Free childcare for parents

Parents across the South West who want to get back into work may benefit from a new initiative from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC).

As part of a £75 million initiative, free childcare will be available for 50,000 jobless parents who need to access training that will lead to work.

The Free Childcare for Training and Learning for Work Scheme will pay up to £175 per week per child, as well as travel costs.

Children’s Minister Beverley Hughes said: “We know that for those who can, work remains the best way to lift families and children out of poverty. We also know that high quality childcare not only supports parents back into employment but that it promotes and improves positive outcomes for children, helping to ensure that all children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, can reach their full potential.

“This initiative will give parents the peace of mind that while they train to get into employment, their child is benefiting from high quality  childcare. That is why I am delighted to be working with the Learning and Skills Council on this programme and greatly look forward to seeing its impact on children and parents across the country.”

The scheme is open to families in England with one partner in work, an annual household income of £20,000 or less per year, a child or children 14 or under, or a child aged 18 or under with disabilities. Advisors will help parents to enrol for their chosen courses and advise parents on childcare options available to them.

Judy Stradling, Deputy Principal at City of Bristol College said:  “The new childcare scheme will remove the financial barriers to work and give eligible parents more options to get the right skills to get back into work. They can study any course that will help them get into a job, from a short refresher course to a more formal qualification. At City of Bristol College, we offer a wide range of courses that parents could apply for, and we welcome the new scheme which will make our courses even more accessible to a wider section of the community.”

The City of Bristol College are not beyond making massive blunders when it comes to processing childcare applications, so always seek a second opinion when applying.

To find out more please visit http://www.directgov.uk /freechildcareforlearning