Guidance for new refugees
5. Schools and education
View stages of education, other learning and support for children in school.
Stages of education in the UK
There are five stages of education:
- early years (2 to 5 years)
- primary (5 to 11 years)
- secondary (11 to 16 years)
- further education (16 to 18 years)
- higher education (18+ years)
Children between 5 and 16 must attend school or a suitable educational setting.
View in-depth information in our schools and education section.
View information about further and higher education.
View more guidance about school attendance.
Applying for a school place
View our school admissions webpages.
Support for children in school
View the support available for children below.
School uniform
View our school uniforms page.
Free school meals
Free school meals are available to children attending:
- an academy
- a free school
- a maintained school
Check if your child is eligible
All state school children are entitled to free school meals in:
- reception
- year 1
- year 2
If your child is older, they may be entitled to free school meals if you receive the following benefits:
Benefits that entitle your child to free school meals
Apply for free school meals
Contact your child's school to apply.
Find contact details for a school.
You may need to:
- complete a form to check your eligibility
- send copies of your benefits paperwork
If your children attend different schools, you'll need to contact each.
Free holiday activities and food
Children have access to holiday activities and food in the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme.