What is Care to Learn

Care to Learn (C2L) provides financial support for teenage parents who want to continue in, or return to learning. It helps with the cost of their childcare and travel.

Who can get help?

A young parent who is: 

• under 20 years old on the day the learning starts 
• attending school, 6th forms, Colleges of Further Education and any learning provider delivering courses with some public funding e.g from: the Learning Skills Council, Local Government or the EU
• on Entry to Employment or with a work based learning provider with non-employed status

Young fathers may apply for childcare where they are responsible for caring for their child.

What will we pay for?

Care to Learn will pay up to £160 per child each week (£175 in London)

• registered childcare for all kinds of learning, training or work-based learning which is partly or fully publicly funded
• the necessary additional travel costs that young parents face in using their childcare
• childcare necessary to provide for essential private study associated with the learning or training
• fees necessary for a young parent to retain a childcare place during the holidays 
• any deposit and/or registration fees that the provider usually charges to reserve a place up to £250 and
• a trial within the £250 limit. This might take the form of a session or two with different providers to find the right arrangement for the parent, child and provider. 

What will we will NOT pay childcare for:

• unregistered childcare
• a young parent who is over 20 when they start learning (they should contact their learning provider unless they are at a 6th form or 6th form college then they may apply to the Learner Support Service for help from the 6th form college scheme)
• learning or training that is not publicly funded
• students in higher education who have access to a special scheme.

How will the childcare and travel be paid?

Childcare payments will be made direct to the childcare provider. Payments for travel to and from the childcare provider will be paid to the learning provider to reimburse the young parent.

How many hours must a young parent attend each week?

There are no set hours. A young parent can choose to do part time or full time training or learning. This could be anything from a few weeks to several years. 

For help or more information about learning or childcare call Connexions 080 800 13 2 19.

For information about applications and payments  contact the Care to Learn team on 0800 121 8989 or email c2l@liberata.com