Student Parents
From our experience of student parents (and yes, there are a fair few at SGUL), it IS perfectly possible to be both a student and a parent, although it may sometimes feel like you could do with an extra day in the week!
Are there many student parents at George’s?
There are quite a few…
What should I do about childcare?
Organise it as soon as possible. Tailor it for your personal timetable. Existing students and staff will be able to give you an idea about the course workload to help you decide what is best for your family.
Is there any childcare available on site?
Although there is no onsite creche, there is a private day nursery on Blackshaw Road that serves the NHS trust and school. It has very long waiting lists so enquire early. Full-time care for under-2s will be around £200/week. Please also see SGUL's statement (11/02/11) regarding nursery care onsite here.
What about elsewhere?
To find out about types, costs and availability of childcare in Wandsworth, contact the Children’s Information Service (Phone: 020-8871-7899, Fax: 020-8871-7888, Email: edearlyyears@wandsworth.gov.uk). There are similar services available in most London boroughs: www.careline.org.uk is a good place to start looking!
Are any subsidies available to help pay for childcare?
Although the medical school does not offer grants specifically for childcare, there are other sources of funding available for student parents. Contact Zoe Garratt down in Registry for further advice... Further advice on childcare and finances can be found at: www.childcarelink.gov.uk
In general, the medical school is supportive of student parents. Although there are few formal policies regarding student parents, staff and other students are generally very supportive and understanding of the extra issues you might face. If it is unavoidable that you miss teaching sessions, for instance if your child is ill, they will endeavour to ensure that you do not miss out on relevant material, once they have been notified of the situation.