Hi I really need some advice. Has anyone dealt with a parent who is a student and relies on a student loan to cover their childcare costs? If so did you have to work for 3 months in arrears until you were paid?

No I have a parent who is a student they ask me to complete paperwork each term confirming the hours fees I have charged and my ofsted reg details etc but always pay when they should do.

I've not done this, but I would say your contract is with the parent not the loan company, no way would I work three months unpaid.

lots of members on here have and lots have had problems hon.

The thing is when you sign a contact with parents you need to make it clear that regardless of student loans it is THEIR responsibility to pay you. Yes, we can all give a bit of leeway but at the end of the day they owe you money.

In the past where genuinely the parent is trying to sort it out but getting nowhere, minders have written to the college/student loan company to say you will have to withdraw care if fees are not paid. Sometimes the colleges will get involved and chase up the payment but don't hold your breath.

If you are up for it, offer to speak to the student liaison support officer at her uni/college and explain you have no choiice unless they support the student by getting you paid. I doubt they'd want the student to have to leave the course. They might chase student loans for you - not sure. #

Often however, the parent is not really chasing that hard and has no clue of hte impact on you.

I would meet with parent, explain this is your normal policy. Ask her to chase student loans, you offer to speak to college but ultimately tell her that care will cease unless she can pay by xxxx (then you decide how long you can afford to wait).

good lluck

I had a single parent at college. The college sent paperwork, they had agreed to pay childcare costs, but would only pay in arrears, in case the student dropped out of the course, and then they would have paid for hours that were not used.
I contacted them via the student, and they agreed to pay some upfront, wasn't too difficult to get the agreement, but I did have to wait until the end of term to get the rest. This was not a loan, but some scheme for single parents.
I may have thought twice at the beginning if I had known what it would entail, but it all worked out ok, and I was happy to help someone have a better chance of employment.
I did have good contact though with the college, and they were as helpful as they could be. Not sure about student loans, seems a bit impersonal.

I also have a single parent at college and the college will ONLY pay in arrears for the same reasons others have given.

I made it clear that if there was any problem with this then it would be her responsibility but at the end of the day it was my decision to agree to this....must admit i've had nothing but problems with the college funding from day 1:(