Education

Please find below useful information and links related to the following:

School admissions | Free Early education and childcare places | Free school meals and milk | School Uniform Allowance | Help with Childcare costs | Is my child too ill for school? | Activities for children and After school clubs | Help with Maths, English and Reading | Child employment, performance licensing and chaperones | Bullying, Abuse and mental health support | Colleges in Nottingham | Apprenticeships | Online learning after school/college | Advice on Future pathways and career choices

• Education and Schools - Nottingham City Council: Please visit this link for all matters related to school and education including school admissions and appeals, school term dates and holidays, travelling to schools, education welfare, complaints, school absence penalty notice payment, elective home education, special education needs service and much more.
• Education Welfare - Nottingham City Council: Information and support related to bullying at school, complaints, school attendance, exclusions, children missing from education and other support services.

School Admissions

Welcome to Nottingham City Council's School Admissions Service, dedicated to ensuring a seamless and informed experience for children and families of Nottingham city. If you are inquiring about applications, including details on how to apply, available spaces within the city, and access to application forms, frequently asked questions or to contact the team via our contact form, look no further than www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/schooladmissions.

If you find yourself needing to navigate the appeals process, be it schedules or additional information, our online appeal form and resources are conveniently located at www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/schoolappeals.

For a deeper understanding of our admission arrangements and policies, such as the "Going to School in Nottingham" booklet and accelerated/delayed admission policy, alongside information from other city own admission authorities, visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/admissionarrangements.

At Nottingham City Council, we are dedicated to providing transparent and supportive resources for all our children and families.

For more information on school admissions, visit www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/schooladmissions or call on 0115 8415568

Watch a short video below about how our staff helped a family with the school admission:

 

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Free Early Education & Childcare places
(for 3 and 4 year olds)

All 3 and 4 years olds are entitled to 15 hours a week of free quality early education and childcare, starting the term after their third birthday. Your child is entitled to a maximum of 15 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year. This equates to 570 hours of free early education and childcare a year. The funding is paid directly to the school or childcare provider by the Local Authority.

Working parents who meet the eligibility criteria could be entitled to an additional 15 hours of early education, making a total of up to 30 hours per week (over 38 weeks, or 1140 hours across the year). Find out if you are eligible for the extra 15 hours of early education and apply online at the HMRC website: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk. For additional support you can contact the 30 Hours Help Line number: 0300 1234 097

For more information or for a complete list of early education and childcare providers in your area, you can contact the Nottingham City Council Families Information Service on:
Freephone: 0800 458 4114 or  0115 8765910, by e-mail: [email protected] or visit www.asklion.co.uk

More information is also available in the following information leaflet:
free-childcare-for-3-4-year-olds-poster.pdf (nottinghamcity.gov.uk)

 

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Applying for Free school meals and milk 

Your child will be able to get free school meals if they’re in:

• Reception class
• Year 1
• Year 2

Some children in older classes and young people are entitled to free school meals.  To find out if you are eligible, and how to apply, please click on the link below: 

Free school meals application form

 

 

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School Uniform Allowance

Your child may be able to get School Uniform Allowance if you meet certain criteria. To find out if your child is eligible for a School Uniform Allowance and how to apply, please click on the link below:

School Uniform Allowance - Nottingham City Council
 

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Help with Child Care costs

You can get help with the cost of childcare through:

• Tax Free Childcare in the UK 
• free childcare if you’re working in England

Tax-Free Childcare and free childcare if you’re working can help you to pay for childcare if it’s provided by a:

• registered childminder, nanny, playscheme, nursery or club
• childminder or nanny with a registered childminder agency or childcare agency
• registered school
• home care worker working for a registered home care agency

This is known as ‘approved childcare’.

Childcare at school

Tax-Free Childcare can help with paying for care that is outside school hours, for example after school clubs or breakfast clubs.

If your child has not started primary school, you can get help paying for childcare provided by a school. This includes nursery school fees.

To find out more, please visit: www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs

Free Child Care if you're working

You may be able to get free childcare for your 2 to 4 year old if you live in England.

The amount of free childcare you can get depends on:

• your child’s age and circumstances
• whether you’re working (employed, self-employed, or a director)
• your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)
• your immigration status

The number of hours of free childcare you can get depends on the age of your child. If your child is:

• 2 years old, you can get 15 hours per week of free childcare
• 3 to 4 years old, you can get 30 hours per week of free childcare

From September 2024, you’ll be able to get 15 hours free childcare for your child from the age of 9 months if you’re working. You can apply from 12 May.

For more information or find out if you're eligible and to apply, please visit:

https://www.gov.uk/check-eligible-free-childcare-if-youre-working

 

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Is my child too ill for school?

