Website of the UK government

How Care to Learn can help you

Get up to £160 per child per week (£175 in London) for childcare costs

If you are a young parent, Care to Learn can help pay for your childcare and travel costs while you’re learning.

The subject or course you take is entirely up to you. You can choose, for example, whether you want a qualification or not, or whether you want to learn at a college or through work.

Wherever you learn, you can be confident that your child is being safely looked after.

These pages give you more information about Care to Learn. If you’d like to speak to someone to see if you qualify, or to help you apply, you can either:

• phone the Care to Learn helpline on 0800 121 8989
• contact your Connexions Personal Adviser

• Find a Connexions Personal Adviser in your area (opens new window)

What you can learn

Fit your learning around your life

When you get Care to Learn, it’s up to you what you learn.

You could choose to take a course or learning programme that lasts only for a few days, or one which lasts for several years. There are no set hours, so you could study part time or full time.

While you’re learning, you could be helping to build a better future for you and your family.

More and more employers are looking for people with higher level skills and qualifications, and the latest research shows that people with qualifications tend to earn more than those without. You’ll also be meeting new people and making new friends, getting out and about and perhaps getting a greater sense of confidence and independence.

The most important thing is that you choose something that suits and interests you.

Finding a course

You can use Care to Learn to pay for your childcare during any learning, not just learning that leads to qualifications.

All you need to do is choose learning that receives some public funding.

There are thousands of learning opportunities available, ranging from those based in the community that are short and help to build your confidence, to a two-year course in your local college.

If you’re looking for ideas or inspiration about what to learn, either take a look at the article, ‘Choices at 16: what’s right for you’, or contact Connexions Direct:

• Connexions Direct: 080 800 13219

• Choices at 16: what's right for you
• Contact Connexions Direct (opens new window)

Childcare: who looks after your child

Concerns with wellbeing or safety? Call the Care to Learn helpline

Letting someone else look after your child can be a big step.

Care to Learn helps by letting you choose the type of childcare that most suits you and your child.

You can, for example, use Care to Learn to pay for childcare at any of the following places:

• childminder 
• pre-school playgroup
• day nursery
• out of school club
• other registered childcare (such as your college nursery or crèche)

The one condition is that the childcare must be registered. Registered childcare providers must meet national standards, and are inspected each year to make sure they are providing good quality care.

If you have any concerns about your child’s or your own well-being and safety, please contact the Care to Learn helpline on 0800 121 8989.

• Choosing childcare (parents section)

Finding childcare

If you're unsure about what childcare to use, ask for advice – your Connexions Personal Adviser or local Children’s Information Service are good places to start.

They can help arrange for you to go and visit different childcare providers, to find the one that best suits your needs.

During the visit, make sure you’re happy the place is right for your child. You may want to find out about:

• how the day is structured 
• what happens when your baby is upset, hungry or needs a change of nappy
• how the childcare fits around your child's school day

You can get more information by asking the childcare provider for a copy of their ‘Guidance to Parents Booklet’, which explains what they do in different circumstances.

Care to Learn has produced a Code of Practice specifically for childcare providers highlighting issues you may be facing. 

• Download Care to Learn Code of Practice (PDF, 166K)
• Find a Connexions Personal Adviser in your area (opens new window)
• Contact Childcarelink

Next step: find out if you qualify

If you’re interested in applying for Care to Learn, your next step is to check that you qualify.

• Care to Learn: do you qualify?