Every child and young person is entitled to the highest quality education enabling them to achieve their best. Parents have a legal duty to ensure that their child receives an education suitable to his/her age, ability, aptitude and any special needs by registering them in a school or by electing to educate them at home (Elective Home Education).
Responsibilities and Rights
Local education authorities are obligated to provide a free school place for all children who are of compulsory school age’ and must also find a school or sixth form college place for young people aged 16 to 19 who want one.
Conmpulsory school age is normalyy 5 -16 depending when their 5th birthday falls.
Full details of school starting age are available from GOV.UK.
For more details on Access to and Education Responsibilities and Rights, follow this link.
The National Curriculum
The National Curriculum, introduced to England, Wales and Northern Ireland in 1992, defines a set of subjects and standards to be used by primary and secondary schools to ensure that all pupils receive a balanced education.
Scotland has its own distinctive and flexible qualification framework that is separate from the National Curriculum and is not set by law, placing responsibility on local authorities and schools.
Supporting your child at school
As a parent you have a legal duty to ensure that your child receives an appropriate education and If your child is registered at a school, you must ensure that they attend.
Full details of a parent's legal responsibilities, advice on supporting your child at school and all aspects of parent involvement can be found at this link.
A series of guides for parents to assist their children to achieve their full academic potential are available from howtobecome.com:
Elective Home Education (Home Schooling)
Elective Home Education is education provided other than at school, usually by parents teaching their own children at home. You do not need to be a teacher or have any other special qualifications to be a home educator.
Information and advice about educating your child at home is available at thiis link.
Comprehensive guidance on Elective Home Education, from the Department for Education, is available from GOV.UK.
Children with special educational needs
A complete guide to special eductional needs can be found at GOV.UK.
If your child has a statement of special educational needs (SEN) which includes transport requirements, your council must provide them. For details follow this link.
Information for parents and carers about special educational needs is available from NHS England.
School Term Dates
To view school term and holiday dates in your area, follow this link.
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