Additional grants available to student parents in 2011/12

Support from Student Finance England

If you have children and you are a full-time undergraduate (or Postgraduate Certificate of Education) student you may qualify for extra financial help on top of the standard student finance package.

Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to apply for the following support:

Childcare Grant

If you qualify, the Childcare Grant can cover up to 85% of your childcare costs for Ofsted registered or approved childcare. The amount you can get depends on your household income and your actual weekly childcare costs for the 2011/12 academic year. It pays a maximum of £148.75 per week if you have one child or £255.00 per week if you have two or more children and is available during term-time and holidays until the final day of your course. You cannot apply for this grant if you have already applied for (and are receiving) the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit. You can apply for the Childcare Grant by completing the relevant sections of the 'Application for student finance' (PN1) form and providing supporting documentation. You will also need to provide details of your estimated weekly childcare costs on a 'Childcare Grant Application Form' (CCG1). Then, at three different stages of the academic year, you and your childcare provider will need to provide confirmation of your actual weekly childcare payments on a 'Childcare Costs Confirmation Form' (CCG2).

Parents' Learning Allowance

As a full-time student parent you can apply for a maximum grant of £1,508 from the Parents' Learning Allowance. This grant depends on your household income for the 2011/12 academic year and does not have to be paid back. It is designed to help towards your course costs to allow you to pay for things like books, materials and travel. You can apply for this grant by completing the relevant sections of the 'Application for student finance' (PN1) form and providing supporting documentation.

For more information visit www.direct.gov.uk/studentfinance and Childcare Grant and other help for students with children