery and not paying a friend to look after her.

Mar 27th, 2012, 12:40 PM	#1
divershona Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: in the jungle of my back garden Posts: 3,858	uk girls at college I've had to move down to england, and I want to go back to college after the summer to do my a-levels. Now there are a couple of college's near me that do a-levels but as I will be 20 or 21 when I start the course (dependant on start date) I obviously won't be eligible for ema ... If that's still running in england I don't know! So used to the scottish system! Anyways what I wanted to ask is what kind of help do you girls get? Like do u get help with childcare costs? If so how much % wise? Do you get help with ur travel costs to and from college? Or help with living costs etc? Sorry for all the questions! Just need to know if its even financially possible for me to go back and study!

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Mar 27th, 2012, 12:52 PM	#2
Lissa3120 Mum (Mom) Active BnB Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Cornwall Posts: 367	you should be entitled to "care to learn" which will cover your nursery costs, and possibly your travel to the nursery. But you would have to look into a nursery a bit before your course is due to start as Care to Learn takes a while to process, and also i personally found nursery placements were hell to get. i put my name down when i was 6 months pregnant for a nursery place, i went back to college when she was 5 months old, and they still didn't have a place! so i had to look into a private nursery which care to learn covered for me. you can ring them up and do some inquiries before having any info of dates and stuff, and they can tell you over phone if and how you qualify for the funding

Status: Offline

Mar 27th, 2012, 12:53 PM	#3
jemmie1994 Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Manchester Posts: 2,681	you can get a bursary if your eligasble for it and can get a scholar pass so get charged half fare on public transport also dont know if this applies to you but there a scheme called care to learn which helps with childcare costs think that only goes up to 19 though :/ get in touch with connexions they'll be able to tell you more

Status: Offline

Mar 27th, 2012, 13:05 PM	#4
divershona Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: in the jungle of my back garden Posts: 3,858	Thanks girls, think I know what I need to do tomorrow ... Go to connections!!!!! My best friend is a deputy manager in a nursery and that's where I'd want kaya to go, and my friend already has a space reserved for kaya ready for september so that's alright just a case of costs now!

Status: Offline

Mar 27th, 2012, 14:54 PM	#5
LauraBee Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Southampton, England Posts: 1,739	I believe that Care to Learn is only if you're aged 20 and below on the day you start your course, so that may not be an option for you. It would cover 100% of your childcare costs (although there's a limit of about £255 a week I think) as well as any EXTRA travelling you'd have to do to from the nursery to college (for example, the nursery I use is onsite, therefore I have spent no extra money to get there). If you aren't eligible for C2L, you would apply for the Parent's Learning Allowance and/or Adult Learning Grant (not sure which is applicable here, but that is one) - they're usually a set amount so it's not about percentages in that case. I receive the Student Support Bursary from my college in the place of EMA (this year was the last chance to get that I believe) and that's usually only for student's aged 19 and under on the start of their course, but the college you choose may make an exception. That's as much knowledge as I hold on this, I'm looking more at what university funding there is for the coming academic year

Status: Offline

Mar 28th, 2012, 06:10 AM	#6
_laura Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Bournemouth, UK Posts: 4,637	Laura, university funding is hell. Apply as soon as possible! For uni you will get 80% of your childcare paid for a week (up to £448) a parent allowance, you will be assessed on your income aswell. the childcare bit is the hellish part. 3 months before the end of the year and it still isnt sorted for us!

Status: Offline

Mar 28th, 2012, 11:46 AM	#7
LauraBee Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Southampton, England Posts: 1,739	Thanks, I already know about most of that I've sent my application and they've returned my evidence of a dependant and I have the Child Care Grant forms but I haven't started them yet... I was gonna phone up at some point and ask, but I may as well ask you now - do I have to get the Childcare Provider details filled in for the ESTIMATED childcare costs? Because I actually don't know which one she'll be at yet, if so should I ask the one who costs the most? If I don't need to do that bit yet, I'll just fill in my part with the highest estimated ones and send that off now. (Sorry to hijack your thread, Shona )

Status: Offline

Mar 28th, 2012, 13:38 PM	#8
divershona Mum (Mom) BnB Addict Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: in the jungle of my back garden Posts: 3,858	Well I called the local college today to ask about doing the a-levels that I want ... And apparently I'm too old!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm only 20!!!!! I have to do an access to higher education course so I could go to uni! Well that's not what I want, I want to do my a-levels!!!!! Arghhhhhhhh so annoyed!!!!!!

Status: Offline

Mar 28th, 2012, 13:48 PM	#9
LauraBee Mum (Mom) Chat Happy BnB Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Southampton, England Posts: 1,739	Awh, that sucks. My friend wants to do her A-Levels too, but she's 27 (took so long due to personal problems) so she can't do what she wants either. Although, I feel too old to still be at college (despite knowing people there that are older) so one positive for you is that you won't have to put up with adolescent behaviour from classmates.

Status: Offline

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