II think it is important as a young parent to continue in education as far as you can go. It is not easy, but College is the first step to getting a higher education than GCSE.

While I was at College I would have been paid more in benefits staying at home- but it was worth the financial struggle to get a diploma.

If I can do it, anyone can do it. It just takes a little motivation and determination. With schemes like Care to Learn, there aren’t many excuses for women under 19 to go back to College.

Ok,

I don’t know how some people still aren’t aware of this scheme:

Care to Learn is a scheme that helps pay for child care for parents under 19. If you start a course when you are 18 and the course is two years long, as long as you stay on the same course at the same level you will receive Care to Learn.

You could also get a 16-19 bursary (pretty much EMA) if you fit the criteria, or you could apply for discretionary support (pretty much ALG)

The Care to Learn scheme is AMAZING and one of the only financially positive reasons to get you to College, also nursery encourages social skills and good behaviour in children.