Jakub
When my oldest started school, I was worried that he would be left behind the rest of the class as he only spoke a little English. His teacher was really helpful though - we met her regularly and she made a plan to give him extra support.
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Scroll down the page to view the next sections: 'The education system ' and 'Supporting your child'.
Key information
1. All children in England (5 to 18 years) must be in education regardless of their immigration status
- Children aged 5-16 years must be in full-time education - most children go to a government-funded school that is close to their home
- Children aged 16-18 years must continue studying in some capacity - either full-time or or combine part-time study with work/ training
2. Most children go to a government-funded school close to their home
You will need to list six preferred schools when enrolling your child into a government-funded school. Preference is given for children who live closer to the school and have siblings who attend there. To help with your decision:
- Look online at Ofsted inspection reports
- Visit the school and find out how many places are available
- Speak to other parents
3. Don’t delay in enrolling your child in a school or early education option - there are long waiting lists!
You can enrol your child into a pre-school or nursery school from 3-4 years, and a primary / secondary school from 5-16 years. Waiting lists can be lengthy, and you are not guaranteed a place at the school or nursery of your choice.
4. Get involved to help your child through their education
Go to meetings with teachers, make sure they don’t miss school and they turn up on time, and help them with their homework where possible. You can even volunteer to help in after-school clubs!
5. If your child isn’t confident in English, their school will provide support to help them to learn
Their school will make a plan and provide additional support through specialist teachers and classroom assistants
6. Find out if you can get financial support to help with education costs
Some families who earn a low income can get help with the costs of schooling through school uniform grants and free school meals.
- Read more in the next section, ‘Childcare and financial support’.
7. Get involved in local groups and activities for families
Haringey has a lot to offer with weekly activities and meet-ups. It’s a great chance to meet other families and to help your children to learn.
- Get in touch with your local library and Children’s Centre to find out what’s going on
- Explore our dedicated sections ‘Local groups and activities’ and ‘Events’ to learn more
The education system
When does my child go to school?
All children living in England must receive an education from the ages of 5 to 18 years, but the options vary depending on their age.
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Age 2-4 years
Most children attend preschool or nursery but it’s not compulsory
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Age 5-11 years
All children must attend full-time education in a primary school
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Age 11-16 years
All children must attend full-time education in a secondary school
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Age 16-18 years
All children must study either full-time or combine part-time study with work / training
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19+ years
Studying further is optional but many choose to continue with higher education courses like a university degree
What subjects will my child learn?
In primary and secondary school (ages 5-16), children are taught a range of subjects including english, maths, science, history, geography, art, music and physical education. Additional classes help to prepare them for life outside of school. These include:
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A foreign language
Such as French and Spanish
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Citizenship
To gain knowledge and understanding needed to become a citizen, for example, learning about human rights
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PSHE (personal, social and health education)
To learn about the body’s development, sexuality and relationships (optional)
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Religious studies
To gain knowledge and understanding of different religious and non-religious beliefs, without promoting any religion (optional)
Which exams will my child take?
Most schools have internal exams at the end of the Summer term, to better understand a child’s level before they move up a year. Here we outline the external exams that all children must sit across the UK:
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Age 5-11 years
Students in government-funded schools have to take ‘Scholastic Aptitude Tests’ (SATS) at ages 6-7 and 10-11 in English, Maths and Science. This helps teachers learn more about your child’s strengths and weaknesses.
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Age 15-16 years
Students have to take exams at the end of Year 11 (aged 15-16), called ‘GCSEs’. An employer or education provider such as a university may ask for these grades when your child makes an application.
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Age 16-18 years
Many young people continue their education by taking 2-year ‘A-level’ courses, as these qualifications are required to apply for a university course and are highly valued by employers
Enrolling your child in school
The steps you need to take depend on your child’s age:
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Pre-schools or nurseries (4 years and under)
Contact the institution directly
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Primary and secondary schools (5-18 years)
Follow the instructions below to apply to a government-funded primary (5-11 years) or secondary (11-16 years) school
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Colleges (16-18 years)
Contact the institution directly
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University (19+ years)
Apply through an organisation called UCAS
How to apply to a government-funded school
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Step 1 - Get help to apply online if you are not confident in English
This can be someone you know or a local organisation:
- A Children’s Centre - you will need to register to access their services by completing a paper form in person or online form here
- Read more about other support organisations in ‘Other local help & support’
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Step 2 - Choose up to six preferred schools in and around Haringey
Keep in mind that priority is usually given to children who live closer to the school and have siblings who attend there.
