STUDENTS WITH CHILDREN
INFORMATION PACK
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STUDENTS WITH CHILDREN INFORMATION PACK
If you are thinking about studying at LSE while raising your family, you may have some questions about funding opportunities, pastoral support, housing and so on. Hopefully the information in this booklet will help you address some of these concerns. However, if you need more information or help, visit www.lsesu.com/advice for details about the LSESU Advice Service and how to contact one of our trained advisors.
FUNDING SPECIFIC TO STUDENTS WITH CHILDREN: CHILDCARE GRANT
SPECIAL SUPPORT GRANT
Students in full-time higher education with children under the age of 15, or under the age of 17 if they have special needs, can apply for a Childcare Grant to cover childcare costs.
Full-time undergraduate students are eligible to apply for the grant if:
From 2014 - 2015 you can apply for: • •
Up to £150.23 a week for one child Up to £257.55 a week for two or more children
For more information, visit www.gov.uk/childcare-grant.
• • • • • •
PARENTS’ LEARNING ALLOWANCE If you are a student from England with dependent children and are on a fulltime undergraduate course, you may qualify for Parents’ Learning Allowance. Depending on your household income, you could get between £50 and £1,523 a year. The funds can be used for books, study materials and travel. For more information and/or to apply, go to www.gov.uk/parents-learningallowance/overview.
You are a lone parent, or your partner is also a student You have a disability and qualify for the disability premium or severe disability premium You are deaf and qualify for Disabled Students’ Allowances You have been incapable of work for a continuous period of at least 28 weeks You had to leave a course because you were ill or had to care for someone You are aged 60 or older
For more information, visit www.gov.uk/ student-finance/loans-and-grants.
TAX CREDITS If you have dependants or children, you may be eligible for Child and Working Tax Credits For an immediate assessment, contact the Tax Credit help line on 0345 300 3900 or visit www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits.
AVAILABLE TO ALL STUDENTS: TUITION FEE LOAN UK or EU students doing their first undergraduate higher education course can apply for a tuition fee loan to cover the full cost of fees. You start repaying the loan once you have graduated and are earning more than £21,000 a year.
living expenses. The amount depends on the area you live and study in. You start repaying the loan once you have graduated and are earning more than £21,000 a year. For more information, visit the Student Loans Company at www.slc.co.uk.
For more information or to apply, visit the Student Loans Company at www.slc.co.uk.
LSE SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES, AND FINANCIAL AID
MAINTENANCE GRANT
The School has a number of funding opportunities available.
The Maintenance Grant - a nonrepayable grant - helps higher education students, particularly those from lower income backgrounds, with their general living costs whilst they study. Full-time students who are completing their first undergraduate degree and have lived in the UK for at least three years before studying are eligible to receive it. For more information, visit the Student Loans Company at www.slc.co.uk. MAINTENANCE LOAN If you are a full-time UK student, you can apply for this loan to cover your
For more information, contact the LSE Financial Support Office at financialsupport@lse.ac.uk or visit http://bit.ly/ LSEFinanceSupport. LSE STUDENTS’ UNION HARDSHIP FUND The LSE Students’ Union Hardship Fund is available to all students, including international and postgraduate students who are facing financial difficulty or are incurring unexpected costs. For more information, visit the LSESU Reception on the 3rd floor of the Saw Swee Hock Student Centre or email su.advice@lse.ac.uk.
CHILDCARE LSE NURSERY LSE has a 63-place nursery which offers full childcare provision to children of LSE staff and students. The LSE Nursery is registered under the early years sector. It is open daily from 8.45am - 6.15pm, 50 weeks of the year except for bank holidays and over the Christmas and Easter periods when it is closed for a week. Numbers fluctuate periodically throughout the year as parents complete their course, go back home with their children or as children leave to start school. The capacity of each room is 23 babies aged 3 months to 2 years; 24 toddlers aged 2-3 years; and 16 preschool children aged 3-5 years. The nursery has four playrooms along with an office, staff room and a kitchen. It has two baby rooms – one room is for very young babies with a calm atmosphere; the other is for older babies who are more mobile and require space to serve their curiosity needs.
of staff who are both qualified to Level 3 and with experience of looking after 3-5 year olds. You can contact the LSE Nursery by calling 020 7107 5966 or by emailing nursery@lse.ac.uk. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/ LSENursery.
SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS WITH CHILDREN AT THE LSE NURSERY LSE provides a grant to cover a proportion of the nursery fees (25%, 50% or 75%) to students with children who are using the LSE Nursery and have financial difficulties. For more information, contact the LSE Financial Support Office or visit http://bit.ly/StudentParentsSupport.
OTHER CHILDCARE PROVIDERS Each baby room has four Level 3 Qualified in Child Care members of staff, who have experience with working with children under 2 years of age. Our toddler room can accommodate up to 24 children, who are cared for by three members of staff, all with Level 3 Child Care qualifications and experience with working with children of this age group. The pre- school also has two members
There is a wide range of other childcare services available, including registered childminders, nurseries, playgroups and after school clubs. Contact your local authority to find out more.
If you choose not to use the services provided by the School, it is important to keep in mind: •
You should start looking for a childcare provider the year before your course starts as places fill up very fast.
•
Get an indicative timetable in advance as it will help you estimate how much childcare you are going to need.
•
Make sure you apply for the childcare funding you are entitled to (e.g. Childcare Grant, Child Tax Credits).
•
If you want to apply for the Childcare Grant, make sure you are using Ofsted-registered childcare.
