Early Years
Every three- and four-year-old child is entitled to free early years education in an ofstead inspected setting which is found to be satisfactory. The funding is available for 12.5 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year. Free places are available in a number of settings including: school nurseries, child-minders and private day nurseries.
Different types of schools
Schools across England are funded and managed in different ways and will vary depending on the age of your child.
Nursery schools
Nursery schools are stand-alone schools for children aged three and four. They have their own head teacher and staff. Some are state-funded; others are privately run (though your child might be eligible for a free part-time place).
Nursery classes
Nursery classes are attached to primary schools. They may have a separate building and playground away from the main school but share the same head teacher and staff.
Primary schools
Primary schools cater for children aged 4-11. While at primary school, children start with the Early Years (Foundation) curriculum, followed by Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum.
Secondary schools
Secondary schools cater for children aged 11-16 or 18. They take pupils through Key Stages 3 and 4 of the National Curriculum.
Sixth form colleges
Sixth form colleges cater for young people aged 16-19. Students study for A levels and other qualifications that you can do after the age of 16, e.g. BTEC National Certificates.
How state schools are managed
There are four main types of state schools funded by local authorities. They all follow the National Curriculum and are inspected by Ofsted (the government’s Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills). They are:
Community schools
Community schools are run by the local authority, which employs school staff, owns the land and buildings, and sets the entrance criteria (such as catchment area) that