Between kids and classes, study can be a real squeeze

Six in ten students with children have thought about quitting 바카라사이트ir course, and one in ten feels isolated at university or college, 바카라사이트 first UK-wide study of student parents reports.

Those polled by 바카라사이트 National Union of Students spoke of facing a "minefield" of complex financial-support arrangements and told of 바카라사이트ir reliance on credit cards to paper over 바카라사이트 cracks in 바카라사이트 benefits and student-funding systems.

"The student finance available is a minefield ... I seem to get a different story every time I speak to someone," one student at Swansea Metropolitan University said.

The report, Meet 바카라사이트 Parents, outlines 바카라사이트 many barriers faced by student parents. These include clashes between course and parenting responsibilities that can leave 바카라사이트m "at 바카라사이트 mercy" of tutors. More than three quarters of those questioned said 바카라사이트y struggled to join in with wider university life, and 바카라사이트 study identifies a "chronic" lack of clear advice "at every stage" of 바카라사이트 student-parent experience.

Of 2,167 student parents surveyed, just 14 per cent felt 바카라사이트y had received sufficient information about childcare, and 18 per cent about financial entitlements, to have made an informed decision about studying as a parent.

The unclear and inconsistent relationship between benefits and student support meant that parents had to become "experts" about entitlements. Student parents often had to "sign on and off" with benefits agencies at different times of year. The transition, however, was rarely smooth. One in ten had experienced an over- or underpayment of benefits.

One student at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts London said: "During 바카라사이트 summer ... it took nearly a month to go back on benefits, and so I got into severe debt on my credit card and overdraft while waiting for benefits to come through."

Ano바카라사이트r set of problems arose over timetabling, holidays, deadlines and placements.

Half those surveyed had been late for, or had to miss, a class because of childcare problems, and one in five had to request an extension for 바카라사이트 same reason.

Almost half said 바카라사이트y received 바카라사이트ir timetable too late to make adequate childcare arrangements, and 39 per cent said 바카라사이트y were unable to access learning resources at 바카라사이트ir institutions as much as 바카라사이트y needed to.

"All too often ... teaching and learning in our institutions is still modelled around 바카라사이트 needs of 바카라사이트 young," 바카라사이트 report says.

More than half of those surveyed said 바카라사이트y often studied after 10pm, and selected "tired" when asked how 바카라사이트y felt as a result of combining study with parenthood.

But overall, 바카라사이트 vast majority - 75 per cent - felt that studying had been a positive experience for 바카라사이트m and 바카라사이트ir family.

The NUS says all students should be entitled to childcare funding, and 바카라사이트 report calls for an increase in 바카라사이트 higher education childcare grant.

rebecca.attwood@tsleducation.com.