The University Childcare Support Fund for home students
The Childcare Support Fund has now run out of funding for this academic year. Please do not submit any further applications.
Application Form 2023-2024
Please note: applications are not complete and cannot be processed until they have been signed off by a tutor and supporting documents (payslips/childcare invoices) attached.
Eligibility Criteria
You must be an active student
Your childcare must be Ofsted-registered and you must provide proof of your place, the booking pattern and the cost
Your partner or spouse must be in employment or be an active student or it will be assumed that they are responsible for your childcare, unless there are exceptional personal circumstances
You must provide full details of your income and expenditure (including grants/scholarships/sponsorship, income from family/friends, earnings, benefits, loans, savings or capital and University and College fees)
Every application will be considered on an individual basis based on the detailed information provided.
The University Childcare Support Fund is open to registered home student parents. It is intended for students in exceptional, unforeseen financial difficulty and offers limited financial assistance towards confirmed Ofsted-registered childcare costs. There are a number of restrictions in place pertaining to the award.
Key information:
- The scheme is only available to eligible home students.
- The awards are means-tested and depend on family income and expenditure.
- There is funding available to help with registered pre-school and out-of-school childcare costs, which include breakfast and after school clubs and holiday clubs.
- As funds are limited, awards can only make a contribution towards the cost of registered childcare and not the general expenses associated with raising a child.
- Before making an application, you are expected to have applied for all loans, grants and benefits for which you are eligible and to have explored all avenues of financial support within your College.
- If you are self-financed you are expected to have made adequate provision for your dependents through your Financial Guarantee to the University.
- If you have a partner or spouse with you who is not working or studying, it is assumed that they will be responsible for childcare and an award is highly unlikely. However, the Committee is willing to consider exceptional circumstances.
- Applications can be made throughout the academic year until the funds are exhausted.
- If your application is successful, the award you receive is intended for the entire academic year. You can only apply for an award more than once in one academic year if your financial circumstances have changed significantly.
- Completed applications must be submitted through the College Tutor who should support the application.
- Proof of a secured place or places in Ofsted-registered childcare, including the child’s name, booking pattern, cost and the start dates, must be included with the completed application form. Copies of invoices and/or offers of confirmed places with all of the above details are acceptable for evidence.
Pre-school Childcare
This is Ofsted-registered childcare such as nurseries, childminders or pre-schools for children before they begin school. This includes nannies and home-carers that have joined the voluntary part of the Ofsted Childcare Register.
Out-of-school/Holiday Childcare
Out-of-school awards are available to help with the costs of out-of-school and holiday facilities for school-age children. The facility should have joined Ofsted's Childcare Register.
Applications are accepted throughout the academic year until the funds are exhausted.
Early Assessment for 2023-2024 Applications can be made after 1 October 2023
To find out in advance if you are eligible for financial assistance towards your childcare costs, you can complete an application form (without submitting it via your tutor) and you will be given an estimate based on the financial information provided. Please note - if your financial details change, the award outcome may be different.
Please email your application form to childcare@admin.cam.ac.uk
If you have any queries, please email childcare@admin.cam.ac.uk