•
Keep in mind both your timetable and your budget when choosing locations for childcare.
SUPPORT FROM LSESU ADVICE AND SUPPORT LSESU offers a free, independent and confidential service, offering advice, guidance and representation to all LSE students. Our team of professional advisers are on hand to assist you with a range of issues and advice and can represent you on LSE academic policies – appeals, mitigating circumstances, academic misconduct and complaints. We can also support you with housing matters, applications to the LSESU hardship funds or application to the childcare fund. For more information, visit www.lsesu.com/advice.
Or contact us: Phone: +44 (0)20 7955 7158 Email: su.advice@lse.ac.uk Drop-in sessions are held Monday to Friday from 11am - 1pm on the 3rd floor of the Saw Swee Hock Student Centre.
LSESU STUDENTS WITH CHILDREN FACEBOOK GROUP Join the official Facebook group and get in touch with other students at LSE with children. Head to http://bit.ly/ StudentswithChildren.
VISAS The LSE International Student and Immigration Service provides comprehensive information regarding visa requirements and can help you navigate the procedures for securing a visa for your dependents (children, partners, spouses etc). For more information, visit http://bit.ly/VisasImmigrationinfo.
SCHOOLS You can find all the information about schools in your local area, admission criteria, how and when to apply on www.gov.uk/schools-admissions. You can also visit the City of London website at http://bit.ly/LondonSchools for free advice and information about: •
How the school system works in the UK
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How to find your local schools
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What to look for in a school
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How and when to apply
•
What to do if you don’t get a place
•
Help with completing application forms
•
Help and support with making an appeal if your child is not offered a place at your preferred school
CHILDREN ON LSE PREMISES Children are permitted in all LSE buildings and premises except for the LSE Library subject to effective supervision by their parents.
LSE LIBRARY Children under 12 are not allowed in the LSE Library, however, you can email library.psm@lse.ac.uk and they will be able to help you get your books. For suggestions on how to improve the service, please contact the LSESU Mature and Part-time Students’ Officer at su.mature@lse.ac.uk.
LSE REST FACILITIES COMMON ROOMS The School’s common rooms can be used as rest rooms for pregnant women suffering from fatigue. For advice on how to use the room and its facilities, contact Mira Krusteff at m.krusteff@lse.ac.uk.
ACCOMMODATION Anson and Carleton Road apartments, which are run independently by Zebra Housing Association, have a limited number of one bedroom, self-contained flats which can accommodate a couple with a baby or small child. Zebra Housing Association also manages four other sites which students with children could explore: International Hall, Goodenough, International Student House and Zebra Housing all offer housing to students with children. For more information on the options available to you, please contact the LSE Accommodation Office at accommodation@lse.ac.uk.
HEALTHCARE NHS
AM I ELIGIBLE?
The NHS (National Health Service) is the publicly funded healthcare system for the UK.
If your course of study is for six months or more:
The NHS treatments that are free for everyone are: • • • •
Emergency treatment Family planning services Diagnosis and treatment of certain communicable diseases Compulsory psychiatric treatment
NHS 111 NHS 111 is a free-to-call medical helpline that makes it easier for you to access local NHS healthcare services in England. It is staffed by a team of fully trained advisers and is available 24 hours a day, all year round. You should call NHS 111 if: • • • •
You need medical help fast but it’s not a 999 emergency You think you need to go to A&E or need another NHS urgent care service You don’t know who to call or you don’t have a GP You need health information or reassurance about what to do next
For more information about NHS 111, go to http://bit.ly/NHS111Service.
• •
You will qualify for NHS treatment from the beginning of your stay Your spouse or children living with you in the UK will also qualify for NHS treatment
To receive free hospital treatment, your family members (spouse, civil partner, and your children up to the age of 16, or 19 if they are in full-time education) must be in the UK as your dependants and not for example as visitors.
REGISTER WITH A LOCAL DOCTOR As soon as you arrive in London, you should register with your local doctor (general practitioner). When you register, you will be given a NHS number which allows you to receive full NHS medical services while you are a resident here. It is important not to wait until you are ill to register. You can find your nearest GP, along with other local NHS services, at www.nhs.uk. If you are an international student, you can find more information about healthcare and how to register on the UK Council for International Student Affairs website (http://bit.ly/ UKCISAHealthcare).
ST PHILIPS MEDICAL CENTRE AT LSE
ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY
You can also register and receive medical and nursing care at the St Philips Medical Centre. St Philips Medical Centre is a NHS general practice staffed by doctors and nurses, and is located within the LSE campus in Tower 3, Floor 2.
In case you or another individual is in need of urgent medical attention, you should contact the emergency services immediately by dialling 999 for free and specifying which emergency service you require (police, ambulance or fire brigade).
For more information, visit http://bit.ly/LSEMedicalCentre.
If you or another individual have had an accident or contracted a serious medical condition and are capable of walking, you can visit your local Accident & Emergency department. A&E departments are accessible 24/7 and can be found in almost every hospital within the UK.
VACCINATIONS The NHS offers routine vaccinations to all babies and children in the UK free of charge. Childhood vaccinations usually start when a baby is two months old. You can get yourself and your family vaccinated at the medical centre or GP practice you are registered with.
Please note that unless you are suffering from an extremely urgent condition, you should contact your GP.
LSE STUDENTS’ UNION IS HERE TO HELP YOU
If you have any queries or feedback on anything in this booklet, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at su.info@lse.ac.uk.
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