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Do you qualify for Care to Learn?

You can usually claim Care to Learn funding if you are living in England, and can answer “Yes” to the following questions.

If you’re still unsure whether you qualify, contact the Care to Learn helpline.

• Contact the Care to Learn helpline

Are you under 20 years old?

To get Care to Learn, you must be under 20 years old on the day your course or learning programme begins.

As long as you begin the course before you are 20, Care to Learn will contribute towards your childcare costs until the course has finished.

The sources of help with childcare costs are different if you're aged 20 or over.

• Help with childcare costs if you're aged 20 or over

Are you caring for your own child or children?

You can claim Care to Learn either as the child’s father or mother, as long as:

• the other parent is unable to provide childcare (because, for example, they are working)
• the other parent is not claiming Childcare Tax Credit

If you have more than one child, you can get help for each of them.

Does your learning qualify?

To receive Care to Learn you must be in, or considering starting, learning that has some public funding.

Your learning options include:

• courses in schools, sixth forms, sixth form colleges, other colleges and learning providers 
• Entry to Employment programmes
• work based learning programmes (non-employed status)
• courses in your community, for example at Children’s Centres, or some other form of community learning

 Funding is for courses in England only.

University and higher education courses are not covered by Care to Learn - for more information on help with childcare costs in higher education, follow the link below.

• Extra help for higher education students with children

Is your childcare registered?

To get Care to Learn, you must use a childcare provider which is registered with Ofsted.

Registration means the childcare must meet certain standards so that it is safe and of a high quality. Your options might include a childminder, day nursery, crèche, or out of school club.

• Search for Ofsted inspection reports Opens new window

What Care to Learn pays for

Care to Learn will pay up to £160 per child per week (£175 in London) to cover the cost of:

• childcare while you learn, are on placement, doing private study or travelling to/from your childcare provider
• any registration fees (up to £80) and any deposit normally charged (up to £250)
• a childcare taster and/or settling your child in before the learning starts
• childcare fees you may need to pay during holidays
• additional travel costs you may have to pay in order to take your child to the childcare provider

The childcare provider will receive payment direct from Care to Learn. Any funding to help with travel costs will be paid directly to the learning or training provider regularly and they will reimburse you.

If your circumstances change

You will need to complete a ‘Change of Circumstances Form’ if your learning, childcare or home address change while you are receiving Care to Learn.

For more information, see ‘How to apply for Care to Learn’.

• How to apply for Care to Learn

Effect on other benefits or allowances

Care to Learn will not affect your own or your family's benefits or allowances. You do not have to be on benefits in order to claim it.

Follow the links below for more information on financial help for parents.

• Expecting or bringing up children benefits (money, tax and benefits section)
• Financial help for lone parents (parents section)

Education Maintenance Allowance

You could get up to £30 a week in Education Maintenance Allowance at the same time as being eligible for Care to Learn.

• Education Maintenance Allowance

How to apply

To get help with childcare during your learning, apply for Care to Learn as soon as you decide what you want to do.

• How to apply for Care to Learn