These days there are lots of flexible ways to study, which you can fit around your childcare. Take a look at the options below to see if there’s one that suits you.
Can I study at my own pace?
You can study all kinds of courses away from the classroom, which is known as self-study. This could be useful if you need to be at home to look after your kids, or if you can’t commit to the same time each week.
Self-study can mean:
- Flexible learning – booking time at a learning centre when it’s convenient for you
- Open learning – a mixture of home study and face-to-face learning at a college or community centre
- Distance learning – studying at home, only attending a learning centre to sit any exams.
You can also search for self-study courses on our Learning Directory. Just click Self Study in the ‘Study type’ section.
Can I learn at work?
You could ask your line manager, union rep, human resources or training department about:
For info about flexible working for parents, family friendly policies and work-life balance, visit Working Families and the work-life balance section of the Directgov website.
Can I learn alongside my children?
The option to learn with your children is becoming more widely available, with family learning sessions taking place in many colleges, schools, libraries and community learning centres.
Sessions are designed to be fun and allow you to help with your children’s education, as well as giving you the chance to learn new skills at the same time. Various courses are available in subjects like computers, working with numbers, and reading and writing.
Contact your local college or adult education service for details of sessions running where you live, and check out the family learning information on the Pre-school Learning Alliance website.
Can I learn new skills to help me get back into work?
Return to work schemes can help you if you've taken time off to look after your children. The schemes allow you to develop new skills or brush up on existing ones that you can use to get back into work. Depending on the scheme you’re on, you may be able to get help with childcare costs.
Speak to your local Jobcentre Plus adviser about which scheme will best suit your circumstances. You can also see which schemes are available by visiting the Jobcentre Plus Programmes section of the Directgov website.
Where can I get further advice and information?
You can call the Careers Advice Service on 0800 100 900, or email an adviser to find out more about different study methods and training schemes. Calls are free and because we're impartial you'll get the best possible advice on your options.
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