Making arrangements

Think carefully about where you will live and how much it will cost

Many trainee teachers attend a local training provider, either on a part-time or full-time basis, for financial reasons or because of family or other commitments. Many part-time trainee teachers need to continue with their existing employment. Trainees in each of these cases are likely to be home-based.

However, if you hope to move away to study, the availability and cost of accommodation will be an important factor, particularly if you have a family. Training providers usually reserve most rooms in their halls of residence for first-year undergraduate students so you will probably need to rent a bed-sit, flat or house from the private sector with the help of the training provider's accommodation office.

An increasing number of training providers make some specific housing provision for mature students and for their spouses and/or children. You should contact the training provider's accommodation office early, particularly if you need family accommodation. You will find that facilities and costs vary considerably from one training provider to another. You will probably have to make some sacrifices and your general standard of living may not match what you have been used to.

How will you get to and from the training provider and your teaching placements?

In recent years, many training providers have expanded into additional premises and some training providers have been created through mergers of a number of establishments in a town or city. In either case, the result can mean considerable travel between sites.

It is certainly common to have to travel between student accommodation and the teaching buildings and the cost and time involved may be significant. You should check to see what distances are involved, whether frequent transport is provided and how much it will cost you.

During your course you will have to complete at least two teaching placements at the training provider's partner schools. Some of these schools may be a considerable distance from where you are living and you will need to plan your travel arrangements carefully.

Apply early for places at a nursery or crèche

If you are going to need childcare support, contact the student services' office at your chosen training providers at an early stage to find out what provision is available, how much it will cost and whether it will give you sufficient time to study. Facilities vary considerably and there is often competition for places. It is therefore a good idea to apply early for places at a nursery or crèche.

Contact The Daycare Trust - a charity promoting childcare facilities within higher education, for advice on provision and benefits - or ChildcareLink, a government service providing information on local and national childcare.