It can be tricky deciding whether or not to keep your child off school, nursery or playgroup when they're unwell.

There are government guidelines for schools and nurseries about managing specific infectious diseases at GOV.UK. These say when children should be kept off school and when they shouldn't.  If you do keep your child at home, it's important to phone the school or nursery on the first day. Let them know that your child won't be in and give them the reason.  If your child is well enough to go to school but has an infection that could be passed on, such as a cold sore or head lice, let their teacher know.

Follow the advice and links below for information other illnesses:

Coughs and colds: It's fine to send your child to school with a minor cough or common cold. But if they have a fever, keep them off school until the fever goes.  Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues and to wash their hands regularly.

High temperature:  If your child has a high temperature, keep them off school until it goes away.  Consult a GP if needed.

Chickenpox:  If your child has chickenpox, keep them off school until all the spots have crusted over.  This is usually about 5 days after the spots first appeared.

Cold sores:  There's no need to keep your child off school if they have a cold sore.  Encourage them not to touch the blister or kiss anyone while they have the cold sore, or to share things like cups and towels.

Conjunctivitis:  You don't need to keep your child away from school if they have conjunctivitis.  Do get advice from your pharmacist. Encourage your child not to rub their eyes and to wash their hands regularly.

COVID-19:  If your child has mild symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough, and feels well enough, they can go to school.
Your child should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if they have symptoms of COVID-19 and they either:

• have a high temperature
• do not feel well enough to go to school or do their normal activities
  
  What to do if your child has tested positive: Your child is no longer required to do a COVID-19 rapid lateral flow test if they have symptoms. But if your child has tested positive for COVID-19, they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test.

Ear infection: If your child has an ear infection and a high temperature or severe earache, keep them off school until they're feeling better or their high temperature goes away.

Hand, foot and mouth disease: If your child has hand, foot and mouth disease but seems well enough to go to school, there's no need to keep them off.  Encourage your child to throw away any used tissues straight away and to wash their hands regularly.

Head lice and nits: There's no need to keep your child off school if they have head lice.  You can treat head lice and nits without seeing a GP.

Impetigo:  If your child has impetigo, they'll need treatment from a GP, often with antibiotics.  Keep them off school until all the sores have crusted over and healed, or for 48 hours after they start antibiotic treatment.  Encourage your child to wash their hands regularly and not to share things like towels and cups with other children at school.

Ringworm:  If your child has ringworm, see your pharmacist unless it's on their scalp, in which case you should see a GP.  It's fine for your child to go to school once they have started treatment.

Scarlet fever:  If your child has scarlet fever, they'll need treatment with antibiotics from a GP. Otherwise they'll be infectious for 2 to 3 weeks.  Your child can go back to school 24 hours after starting antibiotics.

Slapped cheek syndrome (fifth disease):  You don't need to keep your child off school if they have slapped cheek syndrome because, once the rash appears, they're no longer infectious.  But let the school or teacher know if you think your child has slapped cheek syndrome.

Sore throat:  You can still send your child to school if they have a sore throat. But if they also have a high temperature, they should stay at home until it goes away.  A sore throat and a high temperature can be symptoms of tonsillitis.

Threadworms:  You don't need to keep your child off school if they have threadworms.  Speak to your pharmacist, who can recommend a treatment.

Vomiting and diarrhoea:  Children with diarrhoea or vomiting should stay away from school until they have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days (48 hours).

 

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Activities for Children & After School Clubs

If you need help with finding Childcare in Nottingham City, please contact the
Families Information Service. Tel: 0115 8765910

To look for Childcare Providers, nurseries, breakfast clubs, after school clubs, playgroups etc near you,
please visit : Childcare | Ask Lion - Nottingham City Directory

Activities for children and young people can be found on the links below.

Activities for children under 5 years

Activities for children 5 to 11 years

Activities for young people 12+ years

After School Activities in libraries | Nottingham City Libraries
(offering help with homework, science club, chess club, drama club and much more)

 

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Helping your child with Maths, English and Reading

If your child needs support with Maths, english and reading, then have a look at the following links for some useful information and resources:

• Fantastic Phonics | SSBC (smallstepsbigchanges.org.uk)
  The Fantastic Phonics videos were by Read On Nottingham Literacy Champions, to help teach you all about phonics, so you can support your child's learning at home.
• Sherwood Kumon Centre | Ask Lion - Nottingham City Directory The centre offers maths and English programmes to help students of any age and ability to progress their skills and build key foundations for learning.
• Teach Me Too | Ask Lion - Nottingham City Directory 
  Teach Me Too provides resources for early years and KS1 covering Literacy, Maths, the Wider Curriculum, Exploring Language, and Language through Play. These resources are created with specialist speech and language therapists for children with Down’s syndrome/ SEN.
• Nottingham | National Literacy Trust
  Aiming to help young children improve their literacy skills and keeping a love of reading going as children get older.
  
