Compulsory School Age

By law, all children of compulsory school age (between 5 and 16) must get a proper full-time education. Unless you are going to educate your child at home, they must go to school, by law (1944 Education Act), at the start of the first term after their fifth birthday. They don't have to go to school before that point.

    However, your child does have a right to free education before then. From the start of the first term after they reach the age of four, all children are entitled to three terms of free, part-time education in Nursery schools. Click here for more information.

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