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  • Births, ceremonies and deaths
    • Births

      Includes registering a birth and ordering certificates

    • Marriages and ceremonies

      Includes ordering certificates and approved premises

    • Deaths

      Includes ordering certificates and tell us once service

  • Social care and health
    • Fostering and adoption

      Includes applying to adopt, becoming a foster carer and private fostering information

    • Carers

      Includes help, advice and support for carers

    • Adult social care

      Includes information for people who are 18 or over who have care and support needs

    • Help to live at home

      Includes equipment, care and support

    • Children’s social care

      Includes help for families and young people

    • Health and wellbeing

      Includes sexual health, preventing substance misuse and healthy workplaces

    • Public health

      Includes health checks, campaigns and mental health support

    • Safeguarding

      Includes protecting adults and children at risk

    • Housing options

      Includes care homes and sheltered housing

    • Specialist Public Health Nursing

      Includes information about health visitors, school nurses and public health nursing

  • Education and families
    • Adult learning

      Includes information about training courses across Somerset

    • Route1 advocacy

      Providing advice and support to children and young people

    • Choosing a school

      Includes information about catchment areas and admissions policies

    • School applications

      Includes information about applying to start school and moving to a different school

    • School life

      Includes term and holiday dates, exclusions and school activities

    • Childcare

      Includes entitlements, the support available and the latest childcare news

    • Fostering and adoption

      Includes applying to adopt, becoming a foster carer and private fostering information

    • Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

      Includes our Local Offer and the services available

    • School transport

      Includes information about different types of school transport and how to apply

    • Children

      Includes employing children, child protection and corporate parenting

  • Roads and transport
    • Problems on the road

      Includes how to report potholes, flooding and traffic lights

    • Signs and streetlights

      Includes speed limits, road signs and how to report faulty lights

    • Parking

      Includes paying or challenging a fine, blue badges and permits

    • Public and community transport

      Includes bus passes and park and ride information

    • School transport

      Includes information about different types of school transport and how to apply

    • Road projects

      We deliver Major Highway Schemes which have been identified through the Local Transport Plan (LTP) process

    • Rights of way

      Includes footpaths, bridleways and open access lands

    • Road works and road closures

      Includes information about plans for temporary and new works and closures

    • Road safety

      Includes how we work to make our roads safer

  • Libraries, community and leisure
    • Planning for Brexit

      What we are doing to plan for the UK leaving the European Union

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    • Safer communities

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    • Community initiatives

      Includes community initiatives and community right to challenge

  • Waste, planning and land
    • Planning

      Includes applying for planning permission and reporting unauthorised developments

    • Waste

      Includes waste collections and recycling

    • Property

      Includes information about county farms and our land and building assets

    • Flooding and drainage

      Includes how we support flood prevention and planning

    • Rights of way

      Includes footpaths, bridleways and open access lands

    • Countryside

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      Includes information about planning for emergencies

  • Business and economy
    • Do business with the Council

      Includes current business and contact opportunities

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      Includes registering as a childminder and support and advice for businesses

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      Includes how we procure goods, services and works

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      Includes approved premises licenses and permission for decorations on the road

  • Our information
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      Includes how to ask us questions about what we do

    • How we use your information

      Includes the information we hold about you and how we protect it

    • Accessing our information

      Includes Data Protection and the re-use of our information

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      Includes the County Plan and the Business Plan

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      Includes how we work with other organisations

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      Includes how we set and meet our goals and your feedback

    • Local Government Reorganisation in Somerset

      The future of Local Government in Somerset

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Home Education and families

Education and families

Includes schools, childcare, fostering and adoption and SEND information

School term dates and holidays Apply to start school for the first time Starting at a secondary or upper school in September

In this section

School life

School life

Choosing a school

Choosing a school

School transport

School transport

School applications

School applications

Childcare

Childcare

Fostering and adoption

Fostering and adoption

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Children

Children

Adult learning

Adult learning

Route1 advocacy

Route1 advocacy

School life

School term dates and holidays

Term dates and holidays for community and voluntary controlled schools

School closures

Details of schools which have let us know about closures or restricted opening hours

Free school meals

See if your child qualifies for free school meals

Elective home education

Advice and guidance about educating your child at home

School uniform

Each school decides its own uniform policy

Support Services for Education (SSE)

Offering a wide variety of support services to all education providers in Somerset

Coronavirus – Education guidance for parents and carers

Information for parents and carers about schools and other educational settings

School attendance and children missing education

We check to identify any child missing education, including home visits and school attendance sweeps

School Nurses

School nurses are public health nurses who will work with 5 to 19 year olds

SomersetWorks

A project that provides new opportunities for young people in school years 11 to 13

School Place Planning Infrastructure Growth Plan

Provides data and analysis on the current school provision in each of the county's 20 School Organisation Plans

Food Support for families in Somerset

Support is available for families who may be struggling to find food

Somerset Governor Services

Offers advice and development opportunities to governors and clerks in Somerset schools

Alternative Provision Directory

For pupils experiencing difficulty accessing education as a result of their mental or physical health, permanent exclusion or special educational needs

INSET days and term-time absence

Training and development days for school staff and the rules about taking children out of school in term-time

Somerset Traveller education service

Traveller Education Liaison Officers - support for Gypsy, Romany and Traveller children, their families and education providers

School exclusions

When a headteacher sends a student home from school, usually because of their behaviour

Ethnic Minority Achievement service

Pupils learning English as an Additional Language and children from Minority Ethnic groups

Music in schools

Services for students including music therapy and instrument hire

Somerset’s Accessibility Strategy and Schools Access Initiative

Funding that helps pupils who need bespoke and significant physical changes to a mainstream school site

Bullying and Harassment

Reporting, recording and monitoring incidents of bullying, harassment and discrimination

Social workers in schools

A new initiative from our Children’s Social Care teams working with schools and families, to improve long-term outcomes for children and young people at risk of exploitation.

Privacy Notice – Free School Meals Applications

What we do with your personal data

Somerset Schools Forum

A channel of communication between the local authority and schools

Privacy Notice – Inclusion Advisory Services

What we do with your personal data

Privacy Notice – Pupil Premium

What we do with your personal data

Choosing a school

Apply to start school for the first time

If your child is due to start school for the first time you can apply for a place

Starting at a secondary or upper school in September

If your child is due to transfer to a secondary or upper school you can apply on this page

School catchment

Check the catchment area of the school you're interested in

In-year school admissions

In-year admissions are changing school outside of the usual transfer cycle

Starting at a junior or middle school

Information about applying for a place at a junior school or a middle school

School Place Allocation Summaries

You can find the details of the place allocation for schools here

Refused a place at your preferred school

If you have not been offered one of your preferences to start at a new school in September

Elective home education

Advice and guidance about educating your child at home

Appeal a school admissions decision

If you are not offered a place at a school you prefer, you can appeal

Starting school early or late

How to ask for your child to start school a year early or a year late

Our admission arrangements

Details of the school admission arrangements for VC and Community schools

Appeals for a place to start school in September

There are two types of appeal, infant class size appeals and standard appeals

Academy schools

Information about academy schools

School transport

Home to school transport

Information and guidance for parents and guardians of children who use school transport

Over 16 student transport

You can pay for 'over 16' student transport by using the online service on this page

Apply for school transport

Information about eligibility and applying for school transport

School transport and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Information about school transport eligibility and SEND

Snow and ice

Latest information about services like schools, waste collections and transport affected by snow and ice

Request a replacement school bus pass

If your child's bus pass has been lost or stolen or is in a poor condition you can request a replacement

School transport decision reviews

How to get a review of your school transport application decision

School transport strategy

Our school transport strategy and policy, guided by national government policies

School travel plans

A School Travel Plan is a document outlining practical steps for improving journeys to and from school

Providing transport

Become a contractor to provide transport services for schools and social care

Request school transport on a paying basis

How to request paid school transport If your child does not qualify for free school transport

Report a problem or incident with school transport

We want to provide school transport that is safe and stress-free for all passengers

Travel plan resources for schools – ModeshiftSTARS

An opportunity for schools to develop a Sustainable School Travel Plan

Request a school transport route assessment

Getting the walking route between your home or the bus pick up point and your designated transport area or nearest school assessed

School transport – vehicle safety and driver training

Safety on school vehicles and the driver training programmes we run

Update school transport details

How to tell us if you move house, your child changes school or if other circumstances change

School applications

Apply to start school for the first time

If your child is due to start school for the first time you can apply for a place

Starting at a secondary or upper school in September

If your child is due to transfer to a secondary or upper school you can apply on this page

Free school meals

See if your child qualifies for free school meals

In-year school admissions

In-year admissions are changing school outside of the usual transfer cycle

Primary admissions guide

Useful information about choosing a school and applying for a school, all in one place

Starting at a junior or middle school

Information about applying for a place at a junior school or a middle school

Refused a place at your preferred school

If you have not been offered one of your preferences to start at a new school in September

Appeal a school admissions decision

If you are not offered a place at a school you prefer, you can appeal

School uniform

Each school decides its own uniform policy

Starting school early or late

How to ask for your child to start school a year early or a year late

Our admission arrangements

Details of the school admission arrangements for VC and Community schools

Appeals for a place to start school in September

There are two types of appeal, infant class size appeals and standard appeals

Secondary admissions guide

Useful information about moving from a primary, junior or middle school to a secondary school, all in one place

Childcare

The role of a health visitor

Getting to know your Health Visiting Service

Funding for 2 year olds

Families with 2 year old children who meet the criteria can apply for funding for 2 year olds.

Early years entitlement information for providers

All three and four years olds are entitled to 15 hours of free early years entitlement, or nursery funding, a week

Early Years Foundation Stage 2021

Information about the 2021 Early Years Foundation Foundation Stage and a toolkit for providers

Coronavirus – Updates for Early Years

Information for Early Years staff and parents

Early years entitlement for parents

All three and four year olds are entitled to up to 15 hours of funded early education or childcare a week.

Finding childcare

Find a full list of childcare in your area

Early Years contact information

Helpful contact information for providers for Somerset’s Early Years Team.

Paying for childcare

Help with the cost of childcare including 2 year old funding and 3 and 4 year old funding

30 hours extended entitlement

Working parents of three and four year olds will need to meet the criteria to be eligible for up to 30 hours a week funded childcare.

Early years pupil premium information for parents

Information on the criteria and how to apply for the pupil premium

30 hours funded childcare – Provider Information

Early years entitlement for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds - information and updates to help providers

Starting a childcare business

Advice and suggestions to help you start up your own childcare business, including Childminders, Nurseries, Pre-schools, Holiday Clubs and After School Care

Working with children

Includes information on how to advertise or apply for an Early Years job vacancy

Funding for 2 year olds, information for providers

Families with 2 year old children can apply for funding

Disability Access Fund

Disability Access Fund is money that is available to a nominated childcare provider once a year.

Early years pupil premium information for providers

Information on the pupil premium and qualifying criteria

Childcare Sufficiency Assessment

Childcare Sufficiency looks at the supply and demand of childcare in Somerset

Promoting Equality and Diversity in Early Years

English as an Additional Language, racial incidents and Special Educational Needs

Complain about an early years or childcare provider

First, discuss your concerns with the person in charge of the setting or with your childminder,

Early Years training and resources

The Early Years Team provides many training opportunities through workshops for providers

Representation for providers

How childcare providers are represented at decision-making bodies and how providers' voices can be heard

Early Help Services

Early help means providing support as soon as a problem emerges, at any point in a child’s life

Useful links for Early Years Providers

Useful links to different websites we work closely with to bring Early Years providers up to date and helpful information

Speech, language and communication recommended resources

Links to useful resources and information that can help you in supporting all children

Early Years Communities

We have developed 11 Early Years Communities across the county to support practitioners who deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage

Our key partners’ contact details

Helpful contact information for our key partners, including Somerset’s Area SENCos, Children’s Social Care Team and the Entitlements Team

Out of School Childcare – Providers Information

Helpful resources, links and updates for Out of School Childcare (OOSC) providers in Somerset

Useful links for parents

Links to different websites we work closely with to bring you up-to-date and helpful information.

