Routes into teaching and a question about Child Tax Credits and bursaries

[McPom]

Hi,

I wonder if anyone would be able to help me answer this question:

Do student loans and teaching bursaries affect Child Tax Credits?

I’ve been on the Get into Teaching website, have a teaching mentor, have asked Student Finance England and Citizens Advice, but unfortunately haven’t been able to secure a verdict. Does anyone have direct experience of being in receipt of Child Tax Credits and receiving a bursary for teaching training? I’d really appreciate any help.

I’m also looking at ways into secondary school teaching (English). I’ve read up on the different routes, but I’d love to know what sort of approaches people took, and how it worked for them, because there are quite a few options.

Has anyone been in a similar situation to me?

…I’ve got a PGCE in Further Education, but not QTS because it wasn’t a requirement when I took my PGCE. I’ve taught in Further and Higher Education but I’m not working at the moment and don’t have any experience of teaching in a school. I was wondering, if I do QTS alone, how long would it take? Perhaps I could work as an LSA in a secondary school (I used to be an LSA in FE) and see if there could be a route in to QTS that way? Has anyone done anything like that?

Any feedback, shared experience and advice would be fantastic.

Thanks so much.

Have you looked at the Assessment Only route to QTS?

getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/explore-my-options/teacher-training-routes/specialist-training-options/assessment-only

I did a PGCE about 7 years ago. The bursary isn’t taxed and as such, wasn’t included as income for tax credit purposes. You can’t get the childcare part of tax credits because you’re technically not working but student finance will help out with that, although is dependent on household income.

You might want to take advice about making a change to the tax credit claim because Universal Credit has kicked in everywhere and a change in circumstance can trigger a shift across. I don’t understand the process well enough to say what might trigger the change but I know enough to want to hang onto my tax credits for as long as is humanly possible!

Thank you both for your answers.

I've had a look at that link. It's really useful. I appreciate it.

Also, thank you so much for letting me know the answer to the bursary question. And I hadn't even considered Universal Credit. Thanks for that as well.

Where are you based?

Just FYI the assessment only route allows you to work as an unqualified teacher with a paid salary whilst gaining QTS.
Schools can employ thou directly.

Not sure About the tax credits!

Same situation here- I got a PGCE in post 16, then had to train again for secondary. I was fortunate- I had a job in a school- they called me and paid me differently to a teacher. However, I went on an in school training year, to get qts. They then put me onto the main payspine.
It's worth applying for school jobs with your existing PGCE. What about supply? Long term?
No help with the tax credits though- sorry.

Thanks so much for your comments. I'll certainly look into the suggestions.

Thanks again!