Family info Link

Education

Free Nursery Places

small child Every 3 and 4 year old is entitled to 12½ hours per week of free, high quality early learning and care for up to 38 weeks of the year. Your child is entitled to a free place from the term following their third birthday. Between 2009 and 2010 the free entitlement will increase to 15 hours per week. For more information visit http://www.stockport.gov.uk/services/cypd/earlyyearsandchildcare1/nurseryeducation/freenurseryentitlement/

A free place is part time lasting for at least 2.5 hours, for up to 5 sessions a week for 33 to 38 weeks in the year. A free place is available in different types of settings including council nursery schools and classes, most day nurseries, pre-schools/playgroups and independent schools and a limited number of childminders. All of which are required to cover Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) of the National Curriculum.

For more information please ask at any nursery or pre-school or Admissions, Support and Advice Team, Children's & Young Peoples's Directorate, Stopford House, Town Hall Stockport SK1 3XE. Tel: No. 0161 217 6028. Website: http://www.stockport.gov.uk or e-mail: admissions.support@stockport.gov.uk

More information can also be found on the National Childcare Website: http://childcarefinder.direct.gov.uk/childcarefinder/

If you live in Stockport you may use the Stockport online admissions system to apply for a Secondary or Primary school place. You can access http://www.stockport.gov.uk/schooladmissions here or by using the link on the education pages of the Stockport Council website.

Primary Schools

By law, a parent must arrange for their child to start school at the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday, unless they have made other suitable arrangements. In Stockport, arrangements are made for all children aged 4+ to start school in one reception intake in September.

All applications are considered on the basis of the Principal Parent Home address and a place in a nursery class does not guarantee a place at the same school in the Reception class.

For more information you can request the comprehensive guide 'How to Apply for a Place at Primary School: Information for Parents / Carers 2009/10’ from the Admissions Support and Advice Team, Telephone 0161 217 6028. The guide is also available by selecting Primary Education on www.stockport.gov.uk/schooladmissions

If you require any help in matters related to applying for a primary school place for your child, speak to staff at your local school or telephone the Admissions Team Helpline on the above telephone number.

Secondary School Admissions 2009/10

Around 3rd August 2009, parents/carers of children living in Stockport and moving into Year 6 in September should have received a letter telling them how to apply for a secondary school place for September 2010. The application must be received by the local authority by the closing date of 26th October 2009.

This year parents/carers are being encouraged to apply on line, but paper forms are available from primary schools, information and advice centres and the admissions team (0161 217 6028).

If a parent/carer doesn’t have access to the Internet at home, they can use the Internet for free at their local library; telephone: 0161 217 6028 for more details, or they can contact STARS, the School Transfer Advisory Service who can help with either an on line or paper application; telephone: 0808 800 0606.

Please remember that it is very important to make sure that you apply by the closing date. If your application is late, it will only be considered after all the applications that were received on time have been allocated, which could greatly reduce the chances of getting your preferred school. Applications are considered on the basis of the Principal Parent Home Address.

Parents who do not live in Stockport can apply for a school in Stockport for their child, but must apply to their own Local Education Authority. Your child’s attendance at an associated primary school will not provide a guaranteed place at any secondary school. Please see the council website for further information: http://www.stockport.gov.uk/services/educationlearning/schoolsmanagementorganisation/schooladmissions

If you are not offered a place at your preferred school you have the right to appeal to an independent appeal panel.

Before you apply for your child’s secondary school here’s a few things you can do:

Have a chat with your child to find out his/hers thoughts, which school would they like to go to, where do their friends want to go? What are the school’s specialist subjects? What are your child’s interests?

Have a chat with friends/family to find out their thoughts on your local schools, but try to keep an open mind – what suits someone else’s child may not suit yours.

Ask your child’s class teacher.

Visit schools you may be interested in. There are open evenings at all of Stockport’s secondary schools from mid September to mid October. Take your child with you too. If you can’t go the open evenings or you want to get more of a flavour for the school day phone the school to arrange a visit.

Surf the net – there are some really useful websites where you can find out more about schools:

Help with your application

You can ask for help with your secondary school application from:

STARS; School Transfer Advisory Service – for independent information and guidance on applying for a secondary school place, and appealing against a secondary school place offer. The STARS team is based at Family info Link and is independent of the local authority.

Telephone 0808 800 0606 Email: julie.lowe@familyinfolink.co.uk

Children with a Statement of Special Educational Needs: If your child has a statement of special educational needs contact Mel or Sarah at Parent Partnership.

Telephone 0161 431 3024 Email: senstar@togethertrust.org

The Admissions Support and Advice Team at Stockport SMBC

Telephone: 0161 217 6028 Email: admissions.support@stockport.gov.uk

You could also ask at your child’s primary school.

Useful websites

www.stockport.gov.uk, you can look at the admissions process for Stockport (put ‘admissions’ in the search box at the top, for catchment areas for each secondary school (put ‘catchment’ in the search box), and for schools (put ‘educational institutions’ in the search box) then follow links through to each school’s website.

www.ofsted.gov.uk, you can look at the Ofsted reports for schools, Ofsted inspect all local authority schools. Type the school’s name in the search box at the top.

www.direct.gov.uk and type ‘schools’ in the search box or follow the link: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/AdvancedSearch/Searchresults/index.htm?fullText=schools

www.bbc.co.uk and search for league tables. Or follow the links: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/league_tables/default.stm http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/weblinks/parents.shtml

www.ace-ed.org The Advisory Centre for Education (ACE) is a national charity that provides independent advice for parents and carers of children aged 5-16 in state-funded education. ACE aims to provide the information, support and high-quality advice that parents need to help their children at school, particularly where there are problems. This is a link to their booklets: http://www.ace-ed.org.uk/advice-about-education-for-parents/advice-booklets/applying-for-a-school.htm

www.isc.co.uk Independent Schools Council Information Service - provides information and advice for parents interested in an independent school education for their children. Tel: 0845 724 6657. Fax: 020 7766 7071. Email: information@isc.co.uk

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/performancetables/ for information on schools achievement and attainment tables.

www.gmpte.com For information on public transport routes and times. Maps/leaflets of bus routes available on the website or through the helpline. Also have information on the school bus service. Traveline: 0871 200 2233. Mon-Fri 7am to 8pm. Sat, Sun, Bank hols 8am to 8pm. GMPTE Enquiry Line: 0161 228 7811. The website can be tricky to use, but the help lines are very useful.

For information on schools in neighbouring authorities:

Cheshire

Admissions and Transfer Team:

Tel: 0845 1110 304 (calls charged at local rate)

Fax: 01606 815783

Email: admissions@cheshire.gov.uk

www.cheshire.gov.uk/EducationAndLearning

Derbyshire

Admissions and Appeals Team. Tel: 01629 537470/74/77/73/76/78

Email: admissions@derbyshire.gov.uk

www.derbyshire.gov.uk/education/schools_colleges/

Manchester

High School Admissions: Tel: 0161 234 7150/7151

Email: school.admissions@manchester.gov.uk

www.manchester.gov.uk - to search for schools by area, type ‘schools’ in the search box (top right hand side) for the schoolsfinder. For information about admissions type ‘school admissions’ in the search box.

Tameside

Admissions Team on 0161 342 3208/ 3204 www.tameside.gov.uk/schools/admissions/secondary

Trafford

School Admissions

Tel: 0161 912 5007/5012/5047/5080/5081/5084/5085

Fax: 0161 912 5083

Email: school.admissions@trafford.gov.uk