Childcare Facilities

Guaranteed Places

If your child attended the College Nursery in 2010/2011 and you are continuing your South Downs College education, your child’s place can be guaranteed for 2011/2012 providing you still fit the eligibility criteria. This also applies to college staff. Please contact the nursery to arrange this.

Hours of Opening

Fees

Financial Assistance with Childcare in the College Nursery

Financial assistance for students aged under 20 when you start your college course:

If you are a young parent (under 20 when your course starts) and want to start or continue in learning, you could be eligible for help with your childcare costs through the “Care to Learn” scheme.If you are a young parent (under 20 when your course starts) and want to start or continue in learning, you could be eligible for help with your childcare costs through the “Care to Learn” scheme.

Care to Learn is a government scheme which will pay up to £160 per week per child towards the cost of your child care and any associated travel costs whether you study full or part time.

Care to Learn is designed to give you the help and support you need to enjoy studying without added worries.

Please see the website for more information www.direct.gov.uk/caretolearn

Childcare Support (Aged over 20):

If you are a student aged 20 or over on 1st September 2011 you may be entitled to receive help with your childcare costs. If you are a student at the College, full or part time, childcare will be subsidised in the College Nursery if you are enrolled on a Skills for Life course or you are in receipt of or are an unwaged dependant of someone who is in receipt of:

• Jobseekers Allowance (where this is a payment, not solely a National Insurance credit)
• Income Support (dated after 30th June 2011)
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit (other than single occupancy)
• Working Tax Credit (April 2011 – April 2012)
• Employment & Support Allowance (income based payment dated after 30th June)

Under the Early Years Education Scheme the Council will pay for:

• 15 hours a week during the Hampshire County Council school term

If you are not entitled to subsidised financial assistance from the College and your child is at the Nursery for longer than the free sessions you have asked them to claim for your child, then the Nursery will charge you top up fees separately.

To claim financial assistance with childcare when placing your child/ren in our on-site nursery, please obtain an application pack from the Student Services Office.

You will need to provide evidence of proof of benefit before assistance with childcare can be made. Forms are available from the end of August.

Financial Assistance with Off-Site Child Care

You may also qualify for financial assistance with off-site childcare. This is a College scheme and would help towards the cost of childcare whilst you are attending College.

How to apply for Off-Site Childcare:

To apply for subsidised childcare please obtain an Application Form from the Student Services Office. Forms are available from the end of August. You will need to provide proof of benefit and start attending classes before payments for childcare can be made.

Please note that if you leave your course before 1st October 2011, you will be expected to repay your childcare fees in full.

Parents are only required to contribute the first £1.00 per hour for the first child up to a maximum of 20 hours (£20) per week and £1.00 per hour for any further children up to a maximum of 10 hours (£10) per week.

Therefore, for the first 20 hours for the first child, and the first 10 hours for subsequent children, the College will pay a maximum of £5.00 per hour. After this the College will pay a maximum of £6.00 per hour.

The parental contribution is paid by you directly to the childcare provider. Please note we are also able to help out with travel costs to and from the nursery and college up to half an hour per day. This half an hour travel time does not require any parental contribution. This will be paid for by the college.

Your childcare will only be subsidised when you are attending classes for which you have enrolled and have attended. Reoccurring non-attendance will render you liable for payment of your own childcare fees.

For further information on off-site childcare contact Rachel Harden on 023 9279 4606. Your childcare will only be subsidised when you are attending classes for which you have enrolled. We can also provide subsidised childcare when you are taking examinations or on work experience for those classes. If you wish to work in the Learning Resources Centre you will be required to pay full fees.

If you are a full time student over 20 and not eligible for subsidised childcare you may be eligible for assistance from the College Discretionary Support Fund. Please contact Catherine Sillence, Student Services, by telephoning 023 9279 7969 or in person at the Student Services desk.

Updated 05/09/11