EDUCATION
Navgting Primary
Education
Below is a list of questions that new par- ents frequently ask about nursery and pri- mary education.
Are there state nurseries? How do I find a nursery for my child?
Unlike schools, all nurseries are independ- ent and have vastly varying admissions policies and fees. As such, there is no hard and fast rule on registering that is applica- ble to all and, as with most schools, loca- tion and reputation often play the greatest part in how tricky they are to get into. Frighteningly, Te Good Schools Guide rec- ommends doing your homework during pregnancy as this can be less stressful than trying to do so once you have a baby to look after. Te best place to start would be to pop your post code into this rather helpful government search tool (
www.gov.uk/find-nursery-school-place) which enables you to locate the nursery schools in your area. In England, when children are aged thee and four, they are entitled to 15 hours of free education a week, though it is worth noting that not all nurseries sign up to this scheme.
What age are children required to start school?
Age five, though many children start the September after they turn four.
In England, whn
cidren are agd 3 and 4, thy are entied t 15 hors o fe education a wek.
Can I delay my child’s start if my child is a summer born baby?
You may be able to, but you will need to check with the school and relevant local authority. You can find more information about summer-born children and their ad- missions from the Department of Education.
When and where do I register my child for primary school?
As a rough guide, parents should register their child at the start of the autumn term of the year before your child is due to start school. Applications open on different days in each local council area. Each year the deadline is in the January before the child starts in September of the same year. Do check your local council’s website as well as the school’s websites, as the specific dates change year on year.
Children who attend nurseries which 14 FOCUS The Magazine November/December 2018
are linked to primary schools do not auto- matically enter (and are at no greater ad- vantage of entering) the associated primary school. Tese children must apply as normal.
How do I find out what schools are in my area that my child is eligible for?
Your local council will have details of all of the schools in your area. You can find out which council you fall under by using the government’s primary admissions search tool:
www.gov.uk/apply-for-primary- school-place.
Will I get the school closest to me?
Your ‘catchment school’ is the one that your local council assigns to you. It is usu- ally the closest school to you (but do check this as catchment areas are not al- ways as they seem!) and the one at which your child should get a place.
What if I prefer a different school than the one I’ve been given?
Although you will be assigned a catchment school you should be able to apply for others that you may prefer as a part of the application process. Typically, you are al- lowed to select three preferences, but it is
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