   

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Child employment, performance licensing and chaperones

Child Employment

All children between the ages of 13 – 16 years can partake in work providing their employer has a valid employment permit. It is the responsibility of the employer to apply for one, and it must have been granted prior to the child starting work.

There are limitations on the type of work and number of hours that children can work, for example

• A child may not work before 7am or after 7pm.
• They must not work more than a total of two hours on any school day. (1hr before - 7am to School Starts and 1Hr after school finishes till 7pm)

Child Entertainment

All children who are of statutory school age or younger may require a licence to take part in events such as paid or professional sports, modelling shoots, music and dance festivals, theatre performances, films and television (including voice-over work).
A licence should be applied for at least 21 days before the event and it must be taken into account that each child should be supervised by a licenced chaperone if they are not with their parent, school teacher etc.

For more information, applying for licenses and useful links please click on the link below:

Child employment, performance licensing and chaperones - Nottingham City Council

 

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Bullying at school, Abuse and Mental Health Support

Below are some useful links related to bullying at school, abuse and how to get support with mental health.

Bullying at school - Nottingham City Council
Types of bullying, warning signs and what action to take.

Are You Worried About a Child's Well-being? - Nottingham City Council
Nottingham City Safeguarding Children Partnership (NCSCP) has produced information, which outlines the signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect.

Child And Adolescent Mental Health Services | Early Help Nottingham
CAMHS work with children and young people from the age of 0-18 years, their families and carers and professionals to support those who may be experiencing emotional and mental health problems.

NottAlone - Mental health advice and help for young people in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
Information, support and advice on various issues related to mental health, such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, self harm, bereavement, bullying, stress and much more.

 

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Colleges in Nottingham

In Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, you'll find some of the best places for further education. Listed below are some of the well known colleges and relevant website links.

• Nottingham College: One of the most popular ones is Nottingham College, previously known as NCN. It's among the UK's largest colleges and offers a variety of full-time and part-time study options such as sixth form, apprenticeships, adult learning, online learning, weekend courses, ESOL and much more.
• West Nottinghamshire College: This college is dedicated to serving the communities of Mansfield, Ashfield, and beyond, offering high-quality education and training for individuals aged 14 and above.
• Bluecoat Sixth Form: This is a diverse and comprehensive Sixth Form situated in the city of Nottingham offering a broad range of qualifications, level 2 and level 3 academic and vocational courses, including over 25 A level subjects, as well as a full time course for Foundation Learners. 
• Bilborough Sixth Form College: This college caters for students aged 16 to 19 years old, wanting to study A-levels and BTECs in an academic, supportive and sociable environment.
   

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Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships combine practical training in a job with study, they can take 1 to 5 years to complete depending on their level.
To start an apprenticeship, you’ll need to be 16 years old or over, not in full-time education and be living in England.

As an apprentice you’ll:

• be an employee earning a wage and getting holiday pay
• work alongside experienced staff
• gain job-specific skills
• get time for training and study related to your role

For more information, to search and apply for an apprenticeship, please visit the following link:

Become an apprentice: How apprenticeships work - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

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Online Learning after school/college

Many organisations offer free online learning in a range of subjects and levels. You can search providers, the subjects they offer and the levels available before choosing. 

As well as online only providers, you might also find courses with:

• state funded colleges and training organisations
• universities - you can search UCAS to find these
• large employers in a range of sectors like finance, IT, business and engineering

Courses offered by state funded universities and colleges are inspected and approved by the government. Private companies offering online learning are not, so you'll need to check to make sure that courses are of good quality.
Click on the link below to find English courses, Maths courses, Digital and IT courses, Business and finance courses, Health and social care courses, Personal development and lifestyle courses and much more.

Where to find free online learning | National Careers Service

 

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Advice on Future Pathways & Career choices

Please look at the links below for advice, information and support for young people (and their parents/carers) deciding on education and career choices and planning future pathways leading to a suitable job.

What options are available for students after their GCSEs? – The Education Hub (blog.gov.uk)

Careers advice | National Careers Service

Parents Advice for Career Conversations - Talking Futures

What can I do next? | Undergraduate, Apprenticeships, 16-18 Choices | UCAS

 

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Attendance Improvement Strategy

Our strategy is for promoting good attendance, tackling regular absences and supporting parents where necessary.  The strategy has been developed in partnership with schools and families and will be supported by a range of resources and tools. See the Attendance Improvement Strategy Document below for more details.