Education and learning > Schools and colleges

Advice and support for children in care
A local authority monitors the educational progress of all children in its care and offers advice and support to both children and carers. Where required any special needs will be considered when making educational arrangements for looked after children.
Bullying and harassment policy
Schools should have a policy which sets out clearly what is considered as bullying and/or harassment, how pupils and parents should do if they suspect bullying is taking place and how the school should deal with reports of such incidents.
Continuing professional development
Providing staff in all service areas with information, tools and training to support their ongoing professional development.
Education - behaviour development
Educational psychologists work closely with teachers and parents to help children who are having difficulties with: Learning and general development, including reading, writing, spelling and numbers; Emotions and behaviour; Making good relationships with other children and with adults.
Education - citizenship
Providing pupils with the knowledge, understanding and skills which prepare them to play an active role as citizens. Ensuring that pupils have a clear understanding of their roles, rights and responsibilities in relation to their local, national and international communities.
Education - early years grant
Local authorities provide a grant to parents from the term after their 3rd birthday for a maximum of six terms. Pupils must attend a pre-school, nursery or school which is on the Early Years register in order to be eligible for the grant. Grants are for a minimum of 2.5 hours per day for a maximum of 5 days per week and for between 33 and 38 weeks a year.
Education maintenance award
For students aged 16 at the start of an education year and who are attending full-time courses up level 3 at schools, sixth form colleges and Further Education Colleges there is a national Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA). Entitlement is means tested.
Extended schooling provision
An extended school provides a range of activities and services, often beyond the school day, to help meet the needs of its pupils, their families and the wider community.
Free school meals
Free school meals are provided for children whose families are in receipt of social security benefits such as income support or income based job seeker's allowance.
International students - information and advice
Advice and information for international students wishing to study in the UK including scholarships, visa arrangements, fees and working in the UK while studying.
Museum education and lectures
Musical instrument hire
Parents and carers can hire an instrument for their child to use in music lessons at school.
Outdoor activity centres
Provision of outdoor activity centres for use by schools or other groups.
Primary school places
Dealing with requests for places at primary schools from parents of prospective pupils. Allocation of school places according to LEA policy.
Road safety - cycling and walking to school
Promotion of safer, more environmentally sustainable and healthier ways of getting to and from school with particular emphasis on walking and cycling.
Roads - school crossing patrols
Provision of school crossing patrols in locations where children frequently need to cross the road on their way to school (e.g. opposite school premises, at major road junctions near a school) and where children may be in danger from road traffic.
School - assessment and performance
Performance and assessment reports help schools look at their strength and weaknesses, compare their performance with other schools and develop plans to raise their standards.
School - book exhibitions
The library services department offers schools book exhibitions of currently available children's fiction, non fiction and picture books.
School - book purchase scheme
The library services department offers book purchase schemes that allow schools easy and cost effective ways to buy books for their library.
School - breakfast clubs
Provision of breakfast for pupils in schools.
School - catering
Schools have a duty to provide a paid meal on request and a free meal to those that are eligible. Nutritional standards are defined by Central Government and under central management the Local Education Authority must use the same menu and price in every school.
School - clothing grants and vouchers
The award of clothing grants or vouchers to assist with the cost of school clothing for families who are on benefits or on low income.
School - development plans
Education Development Plans (EDPs) are a statutory requirement of all LEAs and the key document in which an LEA, in consultation with schools and other stakeholders, sets out costed plans for school improvement and raising pupils standards.
School - education in hospital
Teaching is provided on the Children's Wards of hospitals for those children who are well enough, but medical treatment takes precedence. When a child is discharged from hospital but is unable to return to school for some time, we can make a request for tuition at home. This is provided on medical ground and must be approved by the Local Education Authority.
School - exclusion of pupils
A headteacher may decide to permanently exclude a pupil under strict circumstances to protect education or welfare of the pupils and staff in the school. The LEA provide support and advice for parents of excluded children and for the child.
School - fire safety education
The Community Fire Safety Department is responsible for educating children in schools on fire safety and ensure that schools are trained in evacuation procedures and carry out fire evacuation drills.
School - health promotion
Promotion of a healthy living environment for pupils and staff. Health promotion addresses issues such as exercise, substances, emotional health and well-being, safety, sexual health and relationships and nutrition.
School - information and advice
The local authority is responsible for providing information and school contact details of every school in the area.
School - nursing
School nurses provide confidential health advice for children and young people, reviewing the health of the school population and working with schools to create an environment that promotes healthy living.
