Lone parents and learning

Many lone parents want to return to learning. But the practical issues of time, money and childcare can be a barrier. This is especially true if you are finding it hard to know where to begin.

Thinking about yourself and your needs might take some getting used to, but it will be worth it for you and your family. This article tells you where you can get information and advice.

One Parent Families Scotland

One Parent Families Scotland is a well-established national voluntary organisation that provides a wide range of services to lone parents. You can contact it at:

One Parent Families Scotland
13 Gayfield Square
Edinburgh
EH1 3NX
Tel: 0131 556 3899
Freephone Helpline: 0808 801 0323
E-mail: info@opfs.org.uk
Web: www.opfs.org.uk/

The organisation produces a range of useful guides and factsheets. You can find more details on its website.

Careers Scotland

Careers Scotland provides an all age guidance service to help you with learning, employment and career opportunities.

National Telephone Number: 0845 8 502 502
Web: http://www.careers-scotland.org.uk/

On the website you will find the addresses of all the Careers Scotland Centres.

Learndirect Scotland

Learndirect Scotland provides the freephone national guidance helpline on 0808 100 9000.  

On its website, it provides information and advice on learning opportunities, including information on funding and childcare:

Web: http://www.learndirectscotland.com/

Community Based Learning

In some areas special courses are run for lone parents to make it easier to gain qualifications locally.  

The Community Education or Learning Service, the Workers’ Educational Association, or other local or specialist organisations often arrange these courses. They are usually free and childcare is generally provided either without charge or at low cost.  For further details contact your local Careers Scotland Centre, Community Education or Learning Service or the Workers’ Educational Association.

You can also get advice from any of the following organisations:

Colleges of Further Education 

There are 42 colleges of further education in Scotland. They run courses leading to qualifications such as National Qualifications, National Certificates, Scottish Vocational Qualifications, Higher National Certificates and Higher National Diplomas. In some cases, they may also offer degree courses. 

Courses may be full time or part time. Some may be offered as flexible learning possibly through local community or flexible learning centres. Others may be available as open learning where you can study at a place and at a time that suits you.

The articles on ‘Scottish Qualifications’ and the ‘Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF)’ explain the different qualifications and how they relate to each other.

Most colleges also run leisure and general interest courses. These are part time, mostly in the evening, and vary in length from a few weeks to about 9 months.

Many colleges run courses especially for adult students. These include:

• courses for people returning to education after a long break. (Some have titles such as Adult Returners );
• ‘Access’ courses for students who want to go into higher education;
• refresher courses for those who want to update their work skills; and 
• special courses for unemployed people. (These are sometimes funded through the European Social Fund and known as ESF courses.)

Read the ‘Going to College’ and ‘Open Learning’ articles for more detailed information.

Universities and Higher Education Institutions 

There are 20 Universities and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Scotland, including the Open University.

Universities and HEIs offer Degrees, Degree equivalent courses, Higher National Diplomas (HNDs), Diplomas in Higher Education (DipHEs), Higher National Certificates (HNCs) and Certificates in Higher Education (CertHEs).

Many Universities and HEIs also run courses especially for adult students. These include:

• Access courses (as above)
• part time university Pre-Entry courses.

Although most degree courses involve full time study some can be studied part time during the day, when part time students join full time student classes. There are also part time evening courses, a few Saturday courses and some summer courses.

Degree courses can also be studied part time by supported open learning through the Open University. This requires no attendance at classes.

HND and HNC courses are usually available on a full time or part time basis. Once completed, they may allow you to go straight into year 2 or 3 of a relevant degree, depending on the course you choose.

Part time university courses may be free to those who are unemployed or in low paid work. Contact the Universities for details.

Read the ‘Going to University’ and ‘Open Learning’ articles for more detailed information.

New Deal for Lone Parents

New Deal is a Government programme which aims to give unemployed people help and support to get and keep a job. There are different New Deal programmes for people depending on their circumstances. One of these is New Deal for Lone Parents.

You can join New Deal for Lone Parents if you are bringing up children as a lone parent, your youngest child is under 16 years of age and either you are not working or you are working less than 16 hours a week.  As part of the programme your personal adviser will give you information on training needed for particular jobs.

 For details of New Deal for Lone Parents in your area, contact your local Jobcentre Plus office.

You can also get further information from the Jobcentre Plus freephone helpline and from its website, as follows:
Tel: 0800 868 866
Textphone: 0845 606 0680
Web: http://www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

Childcare

Contact the college and universities where you plan to study for information on childcare facilities. 

ChildcareLink
Web: http://www.childcarelink.gov.uk/
The website has contact details for local Childcare Information Services.

Finance for Study

Read the articles Funding full time further education, Funding full time higher education and Funding part time study for detailed information. Also see the document ‘Helping you meet the cost of learning: Students with Dependent Children (including lone parents) 2007-2008'  produced by the Scottish Government. You can download it from the website at:  www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/05/14103415/0

For up-to-date information, you can contact the Scottish Government as follows:
Tel: 08457 741 741 (Enquiry Line) or 0131 556 8400
Minicom: 0131 244 1829
E-mail: ceu@scotland.gov.uk
Web: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/

Finance for study is complicated.  You should consider getting advice from a careers adviser or a student adviser to find out what funding might be available in your case.