single parent student childcare advice needed!

shari2612

i was widowed and left as lone parent to my 3 children,2 yrs ago and having given up work afew years before that to care for my kids and husband when he was sick. I am letting you know that i am widowed not to evoke sympathy but to stress that i am a totally lone parent, as opposed to having an estranged oh somewhere who could help out either physicaly or financialy. i have no family help due to various reasons. I have applied for the PGDE primary teaching course and my acceptance is looking promising. My problem is childcare. I will have a 10, 8 and 3 yr old to fo find care for. Is there any help i can get with childcare costs? there appears to be a grant available in england but i live in scotland. Despite half the course being based out on placement in school, tax credits do not consider it working and say i cant claim childcare help through there. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. thanks.

Savvy_Sue

I would check with the institution where you're hoping to study: they should know what additional grants may be available, and also what facilities are available on-site which might work for the 3 year old.

shortdog

My friend gets her childcare paid through tax credits whilst she's at college, however, she works part time too, which may make a difference.
The college she is at also has some finance available for childcare.
We are in Scotland too.

clearingout

student finance will help with childcare costs - assuming your course is eligible for funding from that source.

Madmel

Student finance or the welfare people at the Students' Union are the best people to help. My kids were at a uni nursery because DH taught at the uni at the time. They had special provision for older children of students during half-term holidays and they had extended hours for people on placements.

When you are given your placement schools, due to your family circumstances, you should be able to request schools close to your older children's school. I know that when I did PGCE many many years ago, I was allocated to schools on the same side of the city as my house, but as I had a car, I could drive to places that some of my colleagues straight out of uni without their own transport could not access easily.

As soon as you register, join all the teaching unions as they are free for student members [the cynic in me thinks it's to persuade you to sign up for keeps once you qualify]. They are an excellent source of help and advice. You could also post on the TES forums as there are some excellent people on there who could give you specific advice. Good luck with it all x

MoneySaver_x

http://www.saas.gov.uk/student_support/special_circumstances/postgrad_pgde.htm

"For the PGDE you should apply online as an undergraduate student and not a postgraduate student."

Apply through SAAS, they should help with the costs.

Hope you get it sorted!

shari2612

thanks everyone, some good advice. hopefully i'll be able to sort something out.

papoosue

Hi there. I have no advice to offer that hasn't been said already I'm afraid - I would definitely contact the Student Support department of your university though. I just wanted to wish you the best of luck - I am currently on a PGDE Primary course (also in Scotland) as a mature student with children and it is very hard but I am now half way through and can see the light at the end of the tunnel!

I take my hat off to you - and just think of a proper wage at the end of all that studying - yay!!!

Good luck and best wishes. x