SAC Learning

The Childcare Fund is provided by the UK Government and administered by SAC, to assist full-time undergraduate students with the cost of formal childcare expenses.

Only the costs of formal registered childcare may be met from the Childcare Fund. Formal childcare includes childminders, after school clubs and providers of day care and pre-school education.

Family and friends do not constitute “formal” childcare.

You can apply to the Childcare Fund at any time of the academic year, and it is possible to apply more than once in any academic year if necessary.

Please note that you must be eligible for tuition fee support in order to be eligible for assistance from the Childcare Fund. This means that if you are paying tuition fees yourself, perhaps because of previous study at the same academic level, you cannot be given any help from the Childcare Fund.

You must also be a "home student" in order to be eligible to apply to the Childcare Fund. This normally means that you must have been “ordinarily resident” in the UK throughout the 3 years immediately preceding the first day of the first academic year of your course.

It does not include non-UK citizens who have been resident in the UK totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education. Other eligibility criteria are given in the guidance notes.

How do I apply to the Childcare Fund?

Guidance notes and an application form are available from the Education Office at your campus. If you need additional advice, please contact the Senior Tutor at your campus.