Childcare
Last updated on 12/01/2010
External Childcare Support
External childcare support can only be paid to a provider, who is listed on the compulsory part of the Ofsted Childcare
Register and/or the Early Years Register. The funding is limited and will be offered to students in date order of application.
The childcare admissions procedure and the childcare charges are the same in external childcare as they are in college
nursery provision.
External Childcare must not commence without written confirmation of childcare support from Karen Costain,
Nurseries/Childcare Manager. If childcare begins without written approval from the Nurseries/Childcare Manager, the parent
may be responsible for payment of the nursery fees.
Are you 19 years or under?
If a student is 19 years or under when they are enrolled, he/she will be eligible for Care to Learn funding. During 2009/10,
students can claim up to £160.00 childcare costs, per week for each child.
You are eligible for Care to Learn funding if
you are:
- 19 years or under
- Enrolled on a college course
- Caring for your own children, whether you are the father or the mother
- Use a registered childcare provider.
Care to Learn will also pay for:
- Childcare costs for course timetable hours and while you are on placement
- Childcare costs for extra home/private study time
- A childcare deposit (up to £250.00) if one is charged
- A childcare registration fee (up to £80.00) if one is charged
- Any childcare costs during the summer holidays in order to retain your child's place
- Your necessary travel costs to and from your childcare provider.
If a learner requires advice or support in identifying a suitable childcare provider,
please contact Karen Costain on tel no: 0151 252 4034.
Free Childcare for Training and Learning for Work
To be eligible for this childcare support, you must be:
- 20 years old or over
- Unemployed
- Living with a partner/spouse who works 16 hours or more per week
- Your household income for the tax year 08/09 must have been £20,000 or less
- You must be the parent or main carer of the child(ren) you are claiming for.
If you think you maybe entitled to this childcare support, please contact Karen
Costain on tel no: 0151 252 4034.
Childcare Application
Childcare support is limited due to the childcare funding and college nursery
provision available. Early application is essential. Prospective students can apply
for childcare support before they have an offer of a place on a course. If you are
not provided with childcare, your application will be kept on a waiting list.
Completion of a childcare application form, does not guarantee childcare support. In
external childcare, written confirmation must be provided by the Nurseries/Childcare Manager.
Students can choose whichever childcare setting is most appropriate for them.
Childcare can be provided to children aged 0-12 years in a variety of settings,
including college nurseries, external nurseries, childminders, children’s centres
and out of school clubs.
Childcare Allocations and Admissions
- Only students in receipt of a means tested benefit will be eligible for
childcare funding
- Childcare will be funded for students who have a confirmed place on a
course
- Places are for an academic year and maybe carried over for a second year
- In the college nurseries, full-time childcare places (more then 12.5 hours)
are allocated first. Part-time sessions are then provided to balance the
occupancy in the nurseries
- The minimum attendance requirement is 82% for the students course and the
childcare place, this will be monitored on a monthly basis
- ALL students in receipt of childcare support from the Learner Support Fund
must complete a ‘Student Agreement Form', as soon as childcare commences.
Childcare Charges
If a student is on a means tested benefit and qualifies for a fee waiver, the childcare
will be heavily subsidised by the Learner Support Fund. For instance, in a college
nursery the daily rate is £32.00 per day, if a student is on a means tested benefit they
will pay £3.15 per day towards the daily cost. The student charge (£3.15) is the
same as in external childcare, in order for all students' fees to be the same.
All non-attended sessions must be paid for (In a college nursery, this will not include
the cost of a lunch). If a child is absent from a childcare setting for over a week,
the nursery fees may not be required following the first five days of absence.
This will be at the discretion of the Nursery Supervisor or the Nurseries/Childcare
Manager.
College Nurseries
The college has two on-site nurseries, one at the Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre,
(L8) and one located at Bankfield Road (L13). The nurseries are registered for 45
places and offer childcare to over 70 children because many attend on a parttime
basis. The majority of nursery staff are fully qualified and with a wealth of
experience provide an excellent standard of early years care and education for
students' children.
The nursery staff believe that you will be more successful in your studies if you
know your child is happy and contented in a stimulating learning environment.
The two staff teams work in partnership with parents and carers and have a strong
commitment to equality of opportunity and meeting the individual needs of the child.
In May 09, the Ofsted inspection at Bankfield Road nursery graded the nursery
staff as ‘Outstanding’ in working in partnership with parents and carers.
At the end of the academic year, all parents receive an individual file of their child’s work.
The file provides a catalogue of their child’s learning experiences and development
within the nursery. This includes photographs and examples of their child’s
artwork and 'mark making'; where the children are developing their fine motor
skills, e.g. pencil control.
The nurseries have received excellent written reports from Ofsted and reports can
be downloaded from www.ofsted.gov.uk
Hours of Opening
The college nurseries are open during termtime weeks.
Kuumba Imani Nursery
Kuumba Imani Millennium Centre
4 Princes Road, L8 1TH
Nursery Supervisor: Debbie Craig
registered for 14 1-4 year olds.
Monday to Thursday 8.30am - 3.00pm
Friday 8.30am - 2.00pm
Bankfield Road Nursery
Bankfield Road, L13 0BQ
Nursery Supervisor: Ann Mulroy
registered for 33 0-4 year olds.
Monday to Thursday 8.30am – 5.00pm
Friday 8.30am – 2.00pm
If college nursery provision is not appropriate for you and your child, external childcare
support can also be applied for.
Download the childcare application form here ...
Nursery Application Form (pdf)