Childcare grant

lkmc01

I am just about to graduate on my Undergraduate programme and have been recieving 85% of my nursery costs paid from student finance. this has now stopped and I have been trying to find a job now for a few weeks doing anything to get the 16 hours a week so that I can claim some nusery costs from tax credits. I have yet to find anything, and I have been looking everywhere.

I am going onto the PGCE course in September, although have not applied yet, and will be entitled to 85% of my nursery costs for this course.

I have looked on the web sites, student finance direct, but can not get any information from there and no information at all from ringing them up.

Does anyone know please if I can claim 85% of my nursery costs between these 2 courses. There is only 3 months between them.

thanks

Also which comes first-

applying for a PGCE course, getting interviewed and a place

or

applying for funding for a PGCE course.

silvercar

Apply for the place first; otherwise there is nothing to fund.

I don't see why you would be able to claim nursery costs between courses. If you are not on a course or working you could look after your own child (ren). Why not enjoy the opportunity to spend the summer with your family rather than grab any job just to get paid childcare?

lkmc01

My partner wants my sons routine not to be disturbed and his friendships and activities in nursery to remain

alwaysonthego_2

lkmc01 wrote: »

My partner wants my sons routine not to be disturbed and his friendships and activities in nursery to remain

...and what do you want?

How old is your son?

Why have you not applied for your PGCE before, as it is a very oversubscribed course!

lkmc01

well he is happy at nusery so I thought he was ok there. He is 3 years old. There are still vacancies and I have only been thinking about it for a few weeks now.

alwaysonthego_2

lkmc01 wrote: »

well he is happy at nusery so I thought he was ok there. He is 3 years old. There are still vacancies and I have only been thinking about it for a few weeks now.

He should get some free hours if he is three, usually the term after their third birthday.

lkmc01

the nursery he goes to do not participate in the early years scheme

alwaysonthego_2

lkmc01 wrote: »

the nursery he goes to do not participate in the early years scheme

Perhaps you should introduce him to another nursery or one attached to the school he will be attending.

lkmc01

we will be moving in 3 months a considerable distance. I have no idea which school he will be at.

lindsaygalaxy

A few things I am confused about.
You have a partner but recieve the student childcare grant - do I take it he is on a low income or a student too? (I claimed this when I was a uni but we jointly was on a ver low income).

You say you dont want your sons nursery disturbed, but you will be moving in 3 months? So what difference does it make if he leaves now or in a few months time?

You have not applied for a PGCE yet? To get on my trainee teachers course I had to apply a YEAR before i started, so im not sure you will get on one with such short notice. I would start with that before worrying about the grant.

Crispy_Ambulance

If you have finished one course and have not started another, then you are not a full time student and are not entitled to any student funding. You are also not eligible for the Council Tax discount while you are not a student.

You will not be eligible for any Access to Learning Fund help either, as you are not a student.

Could you reduce your son's hours at nursery so you keep his place but pay less?