FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

You can learn at the Isle of Wight College, Local Schools and Community Learning Centres across the Island. Many providers now offer off-site courses held in community venues. Contact the providers for a prospectus or have a look at what is available in the area through Link2Learn.

Many courses cost under £50. If you are on benefit or a low income many opportunities are free and there are discount schemes if you are a pensioner or under 18 years of age. One-day and short 'taster' courses are an affordable way to try out new subjects and some programmes for example Family Learning and Basic Skills Programmes to improve your Maths and English are free.

If you are on means-tested state benefit, fees are generally reduced. You will need some proof of your status when you enrol, contact the individual provider directly to find out their policy.

Link2Learn has more information about different types of funding available.

You may have to pay additional costs for course materials, exam fees and utility fees. You will be informed of any additional costs when you enrol. Ask the provider about these if they are not mentioned in the prospectus.

Each provider will have their own procedures for enrolment but, generally, they are very similar. Most providers can process enrolments in person, by telephone, fax or post. Some may even be able to accept your enquiries or enrolment by e-mail or from the Internet. You can pay your course fees in a number of ways but DO NOT ever send any cash in the post.

Where courses are run at different levels it is important to ensure the learner is enrolled on the right course fro them. You may therefore be asked to complete a questionnaire or have an informal interview with a course tutor.

You will be asked to complete an enrolment form that asks about your personal details. You will probably be asked for your address, date of birth, ethnic origin. They are not being nosy! They are just trying to collect information to help them plan courses in the future. Some of the information they collect may be passed to the Isle of Wight Council to help inform planning.

If you have not had a positive experience do speak to your tutor in the first instance. If this does not resolve the problem or you feel your comments have not been taken seriously, enquire how the provider's complaint procedure works. Ask the provider which organisation funds the course and then complain directly to them.

Funding for childcare costs may be available for some courses. Ask the provider when you enrol.

There are a wide range of private training services available to you. Most training companies that offer both informal and formal training solutions for individuals and businesses can be found in the Yellow Pages under 'TRAINING SERVICES'.

Adult and Community Learning is for adults  and you can expect to be treated as one. Providers know that if you are learning you are doing it because you want to. Returning to learning now can be a lot more fun then when you were at school. You can try new subjects and hobbies that were never available to you in previous years and realise new ambitions you have since developed.

If you did not get any qualifications at school it does not mean you cannot take part in further learning or even go to university. Colleges now offer Access courses that are designed for people without the necessary qualifications to study foundation courses to prepare them for the demands of a higher level of learning. A lot of these courses are free of charge.

Learning need not be difficult or a chore. Anyhow, you may well be a lot better at it than you imagine!

There are a lot of basic skills courses available on a one-to-one basis or within a very small group. Many are free of charge if you are on benefits or have a low income. If you want to improve your numeracy and literacy skills contact the Learning Opportunities team at the Isle of Wight College. Click here for Contact Details.

You should contact Link2Learn for proper advice about the options available to you. You may also wish to consider a Career Development Loan as a way of financing the costs involved.

If you want to find out about university courses you should contact UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). For advice about funding available to you in higher education click here .