Care to Learn Policy

Purpose 

Care to Learn (C2L) provides funding for childcare to help young parents (defined as those aged under 20 years old) continue in education after the birth of a child. The scheme provides funding for childcare whilst the young parent is engaged in a study programme and is not able to provide care for their child. It can also help the young parent with any additional travel costs involved in taking the child to the childcare provider. C2L can also provide funding for childcare whilst young parents are on work placements, where these are a defined part of the study programme. 

Eligibility criteria 

For the learner to be eligible for C2L funding they must meet the following criteria:  

  • The young parent must be under 20 years old on the date they start their study programmes. Young parents who become 20 years old during their study programme can continue to get funding to the end of that specific study programme, so to the end of the same programme at the same level.  
  • The young parent must be the main carer and in receipt of Child Benefit for the Child(ren) for whom they are claiming C2L. If a young parent loses custody of their child(ren), even temporarily, they must notify the college immediately. The mother or father can claim C2L as long as: 
  • the other parent is unable to provide childcare, for example, they are also in education or are absent; or  
  • the other parent is not claiming childcare paid through any other source, for example, government funded early years places or Childcare Tax Credits. Young parents must be living and studying in England to receive C2L. 

Residency 

Learners must also meet the Residency Criteria in DfE funding rules. 

Accompanied asylum seeking children (under 18 with an adult relative or partner).

Asylum seekers are not entitled to public funds. Accompanied asylum seeking children (those under 18 with an adult relative or partner) and those aged 18 and above are entitled to education, but not to public funds. If they are destitute, they can apply to the Home Office (HO) for suitable housing and cash for essentials, but they are not eligible for other income. 

Study programme and duration 

The learner’s study programme must be funded directly from public funding.  

The types of study programmes eligible and offered at InspireU include:  

  • GCSEs, Functional Skills 
  • Non-accredited programmes and learning aims 

All of which are available in STEP, STRIDE and SPRINT full-time programmes.  

C2L will provide help with childcare costs for the duration of the learner’s study programme. 

Learners can claim C2L for independent study time where it is required as part of their study programme to complete coursework, undertake revision or homework. The amount of independent study time that is appropriate must be agreed between InspireU and the learner.  

C2L will support time needed to undertake work experience and industry placements but only where these have been identified as an integral part of the study programme. 

Childcare provision  

C2L will only pay for childcare provision that is appropriately registered with Ofsted and must be registered in one of the following ways:  

  • On the early years register with either Ofsted or a childminder agency.  
  • On the compulsory and/or voluntary part of the general childcare register with either Ofsted or a childminder agency.  
  • Offered by schools (who are exempt from Ofsted registration for children aged 2+) such as school run breakfast and after school clubs, and holiday care.  
  • If general childcare provision is not suitable for the child, then the college will give consideration for a specialist provision.  
  • As part of the application process the childcare provider must supply evidence that they are Ofsted Registered with a rating of 3/Secure or above.  
  • Where the childcare provider is related to the child, the childcare provider must:  
  • live apart from the child;  
  • be providing registered childcare for other children who are not related at the same time as the child they are related to; and  
  • be Ofsted registered. 

Travel payments  

As part of the funding C2L can contribute towards travel for the learner, if it is necessary for the learner to take their child(ren) between childcare and home. Travel payments are only paid if they are additional to the learner’s normal travel costs from home to the College. If the childcare is based on the way to or on site of the college then no additional travel can be claimed.  

Any travel claims will be part of the childcare costs (maximum allocation will not be exceeded) and must be the cheapest option. If travelling by car (not private taxi), the rate used will be 45p per mile. 

Deposits and registration fees  

C2L will pay a maximum of £250 per child if the childcare provider requires this. Deposits will be paid from the C2L funding. C2L will also pay a registration fee charged by the childcare provider, up to a maximum of £80 per child. These are one-off payments that will not be included as part of the weekly maximum and cannot be paid in future academic years if the learner uses the same childcare provider. 

Retainers  

The College can pay retainers to childcare providers, if required to hold the childcare place over holiday periods. This only applies if the learner is finishing study in one year and continuing their study in the next academic year. The young parent must still meet the eligibility criteria for this to be paid.  

To be eligible for the summer retainer for summer 2026, the learner must:  

  • have received C2L funding in the academic year 2025 to 2026 and be intending to return to the study programme in the academic year 2026 to 2027;  
  • be on a study programme that has lasted for 6 weeks or more in the academic year 2025 to 2026;  
  • be on a study programme that finishes no earlier than 26 May 2026;  
  • be intending to continue with the same childcare provider they used during academic year 2025 to 2026;  
  • have been using the childcare provider for a minimum of six weeks. C2L can pay the summer retainer for a maximum of four weeks, and this cannot be more than the C2L weekly maximum rate. 

Learner commitment  

Payments are made on the understanding that the learner maintains an attendance level of at least 85% (in all subjects, including Maths, Maths for life, English for life, Clean start and finish, PfA and Work Experience), otherwise payments will be withheld/reduced. Their attendance is monitored monthly and will be reviewed on the last working day of each month.  In addition to this, a monthly check on the last day of each month will be made to the childcare provider to ensure the child is still attending. Any attendance missed by the child, InspireU will not pay the required fee.  

If attendance drops below 85% and the payments are withheld/reduced, the learner is required to discuss with their Pastoral Lead reasons regarding the low attendance. If the Pastoral Lead is happy with the reasons (exceptional circumstances only), they must inform the Bursary Lead to request that the withheld/reduced payments be released. Consideration will be given to mitigating circumstances such as safeguarding, child protection, family bereavement, caring responsibilities, transport issues. For travel payments, the amount will be reduced to reflect the learner’s attendance. i.e., if the learner has only attended 67% of the allocated time, then they will only receive 67% of the monthly travel payment. A monthly report is also made to the Secretary of State for Education confirming the learner’s and child’s continued attendance.  

Funding for learners who have not attended for four weeks or more will be stopped, without notice and funding may also be stopped if a learner has not adhered to the College’s rules.  

Learner holidays must be booked in advance and in line with the nursery and InspireU notice policies.  Holidays booked by the learner (up to 5 days), payment will not be made to the nursery.  

If InspireU need to withdraw or reduce payments due to leaner or child absences and holidays the learner will be responsible for paying the cost of the fees direct to the nursery.    

If a learner chooses to withdraw their child from the selected nursery, they need to follow the nursery policies and formally inform the InspireU Provision Manager. 

The College reserves the right to require repayment of funds if it has been funded through any Government grants or bursaries. 

Fraudulent claims  

It is the College’s duty to protect public funds from the possibility of fraudulent claims. The College asks for detailed information and may invite applicants for interview so it can distribute the funds correctly. If the learner’s claim is considered fraudulent, i.e., through false representation of household income or other eligibility rules during spot checks or auditing processes, the College will request that the funds awarded are repaid in full. If the learner fails to repay this, the College may take legal action.  

An application that is found to be fraudulent, i.e., through false representation of household income or of other eligibility rules, may be cancelled and the learner may be subject to disciplinary measures by the College. The College will have the right to recover the monies awarded. Government guidance advises that institutions that identify significant fraud should report it to the Department for Education.   

Data protection  

College employees, involved in administering the 16-19 Care to Learn Funds, comply with the College’s policy on storing and transferring information during the application process and in payments of funds.