Help with Childcare Costs

16-19: Care to Learn

Care to learn will only pay for childcare costs from the start of your course if you apply within 28 days of the course start date.

If you apply after that, your childcare provider will only be paid from the beginning of the week that your application was received.

FE Student Funding will be alerted when you apply to Care to Learn and we will write to you to tell you what you need to do next.

You will have to provide a copy of your child’s/children’s birth certificate(s) or passport(s), and a letter confirming you receive Child Benefit or Universal Credit child element or Child Tax Credits for 2022-2023.

You will also have a short form to complete.

20+: Learner Support Fund Childcare Grant

A Learner Support Fund Childcare Grant can help you pay for your childcare costs while you study at college if you’re 20 years old or more.

All payments will be made straight to your childcare provider.

You must keep attending your course for the payments to be made.

To apply, you need to:

be aged 20 or over on the day your course starts
be the primary carer of your child(ren) and not have a partner at home who can take care of your child(ren) while you study
have a gross household income of £30,000 or under
be using an OFSTED registered childcare provider
not be receiving the Childcare Element of Working Tax Credits/Universal credit

Learner Support Fund guidance for students aged 19 and over (pdf) Download