Support & inclusion
Accessibility and inclusion in school life
Explore practical ways schools can remove barriers to learning, communication, activities and everyday routines, with questions for families to ask.
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Search practical guides to learning, school life and the next big step.
56 guides to explore
Support & inclusion
Additional learning needs in Wales: ALN and IDPs
Understand Wales’s additional learning needs system, individual development plans and practical ways to discuss support, reviews and school transitions.
Read the guideSupport & inclusion
Additional support for learning in Scotland
Understand additional support needs in Scotland, school planning and co-ordinated support plans, with practical steps for families to discuss and review help.
Read the guideBeyond school
Adult and community learning: returning to education
Explore adult courses, essential skills and community learning, with practical advice on choosing a course, checking funding and returning with confidence.
Read the guideLearning & curriculum
Art and creativity at school
Explore drawing, making, design and creative thinking in school, with ways to encourage experimentation, discuss progress and find further opportunities.
Read the guideSchool life
Breakfast clubs and after-school care
Plan before-school and after-school care with clear questions about hours, costs, meals, bookings, inclusion and handovers between school and club.
Read the guideGetting started
Choosing a preschool or playgroup
A practical preschool visit guide: compare play, key-person relationships, communication, inclusion, routines and costs before choosing a setting.
Read the guideChoosing a school
Choosing a primary school that fits your child
Compare primary schools with confidence: visits, teaching, inclusion, admissions, practical costs and the questions that matter for everyday school life.
Read the guideChoosing a school
Choosing a secondary school
A clear guide to choosing secondary school: curriculum, pastoral care, subject choices, independence, travel and a balanced approach to school comparisons.
Read the guideLearning & curriculum
Dance and movement at school
Explore dance in lessons and clubs, including creativity, rhythm, choreography and inclusive participation, with questions to ask before joining a class.
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English as an additional language at school
Support a child learning English alongside other languages, with practical advice on settling in, classroom communication and working with the school.
Read the guideSchool life
Friendships and belonging at school
Help your child find their place at school, build friendships, manage ordinary disagreements and get support when exclusion or unkindness persists.
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From school to university: understanding your options
Explore university and higher education after school: choosing subjects, checking entry requirements, comparing courses and planning support and costs.
Read the guideSchool life
Getting to school: journeys, independence and transport support
Plan a workable school journey, prepare children for travel and understand how to check transport eligibility and support in each UK nation.
Read the guideGetting started
Going to school in England
A family guide to schools in England: Reception, primary and secondary years, admissions, curriculum, support and making school life work.
Read the guideGetting started
Going to school in Wales
Explore school life in Wales, including Welsh-medium education, Curriculum for Wales, admissions, learning support and the move to secondary school.
Read the guideLearning & curriculum
Homework and learning at home
Build a manageable homework routine, understand how much help to give and support reading, curiosity and independent learning without daily battles.
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How the UK school system works
Understand the four UK school systems, school stages and everyday school life, with a practical starting point for families in each nation.
Read the guideChoosing a school
How to read school inspection information
Use school inspection reports thoughtfully: understand the different UK inspectorates, new Ofsted report cards, report dates and useful follow-up questions.
Read the guideLearning & curriculum
Languages at school: learning to communicate
Understand school language learning, bilingual experiences and practical ways to support listening, speaking, reading and writing without being fluent yourself.
Read the guideBeyond school
Learning to drive: a guide for young people and families
Plan driving lessons, supervised practice and tests, understand the difference between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and choose instruction carefully.
Read the guideSchool life
Making the most of parents’ evening
Prepare useful questions for parents’ evening, understand your child’s progress and leave with a small, clear plan for their next steps at school.
Read the guideLearning & curriculum
Maths at school: understanding and confidence
Explore how children learn maths, from practical materials to reasoning, and find calm, useful ways to support confidence and understanding at home.
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Middle schools and the three-tier school system
Find out how first, middle and upper schools work, how ages and transfer points vary, and what to check when choosing or moving between school systems.
Read the guideChoosing a school
Moving schools: planning a smooth transition
Plan an in-year school move, including applications, records, curriculum differences, support, friendships and the first weeks in a new setting.
Read the guideLearning & curriculum
Music and performing arts at school
Discover singing, instruments, drama and school performances, with practical advice on joining in, practising, costs and supporting a developing interest.
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Nursery and preschool: a family guide
Understand nursery and preschool choices across the UK, what a good visit can tell you, how funding differs and how to prepare for the next step.
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Online safety for school-age children
Build practical online safety habits around schoolwork, games, messaging and devices, including privacy, critical thinking and asking for help.
