Student childcare grant and independent school fees?

[PGCEmum]

Hi, bit of a long shot here.

I am going to do a PGCE in September, for which I would be eligible for a childcare grant.

DCs are currently in an independent school - We have a large staff discount as DH is a teacher there.

At the moment, I work part time so can take the DCs in and pick them up - DH works much longer hours than the (KS1) DCs.

I'm assuming, but I don't know, that the childcare grant can't be used to pay for childcare fees?

We have looked at moving them to the local school (which is lovely) but there, before and after school care would cost more and be so much more difficult than the current set-up (+ an extra hour and a half because KS1 days are shorter than either PGCE or DH work). There are no childminders in the village and local school has no breakfast or after school club.

Does anyone know if the fees (after the discount) might be covered (or the up to 85% bit) but the Student Finance childcare grant? Thank you.

Don't know but are they ofsted registered for childcare? They might be for wrap around care i guess. www.gov.uk/childcare-grant/eligibility

Yes they are, and I assume the extra time outside of the normal day would count, but there doesn't seem to be anything specific about this. Thanks for looking.

Worth trying for before/after normal hours then I guess. I have no idea though!