How do you pay for childcare?

[BertieBotts]

I'm a single parent and have applied for a part time degree which starts this October. Depending on my existing qualifiations I may have to do a year on an open study course first. (They haven't let me know yet). I know that the university nursery is full for this year, and it wouldn't be very practical anyway because the bus service which goes to the university doesn't accommodate pushchairs and is always very busy. I have been looking at childminders near to my home instead, but I need to know whether I will be able to get funding for it, if not, we are seriously going to struggle.

I have asked at the jobcentre and they didn't know of any support available (only for going back to work) and looked at the tax credit website and it seems to say you can only claim the childcare element if you are claiming working tax credit, which I am not.

Where else can I look for any help with this? I have looked at grants and bursaries pertaining to the course I have applied for but they only apply if you are doing a full time degree. I am really stuck!

There is a grant that pays childcare for people in education, but from what I've read you have to have two parents in the family hope this helps

Or talk to the university, they are usually quite helpfull

I would try the council, When I applied for funding for tuition fee loan there was a section for a childcare grant as well. I haven't heard back yet so don't know if we have it but fwiw I get a bursary for my course which will all go on childcare, otherwise I wouldn't be able to do it, it sucks, doesn't it?
I have put off doing the course until now so that DD1 is in full tiem school and I won't have to pay so much for her as well.

Part time degrees attract alot less student finance...can it be done full time? You would then get full student support and prob full childcare grants