Ask the Expert: Childcare help

Help is available for students

My husband and I find we are increasingly using credit to fund our home. He works full-time, and also has a part-time bar job. I stay at home to look after our two children (ages two and four). I am doing two degree courses, making it difficult to work evenings as I need to study. To return to work in the day I must find one month's childcare costs upfront. I have to find nearly £700. How do we find that initial sum? We haven't even got £70 to spare.
Mrs Barnett

Stephen Burke, Director of Daycare Trust, the national childcare charity:

Unfortunately there is very little help available to pay for childcare deposits.

Two options which may help are the access fund, which offers additional support for students on low incomes. Students with children are one of the priority groups for this fund.

It can help with costs which are not met by other grants or funds, and does not have to be repaid.

There may also be some local charities or organisations who can help you with a discretionary grant.

Your local library will have a directory of these organisations.

Student parents

From your inquiry it is difficult to know whether you will continue to study when you start working and whether you want to work full-time or part-time.

There is a range of other childcare support for student parents.

The Childcare Grant is for full-time students and can pay for up to 85% of registered childcare costs during term time and short holidays.

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In addition there is also the Parent's Learning Allowance which can be used for childcare costs. The amount available will depend on your circumstances.

The student support officer or welfare officer at your college should be able to give you further information on these.

The Department for Education and Skills (DFES) has a helpline for students on 0800 731 9133 or visit its website (see link on right).

Additional support

Career development loans are aimed at students on vocational courses and can be additional source of funding towards childcare and other study related cost for up to two years.

You will have to repay the loan, but not until one month after you have completed your course. You can get more information by calling 0800 585 505 or at visiting the Lifelong Learning website (see link on right).

All children aged three and four are eligible for a part-time nursery place, of two and-a-half hours a day, five days a week. If you haven't yet got one of these places, this can reduce your childcare costs for your older child, and for your younger child when he or she turns three.

You should be able to claim Child Tax Credit for both your children. If both you and your husband work more than 16 hours a week, you may also get help through the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit. You can call the Tax Credit helpline on 0845 300 3900 or visit the Inland Revenue's website for more details (see link on right).

The opinions expressed are those of the author and are not held by the BBC unless specifically stated. The material is for general information only and does not constitute investment, tax, legal or other form of advice. You should not rely on this information to make (or refrain from making) any decisions. Always obtain independent, professional advice for your own particular situation.