I got mine for free, I enrolled when I signed up for the Diploma (again free). There is a real drive in Darlington at the moment and a lot of the funding is coming via the EU. The downside is that its all got to be completed with a year....

hence QF completed by this Nov (although you can apply for a 6month extension in certain circumstances)
Diploma I finish in Sept
and the NVQ - literally just started 1 week ago the funding runs out end of Sept!
Mind boggling!!!! My friend wasn't eligible for the funding for the NVQ but it was on a different grant via the EU.

Might be worth asking at your local childrens centers, surestart schemes, CIS, council to see if there is any funding about, even via your minders network or last resort NCMA. If you are in Darlington, try contacting the local childrens center. Don't know if I can mention names on here of who I have found really helpful