Trainee midwife calls for student childcare support

Chloe Cornelius said she wanted students to be recognised for childcare grants

A mother of three who works long hours training to be a midwife has called for government childcare support to be extended to parents in education.

Chloe Cornelius, 33, from Wokingham, Berkshire, said looking after her children while studying and working part-time as a carer was "taking its toll".

The government offers 30 hours free childcare for parents of three and four year olds, but parents who are studying need to work at least 16 hours a week to qualify.

A spokesperson for the government said it was already providing extra financial support for eligible student midwives and nurses.

Mrs Cornelius's children are 11, five and three.

"I'm on the edge, working on top of the degree and being a mum means something suffers - either my studies get neglected, or I don't get to see the kids," she said.

"I simply want recognition that students are working and should be eligible for childcare without having to take on part-time work."

Mrs Cornelius is supported by her husband Leighton but said she still struggled and needed extra help

She said in order to been entitled for government funding she has to work a minimum of 16 hours or earn £166 per week on top of studying and a work placement, which are 12-and-a-half-hour shifts.

She said she was not eligible for an additional government grant because her annual household income - combined with her husband's salary - was more than £27,000.

Fiona Gibb, from the Royal College of Midwives said: "Obviously we want to raise awareness in terms of what impact it has on students to be able to complete their course and the impact on their wellbeing.

"We have told the government through a state of midwifery education report that almost 14% of midwifery students are not completing their programme and that's a huge concern."

A government spokesperson said: "This government is rolling out the largest ever expansion of childcare in England, set to save working parents using 30 hours a week an average of £6,500 per year.

"Eligible students who are parents already receive a grant paying 85% of childcare costs across the full year including holidays, up to a weekly limit, and student nurses and midwives with children receive an additional NHS grant of £7,000 per academic year."