She should also check out whether the college has any subsidised creche facilities for One-Parent Families? Some of them do. Also, she should check out whether she can apply for Back to Education Allowance as a single parent even though she is already on a course. The college might have an Access officer to deal with her queries?
regarding maintenance, if she applies for One-Parent Family, whcih she should do, she is expected to make effoprts to get maintenance adn then this is deducted from her entitlements....not all of it, usually about half, I think.