Finding a school

When should children start school

In England, all children should attend primary school from the September after they have turned 4. So, if a child turns 4 in February, they will start school in September that same year. If a child turns 4 in November, they will start school the next September, just before they turn 5. Children attend primary school until they are 11.

Children start secondary school aged 11, until they are 16. If they choose to do A levels, they will be in school until they are 18.

Choosing a school

Finding the right school for a child in kinship care depends on what your child’s needs are, and where you live. Your local authority can provide you with a list of primary and secondary schools in your area.

Here are some tips on how to research schools:

• visit the school’s website
• attend an open day at the school or arrange to visit the school in person
• ask to meet the school’s designated teacher for children in care
• talk to the virtual school headteacher in your area. These are local leaders responsible for overseeing the education of looked-after and previously looked-after children, you can find the details of your virtual school on Kinship Compass
• talk to friends and other carers about the schools their children attend
• ask for opinions of the school on local Facebook groups
• read the school’s Ofsted report

There are also other options available, such as home schooling or private schooling. If you are looking at private schools, approach them directly. The Royal SpringBoard Foundation may also be able to provide advice, support or funding. If you choose to home-school your child, there’s guidance on educating your child at home on GOV.UK

How to apply for a school

Applications to primary and secondary school are made through your local authority. You can also apply to more than one school. The school your child will be placed at, depends on the admissions criteria of the school.

Primary school

Normally, you apply for a child’s school place in the autumn during the year before they are due to start school. You will find out which school they have been placed at in April.

Secondary school

Applications usually open on 1 September and you normally find out which school they have been placed at in March. The distance you live from your school of choice and if the child has a sibling who attends already, are two of the most important factors for being offered a place.

Priority in school admissions

Your child will be given priority in schools’ admissions criteria if:

• they are in the care of children’s services
• they have been adopted from care
• and/or they left care under a special guardianship order or child arrangements order

You must state in your school application if this applies to your child. However, this does not guarantee they will get a place in the school you or they choose.

As much as possible the local authority must ensure the child can be placed in a school that:

• allows your child to live near their home
• does not disrupt their education (particularly at Key Stage 4, when studying for their GCSEs)

If your child does not get into the school you applied for, you can appeal the decision.

Moving schools

If your child moved to a new area to live with you, they may have a long way to travel to get to their old school. This can be hard for everyone to deal with. You may want to think about moving your child to a school closer to your home, but you need to find a balance between what your child wants and what they need.

A move between schools is called a transition. This also applies to moving classes. A transition can be a difficult experience for a kinship child. Change can be hard, and they are likely to have already gone through big changes and disruptions.

The school should help manage the transition. You can ask them how they will support your child, or children, to adapt to their new school – taking into account their needs and what they have experienced already.

Children in kinship care may need a longer and more gradual transition than other pupils. They might need to:

• visit their new school before they start
• visit more frequently than others who may be transitioning at the same time
• meet with a supportive teacher before they start

At home, you may want to consider:

• establishing and maintaining daily routines ahead of the transition
• encouraging the child to express their feelings and concerns
• offering reassurance and positive reinforcement

Moving from primary to secondary school

Moving from primary school to secondary school can be a big shift for both children and carers. In primary school, children are likely to have had one main teacher but in secondary school they will have lots of teachers. It’s likely that responsibility for pastoral care may be divided across different staff.
Some questions you may want to ask a school are:

• what resources, help and support do you have in school to support my child, family, and myself?
• how can we work together to support my child in the best possible way?
• are kinship children treated differently? If so, how?
• are there any other kinship children in the school?
• what is your safeguarding policy?
• how do you work with your virtual school? What are the virtual school contact details?
• how do you support children with transitions, such as moving up to secondary school or college?
• do you provide wraparound childcare?

Moving from secondary school to college may also be a big shift. It’s another opportunity to ask the right questions and ensure a good transition for your child.

Planning travel to school

Planning for your child’s journey to a new school should start well before their start date. If possible, do a trial run/s of the journey. Some local authorities will provide support with transport to school. Ask your social worker for support with this.