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16 to 19 bursary fund (1614) Service
Those aged between 16 and 19 years who think they might struggle with the costs for full-time education or training, may be eligible for a bursary.
Alternative provision of education (1765) Service
Alternative provision is for pupils who can not attend mainstream school for a variety of reasons, such as school exclusion, behaviour issues, short or long-term illness, school refusal or teenage pregnancy. Alternative provision may be in a special school, a pupil referral unit, alternative learning unit in school or provided by the council or with independent specialist providers.
Citizenship education (895) Service
Providing pupils with the knowledge, understanding and skills which prepare them to play an active role as citizens. Ensuring that pupils have a clear understanding of their roles, rights and responsibilities in relation to their local, national and international communities.
Early education for 2 year olds (1741) Service
From the school term after they turn two some children may be eligible for up to 15 hours per week early education or childcare.
Education in hospital (1090) Service
Teaching is provided on the Children's Wards of hospitals for those children who are well enough, but medical treatment takes precedence. When a child is discharged from hospital but is unable to return to school for some time, we can make a request for tuition at home. This is provided on medical ground and must be approved by the Local Education Authority.
Education transport for 16-19 year olds (1135) Service
16-19 year old students in further education who meet specified criteria are entitled to subsidised transport to and from their educational establishment. LEAs must ensure that transport costs do not prevent students from staying on in post-16 education.
Exclusion of school pupils (34) Service
A headteacher may decide to permanently exclude a pupil under strict circumstances to protect education or welfare of the pupils and staff in the school. The education authority provide support and advice for parents of excluded children and for the child.
Extended schools (897) Service
An extended school provides a range of activities and services, often beyond the school day, to help meet the needs of its pupils, their families and the wider community.
Free school meals (4) Service
Free school meals are provided for children whose families are in receipt of benefits such as income support or income based job seeker's allowance. They are also available to families in receipt of Child Tax Credit or Universal Credit if earned income is below a set threshold. Eligibility criteria may be determined by the local authority or in some cases by individual schools.
Home school agreement (1704) Service
All maintained schools, academies, city technology colleges and city colleges for the technology of the arts are required to publish a home-school agreement and associated parental declaration. A home-school agreement is a statement explaining the schools aims and values, the schools responsibilities towards its pupils who are of compulsory school age, the responsibility of each pupils parents and what the school expects of its pupils. Schools must take reasonable steps to ensure that all registered parents of pupils sign the parental declaration to indicate that they understand and accept the contents of the home-school agreement.
Home schooling (1) Service
The education authority will arrange to visit a parent thinking about educating their child at home to help them plan the child's education. They will ensure that the child will receive efficient full-time education suitable to their age, ability and any special needs.
Instrumental tuition (51) Service
Individual or group tuition may be offered to both primary and secondary school pupils. Instrumental tuition also supports a wider musical experience through participation in ensembles, bands, orchestras and choirs.
Language and cultural support in school (6) Service
Support for children who do not have the national language as their first language. This may be provided by bi-lingual classroom assistants and resources or interpreting and translation in nursery and primary schools. In the UK this support is provided for children who do not have English as their first language
Learning mentors (628) Service
Young people who are in need of a mentor to provide additional support and assistance alongside their normal education can do so through their school.
Local curriculum (1699) Service
Each local authority is responsible for forming for its area one or more local curricula for pupils in Key Stage 4 and pupils age 16 to 18. This applies to Wales only.
Local schools (17) Service
The local authority is responsible for providing information and school contact details of every school in the area.
Mentoring schemes (627) Service
Learning mentors provide an additional service to teachers and pastoral staff in schools to help children overcome barriers to learning, both inside and outside the school, and to achieve their full potential. The local authority provides assistance and support to mentors or those who wish to become mentors.
Permitted absence from school (1436) Service
With the agreement of the school pupils may be permitted to be absent from school for a limited period of time during the academic year. Parents or guardians need to request permission from the school for the absence.
