IA's 'Does my bum look big in this Debt?' Diary

immoral_angeluk

Yorkielass wrote: »

we've had several adult education brochures though our door recently - these obviously wouldn't be any good to you but I'd email your local colleges and get all the brochures, there were definately discounts for people on tax credits and some courses were free.

I'm a real one for education and learning (but as a qualified teacher who currently promotes higher education to people from 'non traditional backgrounds' I should be!) and if you want any advice I'll do my best to help!

Hope you've had a good day.

Well just looked on our local technical college's website and found this...

Fees
As a full time student following a further education course, and resident in the UK or a European Community Country, you are exempt from the payment of tuition fees. Students aged 16 - 18 will not be required to pay a college enrolment fee.
If you are in receipt of a means tested benefit and are over 19 you may also be exempt from paying tuition fees. For further information please contact Learner Support Services.
If you receive benefits in the list below, you do NOT have to pay tuition fees:
- Income Support or Job Seekers Allowance in your own name.
- Family Tax Credit (FTC) or Disabled Persons Tax Credit (DPTC), where the maximum household income is ?14,200. (Details printed on your FTC or DPTC award notice).
- Housing / Council Tax Benefit.
- If you are a husband, wife or partner of a person who would qualify under the benefits listed above, and you do not have your own wage.
To obtain any tuition fee remission you will be required to produce current documentary evidence of your position at the time of enrolment.

Does that mean we wouldn't have to pay? ~Ste gets 14k a yr but then we get tax credits etc on top of that...
Was quite interested in this course actually but it's one afternoon a week which wouldn't work with the girls..

http://www.cannock.ac.uk/our_courses/index.cfm?unique_record_id=122

spud30

Why wouldnt it work with the girls?

There are 'Childcare facilities at the college and in local area' according to the website

immoral_angeluk

spud30 wrote: »

Why wouldnt it work with the girls?

There are 'Childcare facilities at the college and in local area' according to the website

Well yes but it's £9 a session.. so £18 for them both a week.. plys it says the course starts sept 07 anyway so I'd be too late and it'd just be another thing on top of the millions of things I already have to do.

MrsBartolozzi

Hi IA, was interested in the HE theme that's going on...
The bit you pasted re Full-time students wouldn't apply to this course, sadly, as it is only part time, so maybe you would have to pay...but I know our local uni does evening classes on other types of healing (reiki, aromatherapy) which are free or nearly free (nominal £10-20 fee) to those on some benefits so it might be useful for you to talk to one of the student advisers at the college, they may be able to help you with child care too.
In Scotland we have an Individual Learning account which could be used to pay for courses such as these - all you have to pay is £10 towards the course. Maybe there is something similar for you??
As someone who decided to study for a degree part-time I was unable to make use of reduced fees/student loans as these are only for full-time students (and I didn't feel I could do that as I have 2 kids and it was a long commute etc). It does seem doubly unfair, as you don't get the loan, AND you have to pay fees; but in the end I got there and graduated last year - now to get a job...

But good luck with your decision to return to learning, it is great learning new things, and I like the sound of crystal healing :toddles off to see what is available locally:

Good luck,
MrsB.

immoral_angeluk

OH bum I didn't realise that only applied to full time students..

Spendless

IA- e-mail your local college and ask. Try careers and guidance or something along those lines. It'll be easier than taking 2 kids with you and easier than trying to have a phone call with them about too . There's also a student board on this site where another MSE member may be able to suggest something. As to the course starts Sept 07, quite often the college starts later than schools do. My own doesn't start till w/c 17 Sept and that's only the induction. The actual course starts a week later, so still plenty of time.

in_debt_again_but_dealing_with_it

IA I think you missed my post at the bottom of p35 - try adult education on you local authority website.

Yorkielass

Sorry IA actually had a sudden flood of work to do :rolleyes:

I've had a quick look at cannock colleges website and I think the best thing to do would be to email the learner support people at cannock college and make an appointment to go and see them, they seem to be able to give advice on the finance and childcare and stuff. It might be that this year they can offer you something to improve your Maths qualification (sometimes courses start at different parts of the year). (http://www.cannock.ac.uk/learner_support/index.cfm?content_id=D018F65C-1422-1A91-294E3BCBBCF7AA1A)

If therapies are something you're interested in might be worth having a 'chat' with hypno about them and how she got into doing them.

immoral_angeluk

in_debt_again_but_dealing_with_it wrote: »

IA I think you missed my post at the bottom of p35 - try adult education on you local authority website.

Am I being blind? I can't find it...

spud30

immoral_angeluk wrote: »

Am I being blind? I can't find it...

Post #1400 I think.