Fairer funding

I am 45 years old, have more than 12 years of childcare experience and am planning to do a distance learning NVQ Level 3 in Early Years Care and Education through Childcare Study, as featured in the December 2002 edition of the Nursery World supplement Training Today. Childcare Study suggested that I apply to my county council's Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership for funding using the European Social Fund. But what I don't understand is why I can only get this funding if I do courses run by Suffolk County Council. Also, why should very experienced childcare practitioners over the age of 25 be forced to fund their own training courses to gain qualifications that we need, while under-25s can get full funding for free - bearing in mind that many of this age group are likely to leave the profession when they marry or start their own families? Some of these under-25s may not return to work in the sector, yet those of us who have experience require the qualification to progress with our chosen careers or be stuck at the bottom of the ladder getting nowhere.