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Q: Can I get assistance with payment for school trips?
A: Schools may offer assistance with school trips, and this may differ from school to school. Please contact the school concerned for further information.
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Q: Do I qualify for free school meals?
A: Free school meals are offered to children of families who are in receipt of Income Support or Income based Job Seekers Allowance, support under part V1 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 or Child Tax Credits (if. you are in receipt of Working Tax Credit or with a total yearly income in excess of £13,480 you are not entitled to free school meals). For further information or visit the free school meals webpage.
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Q: Do I qualify for free school transport?
A: The council will provide transport free of charge, either by dedicated vehicle or bus pass, to the nearest available school (in urban areas) or "designated" school for your address (in rural areas), provided that the distance between home and school is greater than three miles. The distance is measured by the shortest walking route.
For more information please visit the home-to-school transport webpage.
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Q: Have you got a list of schools in Northamptonshire?
A: The Northamptonshire Schools Directory contains a list of all the schools within in Northamptonshire and includes contact details, admission criteria and links to the school's ofsted reports. The directory is fully searchable so the list can be refined to schools in a particular area, or specific types of school etc.
To view the list of schools visit the online Schools Directory or for more information use the contact details below.
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Q: How can I find out about student finance?
A: Student loans are available to students who require help with living costs. Unlike support towards tuition fees, you have to repay any loans. However you will not have to start paying them back until you have finished or left your course and you begin earning. For more information use the contact details below or visit the student loans webpage.
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Q: How can I get my child assessed for Special Educational Needs?
A: Before a decision can be reached about whether a child does require special educational provision, a careful and detailed assessment is made. This is carried out by a team of professional staff from different services. Parents are considered to be vital members of the team. For more information and appropriate contact details visit the SEN- Assessment webpage.
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Q: How do I appeal for a place at school?
A: You may appeal for a place at any school to which you apply and for which you have been refused a place. For voluntary aided and faith schools in Northamptonshire, the responsibility for appeal arrangements rests with the school, and you should contact them directly for details. For community schools and Voluntary Controlled Schools, the responsibility for appeals rests with Northamptonshire County Council. For more information on how to appeal use the contact details below or visit the Appeals - school admissions webpage.
Elnora Latchman Secretary to the Appeal Panel Northamptonshire County Council PO Box 136 County Hall Northampton NN1 1AT Tel: 01604 237490 Fax: 01604 236223 email: elatchman@northamptonshire.gov.uk
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Q: How do I find out about becoming a school governor?
A: Every School has a governing body. Governors are responsible for working with the head teacher to think strategically about how to raise standards of achievement for all pupils at the school. They are also responsible for setting the budget and for overseeing the curriculum.They are required to give an Annual Report to Parents and to hold an Annual Parents' Meeting to discuss the report. They also have powers with respect to the appointment and dismissal of staff and the exclusion and re-instatement of pupils. If you are interested in becoming a school governor use the contact details below or visit the becoming a school governor webpage for more information.
Angela Scheidegger Governors Service Northamptonshire County Council Britannia House Rushmills Bedford Road Northamptonshire NN4 7YB Tel: 01604 655087 Fax: 01604 655004 email: governors@northamptonshire.gov.uk
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Q: How do I find out about Educational Maintenance Allowance?
A: Around half of all 16-year-olds studying in England are going to be able to get EMA, the criteria are:
- Your household income has to be under £30,000 per year. You wil need to check this with your parent or carer.
- You're 16 between 1 September 2003 and 31 August 2004.
- You're a UK national - that is, if you were born here, have UK citizenship or a UK passport.
- or if you've been granted indefinite leave to remain or refugee status
- or if you're from a European Union or European Economic Area country and satisfy the Home Student criteria - check out the homeoffice website (New window) for more info.
- You're doing, or applying to do, at least 12 hours of guided learning on further education courses in school sixth forms, sixth form colleges and Further Education colleges. This includes a wide range of courses up to and including level 3, such as AS/A2, GCSEs, GNVQs, NVQs and other vocational qualifications.
For more information visit the Educational Maintenance Allowance webpage.
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Q: How do I find out about grants available for Early Years Nurseries and Childcare?
A: All four year olds and increasing numbers of three year olds are entitled to a funded nursery education place. These places can be in :
- A County Council nursery school or unit
- A reception class (From September after the child's fourth birthday)
- A private or voluntary run pre-school, playgroup, day nursery or independent school
- An accredited childminder registered to provide early education
All providers must must be registered with the Early years Development and Childcare Partnership before they can offer a funded place. Information on grants is available from the Early Years & Childcare, Children & Families and Training Teams.
