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IMPACT OF CHILDCARE SUPPORT FOR LONE PARENT STUDENTS

7 COMMUNICATION OF SUPPORT

This section describes the range of communication issues arising from survey responses and the focus groups.

7.1 AWARENESS OF LONE PARENT CHILDCARE GRANT

7.1.1 Just over half the LPCG claimants found out about the grant through SAAS, and a further 15% had heard about the grant from student welfare advisers. Only 6% had heard of it through the leaflet produced by the Scottish Executive, and 3% from the press articles.

Figure 15: Source of hearing about the Lone Parent Childcare Grant

Base: All those who had heard about the grant.

Table 21: Source of Hearing about the Lone Parent Childcare Grant - Claimants and Non-Claimants

7.1.2 Grant Claimants are more likely to have heard about the grant through the SAAS letter, through advice from the Student Welfare Advisor, or through Word of Mouth. These all involve personal interaction.

7.1.3 In three of the focus groups, respondents commented on the time that they have to spend applying for different sources of funds and providing the same information to different funders. It would appear that personal interaction with an advisor is effective in helping them secure that funding.

7.1.4 A proportion (17%) of lone parents cannot remember or do not know how they heard about the grant.

7.1.5 These figures are likely to have been affected by the timing of the announcement about the grant in 2001. The inclusion of information about the LPCG in the Application for Student Support forms for 2002-2003 should ensure that there is a higher awareness amongst eligible students this year.

7.1.6 Twenty-one % of survey respondents who did not claim the LPCG stated that they did not know about the grant. This was despite a leaflet produced by the Scottish Executive on support for lone parents, in which the grant was highlighted along with information on the SAAS web-site, and SAAS writing to support officers to make them aware. Interestingly, the lone parents towards the younger end of the age spectrum were more likely not to have claimed through not knowing about the grant than their older counter parts (see Table 15 at Section 6.1). The apparent lack of awareness of the grant underlines the need to continually reinforce good financial advice and support networks for lone parents.

7.2 SUPPORT IN FURTHER EDUCATION COLLEGES AND HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

7.2.1 Through the focus groups, and discussions with students in FE colleges, the research team found that lone parents in FE colleges felt better supported and advised than those in universities. One lone parent in the focus groups was told by a lecturer that the university experience was for single people, and that she should consider the Open University.

7.2.2 Another, in a letter attached to the questionnaire, points out that whilst her HE institution classes her as one of "fifty parent students", her situation is somewhat different from other parents in that -

"I am a single parent with one child aged 7 in school, one child aged 4 in nursery, family/relatives 375 miles way, absent father 200 miles away." (Letter sent in with questionnaire)

7.2.3 The transition from FE to HE can be difficult for lone parent students because of the changes in their benefit entitlement, and in terms of the childcare facilities available to them. Those who move from FE to HE within the same institution find that although they may still be able to use the college nursery, they now have to pay. The cost of this (particularly if they have children under 2, or more than one child) can easily exceed the funds and grants available.

"I got much more help when I was at college. I stayed on income support, and they paid all my childcare, that makes a big difference. Also I still got housing benefit." (Female, Glasgow, HEI)

"I found it very helpful when I was at Northern College, they gave us childcare costs, they paid for After School Club. It was brilliant - a weight off my mind. You just go to After School Club to sign up when you are in, but at the Art College you get nothing." (Female, Dundee, HEI)

"When I was at college they had a crèche and my two children stayed there free. But now I am at university they don't have the facility, although they give you money. I prefer the college arrangement." (Female, Edinburgh, HEI)

"I think I would have gone back to study sooner when I did my access course if they had childcare facilities." (Male, HE in FE)

7.2.4 It was also apparent that the quality of advice available varied with the individual who was giving it.

"They don't seem to know very much about anything apart from their own system. The advice centre is very good within the college for the college funds, but outwith that they know nothing." (Female, Dundee, FE)

"I went to someone at the benefits agency, through a friend that works there. She was wonderful; she worked it all out and allowed me to still get free school meals and clothing allowance. However the person before that just couldn't tell you anything, they kept saying wait until you have your student loan etc." (Female, Dundee, HE in FE college)

7.3 SUMMARY

7.3.1 Personal interaction with an advisor appears to be effective in helping lone parent HE students secure funding. Lone parents towards the younger end of the age spectrum were more likely not to have claimed the LPCG through not knowing about it. The fact that some students were unaware of the grant highlights the need for good financial advice and support networks for lone parents. Lone parents in FE colleges felt better supported and advised than those in universities.

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