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Help with childcare costs: sixth form students aged 20 or over

If you’re a parent aged 20 or over and studying at a school sixth form or sixth form college, you could get help with your childcare costs through the Sixth Form College Childcare Scheme.

Depending on your household income, you could get help worth up to £160 per child per week for the 2009/10 academic year (up to £175 in London).

When you’re working out your childcare costs, you can include:

• fees you pay to your childcare provider
• the cost of any extra journeys you have to make between home and your childcare provider

Do you qualify?

To qualify for help through the Sixth Form College Childcare Scheme, you need to meet all of the conditions set out in this section.

You must:

• be living in England
• study full-time or part-time at a school sixth form or sixth form college that's funded by the Learning and Skills Council (ask your school or college if you're not sure)
• be aged 20 or over on the day you start studying
• be the main carer for a child under 15 years of age (or under 16 if the child is disabled)

The childcare provider you use must be fully registered with Ofsted (on the Early Years Register or the compulsory part of the Childcare Register). Ask to see the provider’s registration certificate if you’re not sure.

You won't be able to claim for costs that are already covered through support from another source.

How much you could get

How much you can get through the Sixth Form College Childcare Scheme depends on your household income.

If your household income was less than £30,502 for the previous tax year you can claim financial help to cover your childcare costs, up to a weekly maximum of:

• £160 per child (if you live outside London)
• £175 per child (if you live in a London local council area - you can check this by following the link below)

• View a list of local councils in Greater London

If you’re in college full-time and your total household income was between £30,502 and £50,501, you can still claim for help towards the actual costs of your childcare - but you won't get the weekly maximum. Check the table below to find out the limit on how much you can claim.

Household income	Maximum weekly claim (living outside London)	Maximum weekly claim (living in London)
under £30,502	up to £160	up to £175
£30,502 - £35,501	up to £128	up to £140
£35,502 - £40,501	up to £96	up to £105
£40,502 - £45,501	up to £64	up to £70
£45,502 - £50,501	up to £32	up to £35
£50,502 or more	no claim allowed	no claim allowed

You can also get help if you’re studying part-time - but the weekly maximum you can claim will be reduced. How much it will be reduced depends on exactly how much time you spend in college.

More about the scheme - and how to apply

To find out more, or to get an application form, call the Learner Support helpline on 0800 121 8989.

• Learner Support helpline

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

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• Help with childcare costs while you're learning