New lone parent rules

elektra-2007

Ive just been for my first 6 month lone parent interview.

alwaysonthego_2

What is your NVQ in?

elektra-2007

Mechanical engineering. It makes no difference what it is in, the Adviser said the goverment feels after L2 you are employable and wont let you do a higher course.

elektra-2007

Just to say it because my son will be 9 in 2010.

alwaysonthego_2

Can you not get a job and do your NVQ L3 whilst in employment. I know you say you are struggling with childcare, the government is creating more chidcare places with its extended schools policy. Does your school have a breakfast/afterschool club or does a neighbouring school offer one that provides pick ups and drop offs?

elektra-2007

No school dosent have any clubs...ive heard by 2010 all schools will have. Not sure about ours tho because its a very small rural school. No where picks up ive rung early years and social services they are aware of the lack of childcare.
As for working and doing L3 it just seems impossible, because i could only do school hours due to no childcare and there arnt any garages in the area wiling to take on a partime mechanic. At college i work thru my dinner and breaks to get the work done. At work there would be jobs that would take over my hours but the job couldnt be left until the next day so there would be gaps in my file. ie if i strip down an engine at college and run out of time i can finish it next day,thats just not even an option in a workplace.
Im truely not trying to wriggle out of work but im a mature student and i want to get a degree in this subject to give me an advantage why would a garge employ me on limited hours when it can have a young 20+ kid who is flexible.
Getting my degree means il be abe to get a more specialised job.

GlasweJen

Sorry to sound harsh but the choice is to get your level 2 and start looking for work or go into education and attempt to live on student finance. The government have decided that it's reasonable for people with children of school age to go out and work so that's what they're going to do, there will be no change of policy for your circumstances. As I understand it because you have a dependant child you will still be able to claim housing benefits and you will become council tax exempt when you start to study so you wont lose all your income.

elektra-2007

Yeah I asked about this option and it seems that I can do this when i go to do a degree but not with FE, I will have to asses the situation coser to the time I just hope im allowed to finish my L2.
Now I really understand when my parents told me I would regret it if I didnt bother at school!!!

GlasweJen

Well the stance is that you education free for 13 years so you should have done your learning then and be able to hope straight to uni from there. There is some funding available but i'm not so clued up on it because I'm Scottish and it's all different here but you should still get child benefit, child tax credits, housing allowance, council tax exemption, adult learning grant, a book grant, travel expenses grant, child care help (college should be able to give advice on finding local child care), and access to the colleges hardship fund (access to learning fund).

elektra-2007

yeah i shoulda done better in school but circumstances were different then and there were no opportunities to go to university. Now I would like to make the most of the chance that i can. thanks for all your advice i will take things 1 yr at a time as its always changing.
Good luck to any lone parents who want top go into FE.

Oldernotwiser

You seem to be rather confused as to whether you plan to do mechanical engineering or be a motor mechanic - the two are totally different!