Education and learning for your child under 18

Your child can get funded early education the term after their second birthday if you live in Slough and meet the criteria. 

All children are entitled to a funded early education place at an approved provider of the family’s choice, from the beginning of the term after they are three. From 1 September 2017 the government introduced an Extended Entitlement to early education for working families. The extended entitlement works out to 30 hours per week.

Young children will attend a primary school between the ages of 4 to 5 and 11 and transfer to secondary school when they are 11. Once they are 16, they can stay on at school, go to college or take on an apprenticeship or job.

Check the sections below for further details.

Funded early education for 2 year olds

Your child can get funded early education the term after their second birthday if you live in Slough and meet the criteria.

Once your child has been approved for funded early education they will continue to be funded even if your family does not meet the criteria at a later date.

Check:

There will be changes to childcare support from April 2024. Check details and when to apply on Childcare Choices website.

Funded early education for 3 to 4 year olds

All children are entitled to a funded early education place at an approved provider of the family’s choice, from the beginning of the term after they are three. This universal entitlement is 570 hours per year. This is often taken as 15 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year but families can arrange to take fewer hours per week over more weeks of the year if they prefer.

From 1 September 2017 the government introduced an extended entitlement to early education for working families. The extended entitlement works out to 30 hours per week.

Find:

There will be changes to childcare support from April 2024. Check details and when to apply on Childcare Choices website.

Primary and Secondary Schools

By law, all children of compulsory school age (between 5 and 16) must receive and have the right to a suitable, full-time education.

Find a list of:

Check how to apply for a school place on Slough Borough Council website.

Parents and carers are encouraged to maintain good attendance. 

You can choose to home educate your child at any age, whether they have been enrolled at school previously or not.

Post-16 opportunities

Young people now have a lot more choices regarding Education after 16. It no longer means just staying at school full time. The following options are available.

  • Apprenticeship – where they can earn and learn at the same time.
  • College – where a wide range of courses are offered, related to career aims.
  • School Sixth Form - either at their current school or move to another school.
  • Training – providers run a range of programmes at all levels.

Find:

Post-16 travel

The Student Reduced Fare Card is available for students aged 16-18 and those who reach 19 and are continuing a course in the 2023-24 academic year.

The Slough concessionary bus pass (national scheme) entitles holders to travel free of charge on off-peak local bus services anywhere in England. Off-peak hours are 9.30am until 11pm on weekdays and all day at weekends and bank holidays.

The council will exercise its discretion to provide:

  • travel assistance for students aged 16 to 19 (when continuing a course commenced before their 19 birthday) where it considers that travel assistance is necessary to enable the young person to reasonably access their education or training provision.
  • support for Students aged 19-25 with special educational needs and disabilities who have an EHCP.

Check details on post-16 travel on Slough Borough Council website.

Students may purchase seats on vehicles run by individual schools, colleges or by third party commercial operators on the school’s or college’s behalf. For information on available routes please check individual school/college websites.

    The National Railcard offers 16 - 17 year olds a 50% discount on rail travel.

    Find details on 16 to 19 Bursary Fund on GOV.UK for financial support to help young people overcome specific barriers to participation so they can remain in education. 

    If you are a young parent under 20, check Care to learn on GOV.UK for help to pay for your childcare and related travel costs, up to £160 per child per week, while you’re learning.

    UCAS - search for courses, uni, colleges, apprenticeships and information

    UCAS stands for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. It's the centralised service that students use to apply to university.

    The last date to apply is usually in September. The main difference is that applications received after January aren't guaranteed equal consideration (where course providers consider all applications equally).

    NEET and RONI service

    The Targeted Young Peoples Service is part of the Early Help Hub.

    The service:

    • encourages, enables and assists young people, for whom they are responsible, to participate in education or training
    • has a duty to promote young people’s participation up to the age of 18
    • identifies young people in school who have risk factors for becoming NEET (Not in Education, Employment or Training) using the Risk of NEET Indicator (RONI)  tool and offers interventions.

    To contact the Young People's Service call 01753 476589 or email youthsupport@slough.gov.uk.

    Tuition centres

    Tuition Centres offer additional help and guidance to support students in preparation for:

    • SATS
    • 11 plus entry exam
    • GCSE.

    Find a list of tuition centres offering direct and online support to students.

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