Rebate for Play Group if on Income Support?

Sarahlou_2

welshsue wrote: »

Just read the bit about having an NVQ for helping in a playgroup. Before I had my second child, I helped out in the playgroup where he now attends. This was on the basis that I helped if they needed me.
I had to be crb checked but that was a simple form to fill in.

I have to process 250 CRB's a week - they are very easy!

munchings-n-crunchings

You have some very good ideas here, and some possibilities for your girlfriend.

I have just decided to train as a teaching assistant, and put to use the skills I've acquired whilst raising my children. I've been out of the job market for so long, that I need some qualifications.
My course fee's would be covered as I'm on income support.
Maybe in your girlfriends situation, an option like this might be a positive move, and there could be assistance towards childcare.

Munchie

sp1987

ses6jwg wrote: »

Thanks for the advice.

Yes the volunteering idea is something that we have thought about and are keen to explore.

Our daughter was a bit of an accident, certainly not a mistake, but certainly not planned!

I was in University at the time and have now completed it and moved into a career as a taxpayer, however you are right in saying that my girlfriend has has to drop out of college and I am keen to help her get back on feet and onto a career path as I am partly responsible for her having to drop out.

She doesn't really have any idea what she wants to do but as you say she is brilliant with kids and I think she needs to realise this talent a bit more.

The only thing that concerns me is that the Play Group is within a Primary school and with all the local government beauracy and health and safety rubbish these days I am afraid that they will turn her away and tell her to come back with some sort of NVQ.

I helped at an after school club whilst at college as I needed some work experience for my university application and a girl who worked there was doing her NVQ level 3 alongside the club as she wanted to go into it as a career. I'm lucky I did now as, like your girlfriend, am ending up with a surprise baby about 10 years before I would have chosen, lol. Hopefully my tolerance for sick, screaming and having to take a dozen small people to the toilet because they act like sheep has rocketed :rotfl:

Who knows, watching her own child with its friends might help get her qualifications too, seems perfect, lol.

ses6jwg

munchings-n-crunchings wrote: »

You have some very good ideas here, and some possibilities for your girlfriend.

I have just decided to train as a teaching assistant, and put to use the skills I've acquired whilst raising my children. I've been out of the job market for so long, that I need some qualifications.
My course fee's would be covered as I'm on income support.
Maybe in your girlfriends situation, an option like this might be a positive move, and there could be assistance towards childcare.

Munchie

How would one gain the qualification needed to become a teaching assistant?

Do local colleges do them?

alwaysonthego_2

ses6jwg wrote: »

How would one gain the qualification needed to become a teaching assistant?

Do local colleges do them?

You can do NVQ in TA at college but I think you need to be working in a school.

ses6jwg

I have noticed that my local college does a part time course (work based), L2 NVQ Supporting Learning and Teaching in Schools - would something like this be suitable?

She has GCSE's but not brilliant, 1 C, 4 or 5 Ds.

The trouble is she gets quite defensive and argumentative when I suggest things and says that I am "pushing" her into things, and keeps telling me we can't all be clever and have a degree, which hurts, as I am only trying to help.

alwaysonthego_2

ses6jwg wrote: »

I have noticed that my local college does a part time course (work based), L2 NVQ Supporting Learning and Teaching in Schools - would something like this be suitable?

She has GCSE's but not brilliant, 1 C, 4 or 5 Ds.

The trouble is she gets quite defensive and argumentative when I suggest things and says that I am "pushing" her into things, and keeps telling me we can't all be clever and have a degree, which hurts, as I am only trying to help.

Would be ideal.

You should not push her into getting a degree if she does not feel confident, if she gets a taste for the level 2 she may get the confidence to gradually progress onto a degree course but not everyone is academic and suitable for university. I did rubbish at school and doing really well in my degree course.

sp1987

ses6jwg wrote: »

I have noticed that my local college does a part time course (work based), L2 NVQ Supporting Learning and Teaching in Schools - would something like this be suitable?

She has GCSE's but not brilliant, 1 C, 4 or 5 Ds.

The trouble is she gets quite defensive and argumentative when I suggest things and says that I am "pushing" her into things, and keeps telling me we can't all be clever and have a degree, which hurts, as I am only trying to help.

I'm guessing by her age that she was either pregnant or had the child before her GCSE's? If so those results are perfectly acceptable!

You would have to ask colleges what results she would need for a particular course..plus you do not know how much they count experience. She already has a child so it is not like she does not know how to act with one, lol.

She may be defensive because she feels you want her to ''catch up'' with your qualifications and she does not feel she wants to follow that path. Maybe trying a different approach by explaining that you think because she is so intelligent/talented it is a shame she does not recognise how capable she is. NVQ's are not like a levels/gcses as they are helping you gain a practical qualification. Everyone has different talents and I know I can learn from books but I could not learn to be a hairdresser, I'd end up cutting somebodys head I'm so clumsy! You may have to approach it carefully in order to not come across pushy to someone who may be sensitive about the fact they missed out on some of their education to have a child. If she does not want to go back to education at all, that is entirely her choice but it would be a shame for her to not at least have a proper look at what is available

Could you show her this thread? You obviously care a great deal for her and your child and maybe she could understand that you are not trying to pack her off to uni because you went.

munchings-n-crunchings

My local college runs a Course in the Community Scheme.

It's an NCFE Qualification, which is recognised in the field. I think it comes under the Northern College of Further Education. I have spoken to several organisations, who recognise this course.

I'm at the starting level, which is an introductory course, and it's for 1 term. To run along side, I need to have a placement in a local school, which is down to me to arrange. The school placement is unpaid, but could lead to a position as I gain qualifications.
I can then move to the next level, which is a 1 year course. I would still get my benefits, and also the skills to make me more employable.

The basic entry requirement is adult numeracy and literacy at level 2.
I got an O Level grade c in English, so that counts, and I have just signed up for a free course to get my level 2 in numeracy....for some reason my CSE grade so bad I can't remember didn't count :rolleyes:

So it was all really easy to sign up for, and now is the perfect time.

Regards
Munchie

Oldernotwiser

ses6jwg wrote: »

I have noticed that my local college does a part time course (work based), L2 NVQ Supporting Learning and Teaching in Schools - would something like this be suitable?

She has GCSE's but not brilliant, 1 C, 4 or 5 Ds.

The trouble is she gets quite defensive and argumentative when I suggest things and says that I am "pushing" her into things, and keeps telling me we can't all be clever and have a degree, which hurts, as I am only trying to help.

NVQ 2 would be an ideal course for her to do, given her GCSE results. NVQs are practical rather than academic and would be the appropriate progression for someone who doesn't already have a level 2 qualification.