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Care to Learn: get your application sorted

Apply for Care to Learn as soon as you decide what you want to do. In particular, make sure you begin learning before you reach your 20th birthday if you want to benefit from the scheme.

For your childcare provider to be paid from the day you start learning, you’ll need to apply before your learning starts – or within 28 days of starting.

Applications are quick and easy. However, if you need help contact:

• your Connexions Personal Adviser
• your college, school or training provider

For general information about who qualifies for Care to Learn, contact the Learner Support helpline on 0800 121 8989.

• Contact your Connexions Personal Adviser Opens new window

• Learner Support helpline

Before you apply

When you apply for Care to Learn, you’ll need to know:

• what course or learning programme you’re applying for
• what childcare you’re planning on using

However, your place on the course does not need to be confirmed.

Get a Care to Learn application pack

To get an application pack for Care to Learn, call the Learner Support helpline on 0800 121 8989.

The application pack replaces the PDF form, which is no longer available. The PDF form has been withdrawn because it wasn’t always clear when printed out – which sometimes caused delays in processing.

• Learner Support helpline

Completing the Care to Learn application form

You'll need to complete an application form. If you need help, ask your Connexions Adviser, parent or carer – or check the guidance notes that come with the form.

The form must be completed by:

• you
• your learning provider (school, college or training provider)
• your childcare provider

Your learning provider and childcare provider will also need to sign their parts of the form.

You'll need to take your child’s birth certificate (or your child benefit letter) to the learning provider so they can make a photocopy. The childcare provider will also need to send in a copy of their Ofsted registration certificate along with the application.

What happens after you apply

When the Learner Support service receives your form, they will check that it’s been fully completed.

If it hasn’t, they will return it to you with a request for the missing information. This request may come by email (if you have given an email address) or by post.

If you’ve supplied all the information required and you’re eligible for Care to Learn, the Learner Support service will write to you and your childcare provider within three weeks. This letter will confirm what your Care to Learn payments will be and when they'll be made.

If you’re not eligible for Care to Learn, you’ll get a letter explaining why.

Not satisfied with how your application was handled?

If you're not satisfied with how your application was handled, call the Learner Support helpline on 0800 121 8989.

It's staffed by advisers who will be happy to help solve your problem.

• Learner Support helpline

If your circumstances change

If any of the following has changed since you applied, you will need to complete a ‘change of circumstances’ form:

• your personal details
• your childcare provider - or the fees charged by your existing childcare provider
• the cost of travelling between home and your childcare provider
• your course or learning programme
• the number of hours you're learning (you may have forgotten to include private study or time to revise and take exams)

To get a change of circumstances form, call the Learner Support helpline on 0800 121 8989.

If you leave your current childcare provider, you may need to give a month’s notice.

• Learner Support helpline

Where to send your form

Send completed Care to Learn application and change of circumstances forms to:

Care to Learn
Freepost RSAX-RXKX-GZBZ
Learner Support Service
Manchester
M3 3JZ