Read the guideLearning & curriculum
PE and school sport: helping every child take part
Understand PE lessons, swimming, teams and school sport, with practical advice on participation, kit, confidence and access for different needs.
Read the guideLearning & curriculum
Reading and phonics: helping children enjoy books
Understand phonics, fluency and comprehension, choose useful reading routines and work with school when a child needs more help with reading.
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Reception and the early years explained
Discover how Reception works in England, why play matters, what the EYFS covers and how families can support learning without unnecessary pressure.
Read the guideChoosing a school
School admissions: a practical family guide
Understand school applications, preference lists, evidence, offers and in-year moves, with clear distinctions between the four UK admission systems.
Read the guideLearning & curriculum
School assessments and reports explained
Understand classroom assessment, primary checks, school reports and qualification results, with clear differences between the four UK education systems.
Read the guideSchool life
School attendance: routines, absence and support
Understand attendance routines, reporting absence and asking for help, with a practical guide that respects the different rules across the UK.
Read the guideChoosing a school
School catchment areas and distance rules
Understand school catchments, distance measurements, oversubscription rules and address evidence before choosing schools or planning a move.
Read the guideSchool life
School clubs and enrichment: finding an interest
Explore school clubs, creative activities and wider opportunities, with practical advice on choosing, joining in and keeping the week manageable.
Read the guideSchool life
School meals and free school meal support
Plan school lunches, ordering and dietary arrangements, and understand how free school meal support differs across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Read the guideChoosing a school
School open days: questions worth asking
Make school visits useful with a practical open-day plan covering teaching, inclusion, pupil wellbeing, everyday routines and follow-up questions.
Read the guideSchool life
School term dates and holidays: planning the year
Understand term dates, holidays, training days and school-specific changes, and build a reliable family calendar without assuming one UK timetable.
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School trips: learning beyond the classroom
Understand school visits and residential trips, including preparation, costs, consent, inclusion and the questions that help children take part confidently.
Read the guideChoosing a school
School types across the UK explained
Make sense of academies, community schools, faith schools, grammar schools, independent schools and other UK school types before comparing options.
Read the guideSchool life
School uniform: a practical buying and support guide
Plan school uniform without unnecessary spending, understand branded-item rules in England, find support and discuss comfortable, accessible clothing.
Read the guideGetting started
Schools in Northern Ireland: a parent’s guide
Explore Northern Ireland’s primary and post-primary schools, year groups, admissions and curriculum, with useful advice for settling into school life.
Read the guideGetting started
Schools in Scotland: a parent’s guide
Understand Scottish school stages, Curriculum for Excellence, starting ages and everyday school life, with practical questions to ask your child’s school.
Read the guideBeyond school
Sixth form, college and the next stage of learning
Compare sixth form, further education and Scotland’s senior phase, with practical questions about courses, support, travel and planning the next step.
Read the guideSupport & inclusion
Special educational needs in Northern Ireland
Find out about school SEN support, statutory assessment and statements in Northern Ireland, with practical advice for meetings, evidence and reviews.
Read the guideSupport & inclusion
Special educational needs support in England
Understand SEN support and education, health and care plans in England, with practical ways to describe needs, agree help and review your child’s progress.
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Starting primary school with confidence
Prepare for primary school with a calm, practical guide to starting ages, settling in, first-day routines and working with your child’s new teacher.
Read the guideGetting started
Starting secondary school with confidence
Prepare for secondary or post-primary school with practical advice on new routines, friendships, lessons, travel and getting the right support early.
Read the guideLearning & curriculum
The secondary school curriculum explained
Understand secondary learning across the UK, subject choices, qualifications, practical learning and the questions to ask before choosing courses.
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Vocational learning and apprenticeships explained
Understand practical courses and apprenticeships, compare training routes and ask the right questions about qualifications, employment and progression.
Read the guideLearning & curriculum
What children learn at primary school
Explore the primary curriculum across the UK, from reading and maths to science, creativity, languages, physical activity and learning together.
Read the guideSchool life
What happens in a typical school day?
Explore lessons, breaks, lunch, assemblies and school routines, with practical ways to help your child feel prepared and make the most of their day.
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What to do if your child is being bullied
Recognise repeated bullying, record concerns, work with school on a safety plan and follow up when the response is not resolving the problem.
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When your child feels worried about school
Practical steps for listening to school worries, identifying difficult moments and agreeing a supportive plan with teachers, without jumping to conclusions.
Read the guideSchool life
Working well with your child’s school
Know who to contact at school, share useful information, resolve concerns and build a practical partnership that supports your child’s learning and wellbeing.
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