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.

Student parents 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.

Completion of a childcare application form, does not guarantee childcare support.  In external childcare, written confirmation must be provided by the Nurseries/Childcare Manager.

Childcare Allocations and Admissions

• Students in receipt of a means tested benefit will be eligible for  childcare funding
• Places are for an academic year and maybe carried over for a second year
• 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 discretionary 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 discretionary Learner Support Fund.   For instance, in a college nursery the daily rate is £38.00 per day, if a student is on a means tested benefit the maximum they will pay is £4 per day towards the daily cost.  The student charge is the same as in external childcare, in order for all students’ fees to be the same.

College Nurseries

The college has two on-site nurseries, one at The Learning Exchange (L1)   and one located at Bankfield (L13).  The Learning Exchange nursery is in walking distance to the three city centre sites – The Arts Centre, Clarence Street and Duke Street and Bankfield nursery provides on-site childcare provision for students studying at Bankfield.

The nurseries are registered for 39 places and offer childcare to over 70 children because many attend on a part-time basis.  The majority of nursery staff are fully qualified and with a wealth of experience provide an excellent standard of early years care and learning 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. 

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. 

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 term-time weeks.

The Learning Exchange nursery The nursery is registered for 14 children aged 18mths – 4 yrs

Monday to Thursday 8.30am – 5.30pm
Friday 8.30am – 3.00pm

Bankfield Nursery - registered for 25 0-3 year olds per session

Monday to Thursday 8.30am – 5.00pm
Friday 8.30am – 3.00pm

If college nursery provision is not appropriate for you and your child, external childcare support can also be applied for.

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. 

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 2010/11, 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  (does not include Higher Education courses)
• 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:

• required placement/voluntary work
• childcare costs for extra home/private study time
• any childcare costs during the summer holidays in order to retain your child’s place
• your necessary travel costs from your childcare provider to your  learning provider

If a young parent requires advice or support in identifying a suitable childcare provider, please contact Karen Costain on tel no: 0151 252 3673.

If you think you may be entitled to Care to Learn funding / discretionary Learner Support Funding or would like advice regarding childcare, please contact Karen Costain on tel no 0151 252 3673, alternately you can email Karen at childcare.enquiries@liv-coll.ac.uk

Childcare Application Form (pdf)