Children’s Education and Child welfare and education are important concerns in the UK. Child Education policy and child services vary greatly from country to country. Here are is the basic information about child education in the UK
If you have children between five and 15, the law requires that he or she must attend school. State education is free for children up to 16 years. Children under the age of five can attend nursery school or receive other child care services which provide a range of daytime activities. You may have to pay for this service but you can find out more details from the Childrens Information Service on 0845 6011630 or visit www.northyorks.gov.uk/cis (link opens new window)
State schools are divided up into Primary (ages 5-11) and secondary (11-18). Some schools are Church of England or Roman Catholic and some have no religious heritage or affiliation. If schools are Church of England or Roman Catholic, this does not mean that children from other faiths cannot attend. There are primary schools in most towns and larger villages, but some smaller villages may not have enough children to maintain a school. The County Council is mainly responsible for child education in North Yorkshire and has a list of schools available.
How to find a school
You can approach the Head Teacher of the school you would like your child to attend (usually nearest to where you live) and the school cannot discriminate against a child because of race or nationality. However, if the school is full, the Head teacher can refuse your child a place.
If you can't find a school place for your child, contact North Yorkshire County Council's Childrens and Young People's Services on 0845 727374. It has a legal responsibility to find a place at school for your child.
