Education, Family and Child Services

In the UK, the law states that full-time education is compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 and 16.  In England there is an expectation that children will remain in education, employment or training until the age of 18.  You will need to apply for a place for each child using the registration process. Do not contact schools directly.

It is your responsibility to arrange for your child(ren) to get to school. School transport is separate from school admissions. If you are offered a place in a school, it does not mean you will be eligible for free transport; some children are eligible for free transport to take them to school, and some are not. Please do not assume that if you move house - or if your child moves school - that your child will start to receive free school transport (or continue receiving free transport if they already have it). The rules around who does or does not qualify for free school transport are complex and the best way to find out if you are eligible for free transport is to apply.

If you require assistance with applying for a school place, please email schooladmissions@lincolnshire.gov.uk

If you need to contact Children's Services, the Customer Service Centre is available to call Monday to Friday 8am-6pm, on 01522 782111.

Free School Meals (FSM) will be provided for all school aged children when they start school in Lincolnshire (Reception to Year 13). This will continue until their parents have National Insurance numbers and are registered for Universal Credit or start paid employment. You can make a new application for free school meals via the Lincolnshire County Council Parent Portal.

Your application is means-tested. If you meet the eligibility criteria, free school meals for your child(ren) will continue. If you do not meet the criteria you will need to pay for school meals unless your child is in Reception, Year One or Year Two - all infants receive meals under the Universal Infant Free School Meals scheme (UIFSM).

Applications are re-checked every weeknight, so you may become eligible in future if your circumstances change, in this instance we will send you a letter.

If you need any support with your application, please contact your school or email free_school_meals@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

Vouchers to buy school uniforms are available for Ukrainians who have just arrived in the UK and whose children need to enrol in school. These vouchers are available within the first six month's of the child's arrival in the UK. One set of vouchers is available for each school-aged child when they enrol in their first school. More vouchers will not be available when a child moves school, for example moving up from a primary school to a secondary school. Exceptions to this rule will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The process for claiming school uniform vouchers is detailed below.

Choosing early education and childcare is down to personal preference, budget, age and needs of your child.  You should check if you are eligible for help with the cost. Before you decide on a childcare provider, it is a good idea to visit your shortlisted settings. You may choose to see more than one setting and visit more than once to help you decide.

Think about taking your child with you to meet the childcare setting. You will be able to see:

• how they get on with other children
• how the child carer interacts with your child

Try visiting at a time when there will be children in the setting. Check to see if the other children seem happy and relaxed. Use the Family Services Directory to help find the right local childcare for your family.

Early Years - Funded Childcare (PDF flyer)
Early Years - Funded Childcare - Ukrainian (PDF flyer)

EMTET provides support for children who have English as an additional language. This service helps schools to support a child's integration and will help to meet their cultural and linguistic needs. The EMTET team can also support with completing applications, school appeals or help if a family is moving to a new area of the county and needs to change their child’s school.

Further information can be obtained by calling 01427 787190 or emailing EMTET@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

There are 48 children's centres in Lincolnshire, which offer parent and child play opportunities that are free to drop into. We can also advise on other services in the area which may be helpful for you and your family.

These are free to access for families with children from birth to age five. Any adult who is caring for a child can access services at the centre. You can go along to your nearest centre and drop in you don’t need to make an appointment. You can use Lincolnshire County Council's directory to find your nearest children's centre.

A parent or carer who has parental responsibility for the child will be offered a membership form when they arrive at the centre. This is to help us to keep you informed on what’s available in the centres.

The UK takes children’s rights seriously and is always trying to improve the situation of all children.  For this reason the UK has passed a number of laws that help protect children.  Children have a right to have their views listened to and considered.  In some circumstances in the UK, children aged 14 and older have a right to make certain decisions for themselves, such as medical decisions.

As a parent you are legally responsible for the protection, care and well-being of your children.  It is a parent’s responsibility to make sure their children attend school. If you do not, there can be legal action such as: a Parenting Order, an Education Supervision Order, a School Attendance Order or a fine.  Going to school is very important for the welfare of a child. Helping out with tasks at home must not stop a child from going to school. It is an offence to leave children alone if this will put them at risk. Babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone.

Further information about leaving your children alone is available on the NSPCC website.

When parents are having difficulties caring for their children, Children’s Services may be able to offer some help or advice. UK laws require Children’s Services to investigate allegations of child neglect or abuse.

Children and young people can get support about their concerns online from Childline or by calling 0800 1111.  The NSPCC website has information on preventing abuse and helping those affected to recover.

There have been a small number of instances where parents have temporarily returned to Ukraine, leaving their children behind to be cared for by people who don’t have parental responsibility for them (for example, aunties or godmothers, or even hosts themselves).

In situations where parents must return to Ukraine and leaving children behind is unavoidable, please could you inform Lincolnshire County Council’s Homes for Ukraine team on homesforukraine@lincolnshire.gov.uk. We need to know about these situations in advance, so that we can ensure appropriate safeguarding arrangements are in place for the children concerned.

Advice from the NSPCC

The NSPCC, the UK's leading children's charity, has some helpful advice on children staying home alone in the UK. This may vary compared to expectations in Ukraine so it's worth having a read.

You can read the English version on the NSPCC website or alternatively download a PDF translated into Ukrainian.