Primary school places (13) Service
Dealing with requests for places at primary schools from parents of prospective pupils. Allocation of school places according to education authority policy.
Psychological, psychiatric or social work services in schools (7) Service
Educational psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers can offer an assessment, advice and support to parents and teachers where there is a concern about the development, learning or behaviour of children.
Pupil referral unit (1766) Service
Pupil referral units (PRUs) teach children who are not able to attend school and may not otherwise receive suitable education. This could be because they have a short- or long-term illness, have been excluded or are a new starter waiting for a mainstream school place.
School admission appeals (705) Service
A pupil may appeal for a place at any community school to which they apply and for which they have been refused a place. The responsibility for appeals rests with the local education authority.
School assessment and performance (31) Service
Performance and assessment reports help schools look at their strength and weaknesses, compare their performance with other schools and develop plans to raise their standards.
School attendance and truancy (35) Service
Schools and the education authority monitor absence and lateness and work with families and young people where the level of absence is giving cause for concern. In England this is done through the Attendance Advisory Service (formerly the Education Social Work Service) The AAS is the link between home and school.
School book purchase schemes (42) Service
The library services department offers book purchase schemes that allow schools easy and cost effective ways to buy books for their library.
School breakfast clubs (1089) Service
Provision of breakfast for pupils in schools.
School bullying and harassment policy (886) Service
Schools should have a policy which sets out clearly what is considered as bullying and/or harassment, how pupils and parents should do if they suspect bullying is taking place and how the school should deal with reports of such incidents.
School catering (37) Service
Schools have a duty to provide a paid meal on request and a free meal to those that are eligible. Nutritional standards are defined by Central Government and under central management the Local Education Authority must use the same menu and price in every school.
School closures (1140) Service
Information about non-routine school closures (eg for bad weather) and how pupils and parents will be advised about such occurrences.
School clothing grants/vouchers (2) Service
The award of clothing grants or vouchers to assist with the cost of school clothing for families who are on benefits or on low income.
School clubs and activities (47) Service
Schools may offer clubs and societies for students during lunch times, after school and during school holidays
School complaints procedure (630) Service
A complaint about an incident or school must be made to the headteacher. A further formal complaint can be made to the governing body and later to the authority with national responsibility for education. It is the responsibility of the local education authority to investigate complaints and to take appropriate action.
School crossing patrols (573) Service
Provision of school crossing patrols in locations where children frequently need to cross the road on their way to school (e.g. opposite school premises, at major road junctions near a school) and where children may be in danger from road traffic.
School curriculum (32) Service
All school pupils aged 5 to 16 follow the national curriculum programme of study in full range of subjects. The education authority and the school governors have a responsibility to make sure that the National Curriculum is taught. In Scotland the 'National Priorities In Education', as approved by the Scottish Parliament in December 2000, are defined under the following headings: Achievement and Attainment; Framework for Learning; Inclusion and Equality; Values and Citizenship; Learning for Life
School governors (29) Service
School governors are typically volunteers from the school's community. They must be aged 18 or over at the date of their election or appointment. They have three key roles of setting strategic direction, ensuring accountability and monitoring and evaluating school performance. In Scotland, parent councils replaced school boards. They help decide the direction, focus and ethos of schools, and represent and communicate with parents. Each school can write its own constitution for its parent council.
School health and safety (1459) Service
Schools are required to maintain a safe and suitable physical environment both inside and outside school buildings at all times for the welfare of their pupils and staff.
School health promotion (889) Service
Promotion of a healthy living environment for pupils and staff. Health promotion addresses issues such as exercise, substances, emotional health and well-being, safety, sexual health and relationships and nutrition.
School holiday schemes (18) Service
Out of school holiday play schemes which provide care for school-aged children during school holidays, are usually on school premises or in local community buildings. The education authority generally operates a booking system, offering remaining places on a first come first served basis.
School library service loans (44) Service
The library services department offers a project loan service for individual teachers with specially selected resources for all subjects and key stages of the national curriculum.
