Student Parents

We have a guide for students bringing children to Oxford on our To prepare before arrival page, based on advice and feedback from current students. Please also visit the university’s web pages with advice for childcare.

Access to College Facilities

Spouses, partners and children of college members are welcome, when accompanied, to use some of the college facilities. For safety reasons, however, children under the age of 16 are not permitted to use the gym facilities. We encourage you to introduce spouses and partners to key members of staff such as the Lodge staff if they plan to use college facilities.

Associate Membership

Students’ spouses and partners are welcome at many college and student-organised events when they attend with their student partner. The college also has a popular Associate Membership scheme to enable spouses and partners to access some college facilities in their own right for an annual fee. Information about the current scheme

Note that applications for the new scheme will not open until the beginning of full term in October and we will circulate details when it opens.

Medical Care

Each member of a family (including children) should be registered individually with the College Doctor at Beaumont Elms Practice (see Health/Welfare section for details).

Supervision of Children

Children are welcome to play in the college gardens, but they should not climb the trees or play in the flowerbeds on site. We ask that they are supervised by a parent or carer, who is responsible for their safety at all times. Parents/carers will be liable for any damage caused to college property by their children. There is a designated play area for young children aged 1-7 adjacent to the college gym, including a playhouse, bench and sandpit. Parents are asked to put away any toys their children take from the toy box to help us keep this space neat and tidy for all to enjoy. Also note that some of the college buildings are historical in nature and were not designed with children in mind. There are therefore a number of hazards, including steep staircases and stone steps, horticultural machinery, glass at low level (greenhouse and associated cold frames), and open access to both Woodstock Road and the college car park. Please also be aware that the border in the college gardens containing ‘medicinal plants’, located behind the squash court contains a large number of ‘poisonous’ plants. Please ask Michael Pirie, or another member of staff to point this out to you if you are concerned.

Meals

Children are welcome to attend lunch and informal suppers in college. A children’s portion is available for 50% of the full price and should be booked in through the college meal bookings system. Formal dinners are not recommended for small children or babies in arms, but children over 16 years and older may attend. Please contact the Pantry Team for further information/advice.

Oxford University Newcomers’ Club

The Oxford University Newcomers’ Club is a voluntarily-run organisation, whose aim is to help newlyarrived spouses or partners of visiting newly-appointed academic members of the University to settle in and meet people in Oxford. See more details about the Newcomers’ Club and more information on family activities.

Funding for students with children

Green Templeton College recognises that the cost of childcare can be an obstacle to student parents/carers participating fully in college and University activities. If you’re a parent or carer for a child under 16, the college will reimburse up to £100 per academic year of your childcare costs, where that would enable you to study for your course or participate in college or academic life at Oxford.

For example:

• A babysitter/ childminder for an evening so you can attend a college, student society or sports team dinner
• Fees for your child’s sports or other after-school/ weekend/ vacation clubs to give you some undisturbed time to work on a course assignment or your thesis, or attend a workshop, conference or supervisor meeting
• Part-payment for daycare or pre-school fees, especially out of regular provision, where this allows you to attend labs, clinical placements, internships, fieldwork or any other activity related to your course

This is a gesture of support towards Green Templeton student parents/carers with dependent children, and will not significantly supplement regular childcare costs.

This funding can be claimed at any time while you’re enrolled at Green Templeton, but approval should be sought before the childcare expense is incurred. More information