How to cope/logistically/financially going to uni with two under 3?

[dowthorpe]

Can anyone please tell me if/how they coped financially as a single mother with at least two children under 3, living in private rented and on the minimum benefits with no money from the children's father, whether it's possible to actually study fulltime or part-time at uni/college?

My 3 year old is at nursery 5 days a week from september for 3 hours a day and I'm getting my 1 year old into afternoon naps to coincide with his sibling's nursery, hopefully releasing a few hours to myself each day.

My income is weekly:

Income Support £13.20
Child Benefit £33.20
Child Tax Credit £97.80

(I have a massive fuel debt being deducted from my Income Support, otherwise it would be the usual £63 a week.)It wont be cleared for about 3 years as it's being taken out £3 a week.

My rent and council tax is paid by benefits. I have no other income nor facility to get credit for loans. I've already maxed out social security loans paying rent and deposit advances moving to a new rented property.

I can't possibly survive like this for too long so thought of going to college or uni to get a degree to hopefully open up my job options once both children start school.

BUT how is this done logistically with getting to and fro from college/uni if one kid is in nursery a few hours a day and I can't get childcare for the other? I know some learning places have creches, but not all. I might not get back in time to pick up child in nursery!

Anyone doing home study courses?
Also, cost of bus fares, text books, etc.
Also, does it affect benefits at all?

Summarily, does anyone with two kids under 3 study if so how do you cope financially/logistically if you're on a VERY similar income to me?
And can you help me as to twhether uni or college courses are free if you're on benefits?

I've asked the Lone parent advisor all this at the jobcentre but she just said "off the record, you're better off staying on benefits because there's no jobs out there anyway" or that with my (lack of) qualifications uni wouldnt accept me and I'd be better off in shopwork. I did say shopwork wouldnt even pay half the rent on my house!

I'm actually a lot brighter than I was at school now and can easily mamange an undergrad course.

Hi there,

I left school with no qualifications as i had my son when i was 15,
I did a learn direct course, they are free if your on benefits.
An open university course is free if you're on benefits..
They have some good courses, and you don't have to have any qualifications to sign up..

You can also get childcare paid for if you attend college or similar..
My friend went to college, and they paid for a childminder..

I think it's terrible that the lone parent advisor said that..

It is worth getting some qualifications, it's good for your confidence too..

Good luck with whatever you decide..

Thanks for replies so far.

LearnDirect courses are not really what I'm after, I'd like to work in publishing or journalism so am looking at degree courses. I've read that mature students will be accepted on aptitude interviews, so my measly 5 O' Levels might still get me into uni.

I didn't know Gov will pay for childminders if you attend full-time uni or college whilst on benefits, so that's very interesting..I could effectively leave them with a nearby chldminder whilst I'm on campus then and still be close enough to pop over if there's a problem, although leaving a 3 year old and 1 year old with a childminder whilst I'm studying means the 3 year old loses out on her pre-school.

Perhaps I need to wait another year before she's at school full-time
then just leave what will then be a 2 year old with a childminder or the college creche.

I'd actually love to be a Lone Parent Advisor in the jobcentre, I swear these people are just clock-watching, whereas I'd love to make a difference to a lone parent's worries and ambitions!

Find out which Universities do courses you are interested in. Then find out about what you would need to be accepted by them, and what they offer to lone parents.

Back in the Dark ages my University had nurseries (subsidised for students), accommodation and other help. So do ask.

Another friend got childcare paid for when she done an open university course??

i have just completed a full-time course at college. both ds's are not yet in school so were at nursery while i was in college. my college paid 90% of my nursery fee's while i was there. so the half hour i dropped them off before i paid and the half hour it took me to get from college to nursery i paid plus the 10% of the time while i was there. this worked out about £70 a month which i paid. but be prepeared as the college worked it out different to the nursery so would maybe be a 5 week charge from nursery but the college would only pay 4 weeks and 5 weeks the following, meaning that sometimes i would have a charge of over £100.
i also picked a nursery which is near the school where ds will start in sept as they do a school run morning and at the end of the day so if i go back next year and i don't finish college till 5pm then he can still be picked up.
hope that helps.