Guest Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Hi everyone, thanks for all your recent answers and support regarding my query as to 'What to do next?'. Had a chat with someone from my LA today re; funding availability - wasn't particularly helpful really - wouldn't commit to giving anything away, just told me to wait for the next 'Training' pack which will have all the information included in it. Due out at the end of this term. I suppose with hindsight I should have realised that the LA will be operating from a new budget within a new financial year - so couldn't really tell me what was available. Anyway, after thinking hard and after lots of you were supporting me to go down the FD route, I have made the decision that if Funding is available then I'm going to give it a go. Really don't know what I'll be letting myself in for? Hopefully if I can get funding and a place on the course for next Feb, I can rely on you good people to help me along. Essay writing seems like a huge mountain to me - 'O' Levels were a bit of a nightmare. Anyway will let you know how I go on regarding the Funding, as there's no way on Pre School wages I could afford to do this on my own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_7317 Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 will keep my fingers crossed for you but it is worth applying for the course through the OU they also do a student support package that pays for fee's if you income is below £25,000 and give you money for rescources which is another funding option for you rather than having to rely on your LA. When you phone up to enrol on the courses you just need to ask for a funding support pack and they will send you the forms to fill in, usually get a reply pretty quickly. If you need any help please feel free to let me know. Shelley Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_2846 Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Can your setting not apply for the transformtion fund? And I too am going down that route so you wont be on your own Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Hi Andreamay - it was through the setting that I was enquiring re; transformation fund - and was still told to wait for new training pack. You too are in Cheshire I see, so we'll see what transpires as a result of the training pack due out soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_2846 Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 OK I was wondering why we havent got any new training updates lately Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Transformation fund should help you with fees, if not pay all of it. I found the fund relatively easy to access and was guaranteed funding for the 2 years plus my bursary, plus my setting payment. So please for you both on your decsions and wish you all the luck in the world Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Hi myhenroxanne Just wondered how you were getting on and what you have decided to do. I have been looking into the degree, our new training pack is out and i have received it. I have a few problems: 1.I can only get 75% funding and as the course is £3070 per year, i still have to find quite a large sum of money. 2. In the details i have received from the college it says it is level 4, i thought it was a five. I already have a level 4 in management, so I'm not sure what i'm doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_534 Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Hi Simcity That seems a large amount for one year of the Foundation degree. Mine was about £950 for year one. Would your setting not pay for the shortfall in costs? I always thought it was a level 5 and not heard any different. What University is it with? Good luck with whatever you decide Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wolfie Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 I'm mentoring someone doing the Foundation Degree at our local college and went to a training day recently -the tutors said that it's widely accepted that a Foundation Degree is equivalent to level 5 but they are still battling to have it "officially" recognise as this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 I'm currently undertaking my foundation degree in my first year - i was lucky to receive 90% of my fees paid by local authority plus just had a letter to offer a new scheme called the HGGI home grown graduate incentive worth £2,000 per year to help cover cost of time spent out of setting at college - it cannot just be used for my level 5 qual it says need to use it to support other aspects i.e. to offer extra services for parents or bringing in specialist -music, sport into our centre. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Well i'm more confused than ever. I have now contacted 2 different providers in my area. One is £2700 - the other is £3070, and i can only get 75% funding. These prices are for full time - price is per year, its a 2 yr course. Or it's £650 a year over 3 years part time. Why does the price of this course vary so much. The £3070 course is 7 hours a week in college, the £2700 course is 11 hours a week in college. the £650 is 7 hours in college a week but this is part time. How can part time be the same hours as full time at a different provider. They have told me my forms need to be in my the end of march. so i wil have to make a descision. Oh well, more pondering!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 As far as it goes with Roehampton, the first year is equivalent to a level 4 qualification and the second year is the equivalent to level 5. I think hours of attendance and fees vary from place to place so it is worth checking around to find both to suit you. Good luck with your decisions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Hi Simcity Have decided that if I can get the funding then I'm going to go for it! (Can't really believe I've made that decision after nearly 30yrs away from study!?!) Still waiting to hear from my LA about funding - was given a number to call, but they wouldn't give anything away regards what was available as it would be in a new financial year. So keeping my fingers crossed. I had heard that the course would cost around £2,500! definately can't afford that on my own. According to the handout from our LA re; qualifications and levels - FD is recognised as level 5. Will let you know what the outcome of our training pack and funding is whaen it arrives. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wolfie Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Gool luck with the funding issue, I'm sure you won't regret doing the course if you can! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_3735 Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Differing costs are due to the 'Top up fees' Universities can now charge... hence the variations... (Note no top up fees in Wales!!) They apply to all Uni students and will vary form course to course and between Universities. don't know enough about the funding fro FD but believe other Uni students are now able to have additional Student loan to cover the costs which they pay back from wages once finished and earning over set amount (was £1500.00 last time son looked he and only pays back £20.00 per month on that.) This differs from before when the fees had to be paid in the year of study. Remember if going for and get a place at uni, look into Student bank Accounts and other student deals, you should be able to get them. Inge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_4544 Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 You might find some information regarding funding here. My NNEB had her course paid for in full. (It was in the pilot year so things may be different) http://www.surestart.gov.uk/improvingquali...undationdegree/ http://www.surestart.gov.uk/publications/?Document=72 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_6878 Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 My Supervisor and I - both DPP Level 3 - went for an interview yesterday to be considered for a place on the Degree course, beginning in September. We were taken, separately, into two small rooms, and interviewed by two people each. We were then handed a piece of paper with instructions to complete an essay in approximately 30 minutes. I was then lead to a large, empty classroom, given a seat at the very end in a corner, and left to begin my essay: "Young children develop their own attitudes and values by watching and learning from the behaviour and reaction of those around them. Explain this process, the kinds of discrimination that they might observe, the effects on society and the legislation that is in place to try and counter this." My mind went blank. I need to think about such statements whilst ironing, make notes, place notes into columns, find articles to back up my thoughts, and after about a week, get something down on the computer. In half an hour I wrote absolute drivel! My supervisor had a panic attack, and said she would rather have a baby than go through that again! I thought we weren't supposed to make people feel like this any more. I was right back in school, sitting an 'O' level where I didn't understand the questions. We both hope we were unsuccessful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_2732 Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 What an awful thing to do to anyone!! Also, I think, totally wrong and irrelevant for people likely to want to undertake this course - I've never heard of anything like this before. People I know have just had informal chats, reviewing experience, qualifications etc and it's moved on from there. Anyone else? Sue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wolfie Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 No, I've never heard of an interrogation like that before, what a way to introduce you to the course! The person at our work who's doing it just filled in an application from, had an informal look round the college and chatted to the tutors and was then told she had got a place. If it makes you feel any better, I know that she too would have frozen if faced with that essay...and would have struggles to write ANYTHING..... and she's doing really well on the course! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_3735 Posted March 29, 2007 Share Posted March 29, 2007 The local student have an interview about their experience and qualifications to check it is suitable for them, a bit unfair to ask you to write an essay with no preparation, after all you get plenty of time to research your assignments while doing the course. Inge Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 30, 2007 Share Posted March 30, 2007 I had quite a formal interview (which I posted about) and also had to write a critical evaluation from a newspaper article, I was horrified, but it turned out to be ok and I hope your's it so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_6878 Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 Hi! Thanks to all who sympathised with our nightmare interview. We both got our letters this morning, offering us places on the Foundation Degree in Early Years Childcare, starting in September! Oh, heck! They must be struggling for applicants! Will probably live on this site worrying, and asking for help. Thanks again for your support. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 Congratulations, it is a great course, I have found so much support here, and I am sure you will too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 well i got my letter today inviting me for an interview. It says it will include a written assessment, an IT audit and a group activity, it will take at least 2 hours - now i'm dreading it!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_6878 Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 I wish you loads of luck! There was no way we could have prepared for our interview, even if we had known how formal it was going to be. All I can say is that you take deep breaths, stay calm - whatever the written assignment may be it will be on something you know about - just take your time to read it slowly. If we got through, then I'm sure anyone can! P.S. When's the interview? I'll look forward to hearing your experience! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnonyMouse_1027 Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 excellent news congratulations Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Wolfie Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 Many congratulations, I'm sure the course will be a doddle compared to the interview!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 Hi Its the first week of may. Be glad when its over!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted April 2, 2007 Share Posted April 2, 2007 does anyone know if you can get funding to do the foundation degree with the open uni or is it just through a college/uni route i would just love to further my studies but i would not be able to manage college with the work and family committments that i already have and without funding it would not be possible for me to afford it x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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