Monika J
When my youngest started nursery, a staff member advised me to start thinking about schools and getting her registered. She directed me to a Children’s Centre that helped me take the next steps, and offered support for the whole family.
Top tips
-
Raising children in the UK can be expensive, but government schooling is free
The UK government offers free schooling to all children aged 5-18 years, and 15 free hours of childcare per week for 3-4 year olds!
-
All children in England (5 to 18 years) must be in education regardless of their immigration status
- Children aged 5-16 years must be in full-time education
- Children aged 16-18 years must continue studying in some capacity - either full-time or or combine part-time study with work / training
-
All parents of 3-4 year olds receive 15 hours of government-funded childcare each week
This equates to 570 hours per year! It can be used flexibly with one or more approved childcare providers (e.g. pre-school, nursery)
- There is no free childcare available to children under 2 years
-
People who receive certain types of ‘benefits’ may get additional free childcare hours
- 15 hours per week for 2 year olds (570 hours per year)
- 30 hours per week for 3-4 year olds (1140 hours per year)
- There is no free childcare available to children under 2 years
-
Some people get additional financial support towards the costs of raising a child
The amount they can receive from the government depends on how much they earn and the age of their child.
- ‘Tax-free childcare’ scheme - for every £8 paid into a central account for childcare, the government adds an extra £2 (up to £2,000 per child per year)
- Other types of ‘benefits’ - tax credits or universal credit
-
Don’t delay in enrolling your child in a school or early education option - there are long waiting lists!
You can enrol your child into a pre-school or nursery school from 3-4 years, and a primary / secondary school from 5-16 years. Waiting lists can be lengthy, and you are not guaranteed a place at the school or nursery of your choice.
-
Register with a Children’s Centre to get information, support and advice
Children’s centres bring together a range of services for children under five and their families from health to education. .They offer a great way to get involved in activities and meet other families
You will need to register to access their services by completing a paper or online form here
-
Get involved in local groups and activities for families
Haringey has a lot to offer with weekly activities and meet-ups. It’s a great chance to meet other families and to help your children to learn.
- Get in touch with your local library and Children’s Centre to find out what’s going on
- See ‘Local groups and activities’ and ‘Events’ to learn more