Written by Education Officer, Sarah Jilani and Equity and Inclusion Officer, Eda Yildirimkaya
We've submitted evidence to the Education Select Committee inquiry to help improve outcomes for children and families in the early years at UCL. The Select Committee is made up of a group of MPs from different political parties and together they scrutinise the work of the Government.
This inquiry is a vital opportunity to influence how government policy supports parents during one of the most important stages in a child’s life. Students’ Union UCL has joined Russell Group Students’ Unions (RGSU) in submitting evidence to ensure that student parents are not overlooked in this discussion.
Why is this important?
Student parents make up a small but important group at UCL. They face unique financial pressures and practical barriers when combining study with childcare. At present, student finance and welfare systems are not designed to effectively support those raising children while studying, leaving many struggling to afford rent, food, and childcare. Russell Group Students' Unions Cost of Living Report shows that students in the UK are left with just £72 a week after rent, and one in four regularly go without basic necessities. For student parents, those figures are even starker.
Our submission highlights how these challenges affect parents’ ability to complete their studies, and consequently have a direct impact on their children’s early development. When parents are under financial strain or forced to leave their course, it affects the stability and opportunities available to their children during their crucial early years.
RGSU’s submission calls for six key changes:
- Extend Free Childcare Entitlements to Student Parents
- Remove Barriers for Postgraduate Student Parents: Ensure that all forms of student childcare support are available to parents regardless of level of study. In particular, revoke the specific restriction in England that disqualifies postgraduate students with a postgraduate loan from accessing the Childcare Grant.
- Increase Financial Support for Student Parents’ Living Costs: Take urgent action to boost the financial aid available to student parents, so that none are forced to abandon their education due to poverty. We call for an immediate uplift in maintenance loans and grants to reflect the real cost of living with dependents. As a baseline, maintenance support should be raised to at least the Real Living Wage equivalent for students.
- Simplify and Promote Childcare Support Schemes: The Government (in coordination with devolved governments) should simplify the administrative processes and improve awareness of all childcare-related support for student parents.
- Embed Support for Student Parents in Education and Early Years Policy: We urge policymakers to explicitly consider student parents as a priority group in relevant strategies, whether in higher education, childcare, or early years family support. This means collecting data on student parents and their outcomes, and incorporating their needs into planning.
- Providing direct support to unis to provide flexible, short term, child care/child minding on campus: One of the major expenses for a student with parental responsibilities is needing to find childcare for the whole day and pay for a whole day when they might need their child to stay somewhere for an hour or two whilst they attend classes
“No one should have to choose between their education and their children’s wellbeing. Supporting student parents means investing in stronger families, better educational outcomes, and a fairer system for all,” said Sarah, Education Officer at Students’ Union UCL
We are passionate about supporting students with parenting responsibilities at UCL and will continue to work with RGSU and other stakeholders to ensure we can achieve meaningful change for this group of students.
If you're a parent at UCL you should consider joining our Network for Mature and Part-Time Students, Parents and Carers. It's a free group to join, run by peers and desigend to help you meet others.