- Enquire how many places each school has available
- Visit the school to see what they offer
- Read Ofsted reports
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Step 3 - Register to apply online
Online applications are made between September and October. Contact the Haringey Admissions team if you are applying outside of this by calling 020 8489 1000. Select this link to register and create an online account:
- Enter basic details
- Confirm your details and email address to complete the registration process
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Step 4 - Complete the online application form
- Enter your child’s details - name, date of birth and home address
- Add your school preferences - you can enter up to six schools, with the top being your most preferred
- Submit your application and check for an email confirmation
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Step 5 - Have your application processed
Haringey Council has a system to work out which school can offer your child a place. It takes a number of factors into account, including:
- The distance they live from the school
- Whether they have a sibling already attending the school
- Any additional needs they may have
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Step 6 - Get an offer for a school and accept it online
Once you receive an offer, you must make a decision by a certain date. If your most preferred school is not offered:
- Your child may be offered another school from the list you provided
- Their name may be added to a waiting list
- You can appeal and apply to change their decision
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Step 7 - Reach out if you need help
For help with any of the steps or to appeal against a decision, get in touch with Haringey Admissions Service by calling 020 8489 1000 or contact a local organisation:
- A Children’s Centre - you will need to register to access their services
- Read more about other organisations in ‘Other local help & support’
Supporting your child
There are a number of ways to support your child inside and outside of school. If you have any concerns, contact their school form teacher to discuss them directly.
How can I support my child’s education?
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Keep track of their progress
Speak to them at the end of each day to ask them what they’ve learned. Keep track of test results and their progress in reports and parents evenings.
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Help with homework
Children aged 11+ years are usually given school work to complete at home. Ask them when their homework is due and keep a check that they completed this in time! You can help by:
- Working with them to help with their homework
- Registering them at your local library - to borrow books and get free internet access - see our dedicated section ‘Registering with your local library’ for details
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Attend parents evenings
Parents evenings are meetings where you can speak to your child’s teachers individually, to learn about their progress and discuss any issues.
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Ensure your child does not miss school, attends on time and is picked up on time
You are required to drop and pick up your child from school when they are in primary school (5-11 years). They should only miss school if they are too ill to go in or you have permission from the school, for example, for a religious day.
- If your child is ill, you must let the school know that morning
- You can be fined if you take your child on holiday during the school term (approximately £60)
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Giving permission to go on school trips and take part in all subjects and activities
Your child’s school may organise extra activities or trips, such as visiting a museum or going camping. They are a good opportunity to learn by doing and provide experiences outside of the classroom.
- You will need to provide permission for your child to attend
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Volunteer at the school
Many parents volunteer to help out with before/ after school activities such as a sports team or an art club. It will give you a chance to get to know other families and staff at the school while you support your child.
General rules to help you with raising a child
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Children and work
You must be 16+ years to work full-time in the UK
- Many children take on part-time work from the age of 16 to build confidence, gain skills and be more independent
- They do not usually work during school-time when they are younger than this
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Children and smoking
- You must be over 18 years to buy cigarettes in the UK
- If a child is under 16 years - the police can confiscate their cigarettes
- It is illegal to smoke in a car or other vehicle with a child present - they can be fined £100 or more
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Disciplining your child
Hitting children is a common practice in some countries to stop them misbehaving, rather than to harm them. In the UK, you don’t have the legal right to physically discipline your child unless it is a ‘reasonable punishment’ - what is reasonable depends on the age of the child and type of physical contact.
- A parent can be prosecuted for assault if they leave a mark, for example, a scratch or bruise while disciplining their child
- It is illegal for teachers and nursery workers to physically discipline another person’s child
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Leaving your child alone at home
There is no legal age for when you can leave your child at home alone in the UK. However, a parent can be charged with a criminal offence if they have placed a child at risk of harm by leaving them alone at home.