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Paying for childcare

Other sources of funding for students

Professional and Career Development Loans

You can apply for this if you are aged 18 or over and are undertaking a vocational course (education or training courses where you learn skills specific to a particular job or career for example leisure and tourism, engineering or nursing). The loan covers two years of study whilst you are in education or job-related training – plus up to one year's practical experience, if this is part of the course. This loan can be used for childcare costs.

You will have to repay this loan but not until one month after you have completed your course.

The Skills Funding Agency pays the interest on the loan while you are studying and for up to one month afterwards, so you will only pay interest once you start repaying the loan. If your course is longer than two years it is a good idea to apply for a Professional and Career Development Loan in the final two years of your course, otherwise you will have to start repayments whilst you are still studying.

A Professional and Career Development Loan may affect your benefit entitlement, so you may also need to contact your benefits adviser at Jobcentre Plus before applying.

To find out more visit www.direct.gov.uk/pcdl.

Crèche provision

Some learning providers have their own crèche provision or on-site nursery for students which may be considerably cheaper than other forms of childcare. Contact your learning provider to find out about places and costs.

Other educational trusts/charities

Limited funding may be available from educational or charitable trusts for individual students.

Your local reference library or college library may be able to help you with details of organisations that offer funding.

Some useful publications that have information about educational and charitable trusts and funding available, which you may find at your local library, include:

  • Educational Grants Directory (published by the Directory of Social Change).
  • The Grants Register (published by Macmillan Reference Limited).
  • Charities Digest (published by Waterlow Information Services).

The Educational Grants and Advisory Service (EGAS) offers advice and guidance on funding available if you are studying in post-16 education in the UK and can advise on possible sources of funding. You can contact them on 020 7254 6251 or visit their website http://www.family-action.org.uk/ for further information.

Local funding

Some local authorities may have secured funding to offer assistance to parents with childcare costs to enable them to study or undertake volunteering with a long-term aim of returning to work. You should contact your Family Information Service for further information.