Child tax credits - qualifying learning

asher_2

My 16 year old has returned to full time education, 2 days studying 2 'City&Guilds level 2' qualifications. She attends college 2 days a week and a work placement 2 days a week. When I called the tax credit office I was told that I no longer qualify for payments as the qualification was 'not on their list'
When I checked gov.uk I saw they have N.V.Q's listed which I thought was city&guilds but when a called college they told me N.V.Q's were phased out in 2010 and were now the level 2 certificate, can anyone shed any light on this situation?

princessdon

Is this an apprenticeship with your child receiving payment ?

asher_2

No, its not an apprenticeship, the learning is through Norfolk County Council, 'step into work programme' one of the level 2 certificates is employability skills, the other is 'supporting teaching and learning' (a teaching assistant qualification) which states so they need a work placement to prove evidence of their relevant skills.

princessdon

Ok - it is the 7330 being used as part of the work ready programme I take it. I'm on my phone watching my child at rugby so can't cross check the ref numbers, but I'll get the step onto code for you later. The problem it the courses are not on their list on their own, it's the combination of them that is.

FRESTER

Sounds like it might be a national certificate which would be listed on there system.
I had problems like this trying to get them to find my sons rockschool qualification at access to music, in the end they decided it came under level 2 diploma.

princessdon

Ok - I intially thought it was because the TA course was over 19 funded only (normally step to work use CACHE Childcare and not the TA) and so they needed the overall code (as combining 2 courses) but according to current DB the C&G is currently available as funding under 16-19 on it's own, so very confused as to why Tax Credits can't find it.

The Qual Aim is 5011136X

The Qual Code is either 5329 (none NVQ and current code) or 7330 (NVQ Code). Both are live codes for this academic year.

Sorry I can't help more as not entirely sure how Tax Credits search but I understood they used the same system as we did.

asher_2

Thank you for your help, still a little confused as to what I should tell them, am thinking the 7330 as this is nvq code? Out of interest what is 'current DB' and 'quality aim'? Is it possible for me to do my own code search? Would be interesting to see, and would help me feel more confident when I make the dreaded call to them! Thanks again for your helpful information, and I hope your team won the rugby match!

princessdon

asher wrote: »

Thank you for your help, still a little confused as to what I should tell them, am thinking the 7330 as this is nvq code? Out of interest what is 'current DB' and 'quality aim'? Is it possible for me to do my own code search? Would be interesting to see, and would help me feel more confident when I make the dreaded call to them! Thanks again for your helpful information, and I hope your team won the rugby match!

The 7330 is the NVQ Code - now it is 5329.

Those codes are City and Guilds reference codes (you can get them from the City and Guilds website.

The DB is the database that FE institues use but I think LARA has a public version, so if you google LARA Funding Database, it should give you similar public information.

The qual aim is the Qualification Aim - it is how courses are funded and I assume that the Tax Credits would accept the Qualification Aim to search for the course.

Sorry I can't help more as I don't know what system Tax Credits are looking at.

princessdon

https://gateway.imservices.org.uk/sites/LARA/Pages/AimsSearchResults.aspx?aimTitle=Supporting+Teaching+and+Learning+in+Schools&recommendedType=Y&academicYearID=1213&NVQLevelType=1&

There is the link to LARA

The only thing I can think of is that the TA is under the Guided Learning Hours - but as it is classed as FULL Level 2, it shouldn't be a problem.


Edit the link above shows it is section 96 funded, 16-18 funded, a Full Level 2 and a recognised qualification aim, so I can't see why Tax Credits are being awkward about it or why they can fail to find it on their system.

shedboy94

asher wrote: »

My 16 year old has returned to full time education, 2 days studying 2 'City&Guilds level 2' qualifications. She attends college 2 days a week and a work placement 2 days a week. When I called the tax credit office I was told that I no longer qualify for payments as the qualification was 'not on their list'
When I checked gov.uk I saw they have N.V.Q's listed which I thought was city&guilds but when a called college they told me N.V.Q's were phased out in 2010 and were now the level 2 certificate, can anyone shed any light on this situation?

How many hours does she attend college, as in what time is her 1st class and last class on the 2 days she attends?

Dunroamin

shedboy94 wrote: »

How many hours does she attend college, as in what time is her 1st class and last class on the 2 days she attends?

It's not just attendance that counts - it's guided learning hours.