Establishing a family home in the area

Education and Schools

Applying for a school place in Leicestershire 

If you have school age children and are moving into the area you will need to register them with a school. The school admissions are managed by Leicestershire County Council (LCC). It is useful to plan ahead and get an application in as early as possible. 

The Schools Admissions Code in England was changed in 2014 to support service families who can apply and be allocated a place before they move into an area. Children can be accepted mid-term and class sizes increased to beyond the normal maximum to accommodate them. 

Even if you do not have a confirmation of your quarter and address, you can provide the camp / base address and request that the local authority use that for allocation of a school place. You can find out more on page 25 of the School Admissions Code. 

Please note that even though the covenant ensures you will be given a school place for your child on posting, it does not guarantee you will be given your school of choice.  Research the schools in your area and contact the admissions team as soon as possible, informing them that your child is  a military child. 

The Defence Directorate of Children and Young People's  advice is to keep records of previous schools and inform school admissions  that you are  a forces family. 

Further information on schools, learning and admissions: 

If your child has special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), the SEND Local Offer is there to support you. 

 

The appeals process 

The appeals process can be used to challenge any school admissions decision.  It is important to be clear and concise on appeals documents. If you need support with this, your unit welfare team should be able to assist. 

 

Further help 

The Service Children in State Schools Alliance  and the  Service Children's Progression Alliance  provide help, advice and support to teachers, schools and  families. They provide useful research, resources  and information on service children in schools. 

 

Extra funding to support your child's education 

Your child's school may be able to apply  for extra funding through the Service Child Pupil Premium  to further support their education. The Service Child Pupil Premium (SPP)  is funding provided to a school to help support your child  with pastoral support, learning and transition 

Every service child is entitled to SPP while their parent is serving, and up to six years after service (as long as it was  claimed for six months prior to discharge). 

 

How to claim  Service Child Pupil Premium 

Schools must register your child as a service child within the yearly census (January deadline). Once they are registered  the school  can then claim the funding directly. 

A school must disclose how the funding is spent and it must not be combined with other pupil premiums managed by the local authorities, which sit separate from Service Pupil Premium. 

 

What if my child moves schools? 

Funding  does not transfer automatically  if your child moves schools . They y must be re-registered at the new school and the funding will have to be claimed for again. 

 

Information and resources  for schools 

There are various guides and support from the following organisations on how schools should manage the funding: 

 

Education grants for children 

Education grants can be awarded to assist with your child’s development. 

 

Education funding for spouses 

Spouses can obtain funding to help support their learning.