Quality Evaluation Support Tool (Quest)

An evaluation framework design for all early years providers

Privacy Notice – Early Years

What we do with your personal data

Home learning support for parents

Links to useful resources and information that can help you in supporting your child’s development at home

Privacy Notice – Funding for 2 year olds

What we do with your personal data

Early Help Assessment

The Early Help Assessment (EHA) is simple and easy to use

Fostering and adoption

Adoption

Including a step-by-step guide to the adoption process, stories from families and answers to questions

Fostering

Including a step-by-step guide to becoming a foster carer, answers to questions, and stories from carers

Private fostering

Living with someone who is not a close relative for 28 days or more

Privacy Notice – Fostering

What we do with your personal data

Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Children with Disabilities Service

Support, equipment, short breaks and care for disabled children and those caring for them

Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND)

Our responsibilities for children and young people with SEND aged 0 to 25

Somerset’s SEND Local Offer

For practitioners, parents and carers of children with special educational needs and disabilities

School transport and Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Information about school transport eligibility and SEND

Local Offer events

Events that are part of our Local Offer

Somerset Young People’s Voice

Check out opportunities for young people to get involved, as well as a range of tools and resources for practitioners

Alternative Provision Directory

For pupils experiencing difficulty accessing education as a result of their mental or physical health, permanent exclusion or special educational needs

Support using public transport

Training for students with disabilities or SEN to be able to use transport on their own

Somerset’s Accessibility Strategy and Schools Access Initiative

Funding that helps pupils who need bespoke and significant physical changes to a mainstream school site

Promoting Equality and Diversity in Early Years

English as an Additional Language, racial incidents and Special Educational Needs

Privacy Notice – Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

What we do with your personal data

Children

Report a child at risk

Tell us if you are worried about a child or young person who could be in danger

Elective home education

Advice and guidance about educating your child at home

Employing children

How to apply for a permit to allow a child to work or perform

School attendance and children missing education

We check to identify any child missing education, including home visits and school attendance sweeps

Chaperones

The role of the chaperone and how to become one

Children and Young People’s Plan

We want Somerset to be a place where children and young people thrive and this plan sets out what we aim to do

Working with children

Includes information on how to advertise or apply for an Early Years job vacancy

Food Support for families in Somerset

Support is available for families who may be struggling to find food

Drug and alcohol services for young people

A range of services in Somerset to offer support and help

Family Solutions Somerset

There’s a new way of working in Somerset which aims to transform the way children and families are supported.

Corporate Parenting

We are the corporate parents of the children and care leavers we look after

Ethnic Minority Achievement service

Pupils learning English as an Additional Language and children from Minority Ethnic groups

Privacy Notice – Children’s Services

What we do with your personal data

Privacy Notice – Family Safeguarding

What we do with your personal data

Somerset Safeguarding Children Partnership

Local Safeguarding Children Partnership website

Adult learning

English courses for speakers of other languages

Find details of ESOL courses across Somerset

Privacy Notice – National Apprenticeship Scheme

What we do with your personal data

Archives and records

Archives and records and the Somerset Heritage Centre

Somerset Heritage Centre

The Somerset Heritage Centre is open to everyone with an interest in Somerset's past

Archaeology and Built Heritage

Discover information about the past in your area

Somerset Skills and Learning

Information about skills, training and leisure courses across Somerset

Route1 advocacy

Route1 Advocacy

Route1 Advocacy provides advice and support to children and young people

What is an advocate?

An advocate is someone who can help you to have your say

Volunteer for Route1

Work alongside individual children

Contact Route1

Contact details for Route1 Advocacy

Independent Visitors

Independent Visitors are volunteers who befriend and spend time with a child or young person

Route 1 Volunteer Training

Details of training courses for Route 1 Volunteers

Route 1 – Latest News

Find out the latest Route 1 news and read our newsletters
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