The Education System

Department for Education and skills information

• Choosing a school (external)
  There are several things you should consider when choosing a school for your child. This section tells you what they are, and tells you your rights when choosing a school.
• School attendance - your responsibilities (external)
• Words and phrases in education (external)
  Education glossary from the Department for Education and Skills.
  
• Education standards in England and Wales (external)
  The Office for Standards In Education is responsible for standards in schools.
  
• Home-school agreements (external)
  The Department for Education and Skills explains how home-school agreements help parents and schools.
  
• Educating your child at home (external)
  The Department for Education and Skills explains what to do if you decide to teach your child at home.
  

Qualifications and Curriculum

• The National Curriculum (external)
  What does your child learn in school? A parents guide to the National Curriculum.
  
• Qualifications (external)
  Information on qualifications to help your child choose subjects at 14 from the Department for Education and Skills.

Types of school

• Types of school (external)
  The Department for Education and Skills explains different schools.
  
• Independent Schools (external)
  Information for parents about independent schools from the Department for Education and Skills.
  
• Beacon schools (external)
  Information on beacon schools from the Department for Education and Skills.
• Religious education in the UK (external)
  BBC News information about religious schools in the UK.

Your Child's Needs

• If your child is sick (external)
  How to educate children who are ill and unable to attend school.
  
• Gifted and talented children (external)
  How schools identify and teach gifted and talented children, from the Department for Education and Skills.
  
• Out of school care (external)
  Find childcare in your area through ChildcareLink.
  
• School medicals (external)
  Information on health and medicals at school.

Special Education Needs

• Understanding Special Educational Needs (SEN)(external)
  The Department for Education and Skills explains special educational needs.
  
• Information and support (external)
  Information on special educational needs support groups from the Department for Education and Skills.
  
• Statements of special educational needs
  Information on statements of special educational needs..
• Helping children with Special education needs (external)
  Information for parents or teachers who want to work with children with special educational needs.

Choosing a school

• Researching schools (external)
  Department for Education and Skills advice on how to find information on a school.
• Finding the right school
  Information about finding the right school on the Department for Skills and Education website.
  
• Selecting pupils by ability
  Information from the Department for Education and Skills on how schools select pupils according to ability.
  
• Visiting a school (external)
  Parents Online tips on visiting a school, and questions to ask.
  
• School inspection reports (external)
  Office for Standards In Education inspection reports on schools in England.
• School performance tables (external)
  Primary and secondary school performance tables from 1994 to 2000 from the Department for Education and Skills.

Applying to schools

• Applying to a school (external)
  When and how to apply for a school place.
• Why you need to apply (external)
  Why you need to apply to ensure your child gets a school place.
• Popular schools (external)
  The Department for Education and Skills explains how popular schools choose pupils.
• After your application (external)
  Timing your application, how admissions are dealt with.

If your application is unsuccessful

• What you can do if the choice of school is refused (external)
  A school or local education authority can refuse to accept your choice. You must be given the reasons for refusal.
  
• Making an appeal (external)
  How to appeal if your child is not placed at a school of your choice.
  
• Appeals advice (external)
  Advisory Centre for Education advice on appeals.

Starting school

• Parents centre - online forum.
  Discuss issues and get advice from other parents and experts.
• Safe and Healthy at school (external)
  Your children have the right to a healthy childhood when they are growing up, and they get help from the NHS and from school nurses.
• Parents' evenings (external)
  Information from the Department for Education and Skills on parents evenings.
• Homework (external)
  Tips on helping your child with their homework, from the Department for Education and Skills.
• Learning to read (external)
  Books to help your child learn to read from the Department for Education and Skills.
• Fun with learning (external)
  Parents' Centre ideas on how your child can learn while having fun.
• After school activities (external)
  Parents Online lists groups your child can join for after school activities.
• Parent support groups (external)
  Support groups for parents from the Department for Education and Skills.
• Problems at school (external)
  Department for Education and Skills advice on dealing with problems at school.
• Discipline in schools (external)
  Department for Education and Skills information on discipline in schools.
• Bullying (external)
  Practical advice for pupils, teachers and parents on dealing with bullying.
• Understanding exclusion (external)
  Guidance on exclusion and other problems at school, from the Advisory Centre for Education.
• Moving schools after an exclusion (external)
  Department for Education and Skills advice on how to find a new school if your child has been excluded.

Kirklees schools and support

• Search for Schools in Kirklees
• School Calendar
• Support Services
• Guidelines on bullying
• Parents help guide
  Information for parents of children with a disability
• Support for your child and you
• Search for childcare in Kirklees (external)
  For day nurseries, playschemes, After School Clubs (Kids Clubs)
• Kirklees Ofsted Report (external)
• Ofsted reports search for Kirklees schools
• Home teaching in Kirklees
• Hospital teaching

Pupil benefits in Kirklees

• Home to School Transport Travel Passes
• Free Schools Meals
  These can only be authorised for pupils whose parent or guardian receives Income Support or Job Seeker's Allowance income-based for the children needing free school meals. Pupils must attend school or nursery on a full time basis.
• Education Maintenance Allowances (external)
  

How you can help

• You can be a governor and shape our future
  Kirklees needs additional school governors. If you are interested in schools and education and think that you can afford the time to be a governor then contact us.
• Helping your child at home (external)
  Ideas about how to help your child learn from Parents Online.
• Get involved (external)