School - pupil records
A pupil's educational record is made up of their academic achievements, other skills and abilities and pupil reports. Also, communications of headteachers and teachers or other LEA employees form part of a pupil's record. These must be retained and parents or pupils may request to see them.
School - support for gifted children
Schools should have in place a policy which helps to identify gifted and talented children in all areas of the curriculum and ensure that they are achieving their potential
School - teenage pregnancy
Schools and the LEA should provide information and advice aimed at getting more teenage parents into education, training or employment, to reduce the risk of long term social exclusion.
School - term and holiday dates
The LEA set and publish school term and holiday dates for the forthcoming academic year. Term dates are usually published for up to 3 years in advance.
School - transition between schools
Provision of support for pupils when moving between nursery and primary schools or primary and secondary schools to ensure that pupils are prepared for the transition. This also includes school moves as a result of local reorganisation (school closures etc.)
School - transport
Pupils of compulsory school age are entitled to free school transport if they live beyond the statutory walking distance and attend the school designated by the council to serve the home address.
School - transport assistance
Free or concessionary home to school transport for pupils aged 5 to 16, to further education establishment for 17 - 19 year olds and to post-16 school leavers under certain circumstances. Free transport is usually provided where a pupil is attending the nearest school to their home and this is outside the statutory walking distance from home or for reasons of safety.
School - truancy
Schools and the LEA through the Attendance Advisory Service (formerly the Education Social Work Service) monitor absence and lateness and work with families and young people where the level of absence is giving cause for concern. The AAS is the link between home and school.
School - visits
Schools or the LEA may arrange visits by pupils from short trips to local parks or museums to overnight stays in foreign countries. It is essential that all such visits are carried out with the highest regard for the safety and welfare of the pupils taking part in them.
School admissions - appeals
A pupil may appeal for a place at any community school to which they apply and for which they have been refused a place. The responsibility for appeals rests with the local education authority.
School boards
The main duty of the School Board is to promote good relationships between the school, parents and the wider community. School Board's also have a number of specific statutory rights and obligations. Board’s have a duty to carry out their functions with a view to raising the standard of education at the school.
School curriculum
All pupils in community maintained schools aged 5 to 16 follow the national curriculum programme of study in full range of subjects. The LEA and the school governors have a responsibility to make sure that the National Curriculum is taught.
School libraries - advice and training
The school library service works to provide advice, consultancy and training for head teachers, teachers and school librarians, to ensure that the school library is central to learning and supports the curriculum in their schools.
School library - project loans
The library services department offers a project loan service for individual teachers with specially selected resources for all subjects and key stages of the national curriculum.
School library - talks
Visits to schools to give talks about books to children, or to parents and may also provide a storytelling service.
Secondary school places
Dealing with requests for places at secondary schools from parents of prospective pupils. Allocation of school places according to LEA policy.
Special educational needs - assessment
The assessment of special educational needs may be considered when a child has severe or complex educational needs for which additional resources, or alternative provision may be required to meet their needs.
Special educational needs - co-ordinated support plan
A child may be eligible for a special educational needs statement offered by the local authority. This sets out the special educational needs of the child and the special help they should have at school.
Special educational needs - disabled students allowance
The disabled student allowances provides financial assistance towards provision of special equipment and other general expenses for students with disabilities.
Special educational needs - placement in mainstream schools
The local authority seeks to meet special educational needs in local mainstream schools, or at a school or unit which has additional resources to meet particular needs.
Special educational needs - transport
The LEA sometimes provide free home to school transport for a child with special educational needs. Eligibility is based on assessment of individual need.
Travelling people - support for children
The traveller service has teachers and home or school support staff who can help with attendance issues and supporting gypsy or traveller children whilst they are in schools.
Vetting of contract and supplier staff
The CRB has access to personal records held by the Police, the Department of Health, and the Department for Education and Skills ensuring the best possible scrutiny of applicants. In Scotland Disclosure Scotland provides a valuable service protecting the vulnerable people in our society by helping organisations make safer recruitment decisions when duties involve contact with children or adults at risk. Disclosure Scotland in conjunction with the Scottish Criminal Records Office (SCRO) run checks against the Scottish Criminal History System (CHS) and the UK wide Police National Computer system (PNC) in order to ensure the best possible scrutiny of applicants . Disclosure certificates contain details about an applicants' criminal convictions and Enhanced Disclosure Certificates can, in certain circumstances, contain non-conviction information.