Your Questions Answered
Q. What childcare will be supported through Care to Learn?
A. Any childcare that is registered with Ofsted. This includes a Childminder, Day Nursery, Crèche, and Nursery School/Class with childcare that fits around the Nursery Education sessions or Out of School clubs. The Ofsted Early Years Directorate inspects and registers childcare providers. They must meet the National Standards and all the requirements under the 1989 Children's Act. Staff must have a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check and are deemed 'suitable' by Ofsted and the CRB to work with children.
Q. How does a young parent know if their baby will be looked after properly?
A. It is important for a young parent and their baby to be happy and confident with their childcare arrangements. Those supporting a young parent should help them to visit the childcare and ask any questions they may have e.g. to find out how the day is structured and what happens when their baby is upset, hungry or needs a change of nappy. All childcarers should have a Guidance to Parents Booklet setting out their Policies and Procedures. A copy of the Code of Practice can be found on the menu setting out the arrangements that childcare providers must follow in supporting young parents.
Q. What additional travel costs can be met under C2L?
A. The necessary cost of additional travelling that a young parent must pay in order to take their child/ren to the childcarer. This does not include the normal travel costs incurred when travelling to their chosen learning. A young parent may be able to get help for this from their learning provider if they need it.
Q. How much support will the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) provide?
A. The LSC will pay for up to £160 per week, per child (£175 in London) for all childcare costs and any additional travel incurred in taking the child/ren to a childcare provider.
Q. How are travel and childcare paid?
A. The childcare provider will receive payment in advance direct from the Care to Learn team, when an application has been approved. The learning provider will receive payment for travel each term.
Q. Can a young parent claim childcare help if they are the father of their child?
A. Yes, as long as the father has responsibility for the child and the mother is not available to care for the child and is not also claiming for the same childcare.
Q. Can a young parent claim childcare help for more than one child?
A. Yes. If a young parent needs childcare for more than one of their own children. The application form provides for more than one child.
Q. How old must the young parent be?
A. The young parent must be under 20 on the day the learning starts. Funding will continue for the duration of the learning even if it is a two year course.
Q. What happens if a young parent's child is at school but their childcare times do not fit with school times?
A. The young parent should get their local Connexions PA or Re-Integration Officer to advise and support. The Children's Information Service should also have lists of different childcare providers in their area who may be able to provide flexible childcare. Visit www.childcarelink.gov.uk for more information.
Q. What if the young parent changes their course during the year?
A. The young parent will need to download and complete a change of circumstance form.
Who will help the young parent with any additional support they might need to find suitable childcare other than the Children's Information Service.
The Children's Information service provides information about local childcare provision. It is expected that the person supporting and advising the young parent during the application stage will either offer support in finding the right type of childcare or refer to a more appropriate contact locally who can provide advice and support.
Q. Can Care to Learn fund childcare for necessary private study?
A. Yes. This is something that will be agreed between the young parent and the learning/training provider and entered on the application or change of circumstances form. This may be for completion of course work, revision, homework but the young parent must still keep within the maximum allowed support of £160 per week (£175 in London). We expect providers to recognise the particular challenges that young parents face in managing their learning and childcare responsibilities.
Q. Will learning and training providers be given an incentive for their part in helping to administer Care to Learn?
A. Yes. It has been agreed that learning and training providers will receive an incentive of £80 per start for their role in supporting students who apply successfully.
Q. Many learning providers start their courses in September at the start of the academic year. How will this affect a young parent who may not be able to start then?
A. We ask Learning Providers to be flexible in provision for young parents e.g. to provide roll on / roll off courses and short courses.
Q. How long will it take for an application form to be processed?
A. Where an application is made online the response is instant. The Care to Learn team then need to receive signed declarations from young people before they can finalise offers and pay for childcare, The C2L team aim to process complete postal applications within 3 weeks.
For help or more information call the Learner Support Helpline on 0845 600 7979.
