Single parent starting course but ds will turn 5 before I finish

[2isamagicnumber]

Hi wonder if anyone has any advice. I'm looking to do a pgce. It's a full time course for one year. I'm a lone parent so I understand that you still get financial help or benefits.

However my son will turn 5 in may and the course doesn't end until June/ July. What would happen financially? Do you have to swap on to jobseekers?

Has anyone been in this situation?

I am a single parent doing a PGCE.

My DCs were all over 5 when I started, so I am not sure what you get that is 'special' to him being under 5.

I ge (student finance england)t:
Special support grant
Dependants allowance
Childcare grant

I also get training bursary from TDA.
I also get full clchild tax credits and obviously child.benefit.

I.don't get income support because I am not elligible but think that is a possibility.

Thanks for the reply. I've got confused I was thinking about studying part time initially which I think meant you could still get income support. But only if you child was under 5. I haven't applied yet I'll be looking to start 2014 to give myself time to get plenty of classroom experience.

Can I ask if financially your finding it ok? I know the pgce is hard work so don't want to be stressing about money on top of that!

I think you can get income support as a single parent student irrespective of age. I don't qualify for IS because of other circumstances.

I'm finding it ok. I will actually be worse off when I get a job - but that is in part.because I am doing a shortage subject and get 9k bursary.

The workload is sheer hell tho.

Definitely need to look in to the finance side of things a bit more. I want to do primary so definitely no shortage of applicants!

I know a few people who have done pgce courses so I know it's full on.

Good luck I'm sure it will be all worth it in the end