For further information use the contact details below or visit the Early Years and Childcare section
Kate Yates Early Years Administration PO Box 216 John Dryden House 8-10 The Lakes Northampton Northamptonshire NN4 7DD Tel: 01604 237935 Fax: 01604 237011 email: earlyyears@northamptonshire.gov.uk
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Q: How do I find out about school term dates?
A: Current school term dates and future changes can all be seen on the school term dates webpage for more information use the contact details below.
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Q: How do I find out if my child's school is closed during bad weather?
A: How will staff, parents and students find out if their school is closed?
- Headteachers will advise staff, parents and students to listen out for school closure information on local radio during bad weather.
- Schools will inform parents of the radio station or system that their school will use in advance of any closures. (It may be included in the school prospectus or via a communication).
For further information and details of the radio stations visit the Advice to parents - school closures webpage.
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Q: How do I find out more about the post 16 provision in Northamptonshire?
A: Contact Liz Ashton Davies, Headteacher Co-ordinator of Post 16 Education in Northampton, telephone 01604 23744 or email: lashton-davies@northamptonshire.gov.uk
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Q: How do I get a secondary school place for my child?
A: You will need to fill out and return the Secondary School Preference Form. On the form you should fill in your first preference and two further preferences. This form can be obtained from the school of your choice or from the Admissions Team.
For further information visit the applying for a secondary school place webpage or contact the Admissions Team using the details below.
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Q: How do I get a primary school place for my child?
A: To apply for a primary school place a Primary Preference Form needs to be filled in where you enter your first preference and two further preferences. This form can be obtained from the school of your choice or from the Admissions Team.
For further information visit the applying for a primary school place webpage or contact the Admissions Team using the details below.
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Q: How do I make a complaint about my child's school?
A: All the schools in Northamptonshire want their children to do well and be happy. However, we recognise there are time when things go wrong, when concerns continue and differences of opinion develop. These can usually be resolved by speaking to the right person. For more information on the complaints procedure use the contact details below or visit the complaints procedures webpage.
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Q: I have lost my school bus pass, how do I get a replacement?
A: Bus passes can be replaced but will cost:
£7.00 for pupils up to 16
£15.00 for pupils age 16 plus
Replacement passes can only be obtained by applying in writing stating the pupil's name and school, and enclosing a cheque payable to Northamptonshire County Council for the appropriate amount. Note: A temporary bus pass valid for 5 days only may be obtained from the school. Send the request to:
Pupil and Client Services
Northamptonshire County Council
John Dryden House
8-10 The Lakes
Northampton
NN4 7DD
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Q: I want to teach - Where do I start?
A: There are many different routes into teaching. To be eligible for Initial Teacher Training you will need to complete a degree either before or as part of your training. You will also need a Grade C or above in GCSE English and Mathematics (or equivalent). For more information use the contact details below or visit the routes into teaching webpage.
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Q: My child is 15 and has been offered a part time job. Do they need permission to work?
A: Once a child reaches 13 years of age, then until the end of their compulsory education, they are allowed to work part-time - but within certain constraints. During a child's first week at work the employer is required to submit a work permit application form in order to legally register the child's employment with the local education authority in whose area the employment takes place. For more information and to request an application form for a work permit use the contact details at the bottom of the school aged children who work webpage.
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Q: Where can I find information on nursery school places?
A: All four year olds and increasing numbers of three year olds are entitled to a funded nursery education place. These places can be in:
- A county council nursery school or unit
- A reception class (from September after the a child's fourth birthday)
- A private or voluntary run pre-school, playgroup, day nursery or independent school
- An accredited childminder registered to provide early education
- All Providers must be registered with the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership before they can offer a funded place.
For further information use the contact details below or visit the Early Years Nursery School Places webpage
Families Information Service Northamptonshire County Council P. O. Box 216 John Dryden House 8 - 10 The Lakes Northampton Northamptonshire NN4 7DD Tel: 01604 237935 Fax: 01604 236233 email: earlyyears@northamptonshire.gov.uk
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Q: Where can I find out about adult education courses?
A: We have over a thousand Adult Learning courses on offer, at times and venues to suit you. For more information and how to apply use the contact details below or visit the Adult Learning Service section
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