Grants for single parents going back to education?

[Lmccrean]

I work, so it seems I am not eligible for every grant Ive found so far. I would prefer a long distance/study from home one as I dont want to stop work to do it. Anyone know of any?

Have you tried speaking to your Lone Parent advisor at the job centre? They may be able to help you.

I got on an Open Univerity course free, but I was on IS at the time. Might be worth seeing if they offer any grants or discouts to people on low incomes.

Will your employer not sponsor you at all?

Gilly

I've just appled to Open University. I work 16 hours and get a very small amount of housing ben. They have a financial help calculator on their website. I am likely to get maximum funding so it might be worth looking at it even if you work. I think they provide help to people on incomes up to 30K depending on other circumstances - having children being one of them. Good luck xx

Thank you

I only did up to gcses, so open university aint for me..unless they also do access courses for the uneducated like me!

Im just home and going out again now, but will look into it when I get home tonight.

They do do access-type courses as it happens! Look up their prospectus.

my sister and cm are both doing courses with the ou, my sis has gcse's only and is lp so gets hers paid for.
my cm has a level 3, and is married but neither her nor hubby have big incomes so she gets help with paying for hers.
so it could be worth looking into with them

I am currently on access course . Only go one day a week at local college.

I get a student loan (and child care grant that goes with it) but am doing a degree full time. I thought that part-time students were entitled to smaller grants to help with cost of books etc but the whole student system has changed since I started. Speak to the student advisors at your Local Education Authority direct for advice - the Student Finance 'helpline' is generally very unhelpful (think bored people in call centre).
I didn't do 'A' levels or an access course - uni's can be quite forgiving as regards 'mature' applicants, especially if you've got work experience or have done training since leaving school.