School library service training (41) Service
The school library service works to provide advice, consultancy and training for head teachers, teachers and school librarians, to ensure that the school library is central to learning and supports the curriculum in their schools.
School library visits (45) Service
Visits to schools to give talks about books to children, or to parents and may also provide a storytelling service.
School nursing (890) Service
School nurses provide confidential health advice for children and young people, reviewing the health of the school population and working with schools to create an environment that promotes healthy living.
School pupil records (15) Service
A pupil's educational record is made up of their academic achievements, other skills and abilities and pupil reports. Also, communications of headteachers and teachers or other education authority employees form part of a pupil's record. These must be retained and parents or pupils may request to see them.
School register of attendance (1767) Service
Schools must take the attendance register at the start of the first session of each school day and once during the second session. On each occasion they must record whether every pupil is: present; attending an approved educational activity; absent; or unable to attend due to exceptional circumstances.
School regulations and disciplinary procedures (1454) Service
Regulations which apply to all schools including procedures to be followed in the event of any breach of the rules by pupils.
School session times (1764) Service
School session times (the timing of the school day) are set by the governing body of each school. Governing bodies are expected to consult with parents, staff, local schools and the local authority on any proposal to change the school day or session times and to adhere to any regulations regarding the number of half day sessions in a school year.
School term and holiday dates (36) Service
The education authority set and publish school term and holiday dates for the forthcoming academic year. In the UK term dates are usually published for up to 3 years in advance.
School transport (891) Service
Local authorities must provide transport where they consider it necessary to ensure that a child goes to school. If transport is necessary, then it must be provided free of charge. In most cases it is up to the local authority to decide what transport is necessary. Eligibility is usually determined according to age of the pupil and/or the distance which the pupil lives from school.
School transport - additional support (3) Service
School transport may be provided for pupils from low income families where a child is not eligible for regular free school transport. Eligibility is usually determined according to age of the pupil and/or the distance which the pupil lives from school.
School visits (735) Service
Schools or the LEA may arrange visits by pupils from short trips to local parks or museums to overnight stays in foreign countries. It is essential that all such visits are carried out with the highest regard for the safety and welfare of the pupils taking part in them.
Schools development plans (33) Service
Education Development Plans (EDPs) are documents in which an education authority, in consultation with schools and other stakeholders, sets out costed plans for school improvement and raising pupils standards. In England EDPs are a statutory requirement of all education authorities. In Scotland legislation integrates school development plans into the new School Improvement Framework. The education authorities have a role in ensuring that a development plan and a summary are prepared for each school. After consultation, the date set for these plans is by June each year. There are also now specific criteria outlined for these plans.
Schools forum (1773) Service
The schools forum is made up of representatives from schools and academies in the local area. There is also some representation from non-school organisations, such as nursery and 16-19 education providers. The forum acts as a consultative body on issues such as changes to the local funding formula, arrangements for children with special educational needs, in pupil referral units and in early years provision. On other issues such as how much funding may be retained by the local authority within the dedicated schools grant (eg for providing an admissions service or providing additional funding for growing schools), proposed carry forward of deficits etc. the schools forum acts as a decision making body.
Secondary school places (14) Service
Dealing with requests for places at secondary schools from parents of prospective pupils. Allocation of school places according to education authority policy.
Standing advisory council on religious education (SACRE) (1697) Service
Every local authority with responsibility for education must establish a SACRE which advises the LA on matters relating to religious education, in accordance with its agreed syllabus, and on collective worship in community schools. A SACRE is made up of representatives from the council, local religious groups and teachers organisations and is mandated by law.
Transition between schools (894) Service
Provision of support for pupils when moving between nursery and primary schools or primary and secondary schools to ensure that pupils are prepared for the transition. This also includes school moves as a result of local reorganisation (school closures etc.)
Work experience placements (52) Service
Work experience allows pupils to learn about the world of work and experience the key skills needed in the workplace. The education authority assists pupils in finding a placement and offers support and advice for pupils during their placement. In the UK work experience placements are for pupils from the start of year ten.