The Right Secondary School 2009

Useful information and services

Attendance Team

The Attendance Team provides support and information for children, schools, parents and carers. Officers work on matters related to attendance, child welfare and employment. They aim to help pupils and parents overcome problems and achieve good attendance and work habits. In this way, pupils can look forward to a happier and more successful educational experience.

Morline House, 160 London Road, Barking, IG11 8BB

Tel: 020 8215 3004

The Advisory Centre for Education

The Advisory Centre for Education is an independent advice centre for parents, offering information about state education in England and Wales for children aged 5-16. They offer free advice over the telephone on many subjects such as exclusion from school, bullying, special educational needs and school admission appeals. Their advice lines are open from 2pm - 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Exclusion information line: 020 7704 9822

Freephone general advice line: 0808 800 5793

Barking Library

It costs nothing to join the public library service in Barking and Dagenham. The library service is for all ages and young children are welcome. Children do not have to know how to read to benefit from joining the library. Public libraries offer all sorts of books for children from board books and picture books to advanced readers.

Toy libraries will be based in the Barking Library and several other libraries in the borough. A toy library is a toy equipment and loan service where parents, carers and children can play together and borrow toys.

There are also cassettes, CDs, DVDs, videos and free access to the internet. Most libraries have collections of books for parents and carers. They also provide learning activities during school holidays. The School Library Service provides schools with loans of books and audio visual material.

Barking Learning Centre, 2 Town Square, Barking, IG11 7NB

Tel: 020 8724 8725, Fax: 020 8724 8733, Email: barking.library@lbbd.gov.uk|

Child Benefit Agency

If you need to contact this agency for a copy of your child benefit allowance, please give yourself plenty of time before the closing date to get the documents you need.

Inland Revenue (Child Benefit Office), Washington, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE88 12B

Tel: 0845 302 1444, Email: child.benefit@ir.gsi.gov.uk|

Council Tax Section

If you live in the borough of Barking and Dagenham and you need a copy of your recent council tax bill, please apply in plenty of time before the closing date to get the documents you need.

Revenue Services, 90 Stour Road, Dagenham, RM10 7JD

Tel: 020 8227 2926, Email: ctax@lbbd.gov.uk|

Department for Children, Schools and Families

You can get useful information, such as performance tables and information on the curriculum, on the Department for Children, Schools and Families website.

Tel: 0870 000 2288

Email: info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk|

East Street (information shop for young people)

East Street offers valuable advice, information and support for people in the borough aged under 25.

20 East Street, Barking, IG11 8EU

Tel: 020 8270 4646

Family Information Service

The Family Information Service provides information and advice to help people make informed choices about finding childcare, paying for childcare and careers in childcare. The service also provides information on after-school and holiday activities for children and young people, and a range of other extended services in and through schools. For professional and unbiased information and advice on services for children and young people aged 0 to 19, please contact the Family Information Service on 020 8215 3004 or by emailing fis@lbbd.gov.uk.

Looked After Children Health and Education Support (LACHES) Team

LACHES is committed to working with others to:

Overcome disadvantage
Provide equal access to learning, and better educational opportunities
Raise levels of achievement; and
Promote the health, well-being and life chances for all children in care

The team is made up of 3 advisory teachers, 5 learning specialists, 1 admissions and attendance officer, 2 nurses or health advisers, a mentoring coordinator, an outreach worker, an emotional well-being specialist (CAMHS) and an educational psychologist, who are supported by 2 administrators.

Valence Park Offices, Becontree Avenue, Dagenham, RM8 3HS

Tel: 020 8227 5919

Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)

Ofsted is a government department set up under the Education (Schools) Act 1992. It is responsible for inspecting all schools in England, whether they are state or independent. To see the most recent report of a school's inspection, please visit Ofsted's website.

Parents in Partnership Service

If your child has special educational needs, you may contact the Parents in Partnership Service. They are part of 'Carers of Barking and Dagenham', which offers information and support to carers. The service is independent from us.

129 Rose Lane, Chadwell Heath, RM6 5NR

Tel: 020 8590 6544

Preference adviser

Moving from primary and secondary school can be one of the most difficult times for families and children. The preference adviser is independent of the admission team and will be able to offer you help, advice and support in understanding the admissions process when you make an application for your child's secondary school.

The preference adviser will be able to access information on your behalf and explain how the procedures affect your individual circumstances.

This should make sure you have enough information to help you make a realistic decision about your preferences.

Tel: 020 8227 5559 or 07870 278 023

Email: ian.hewison@lbbd.gov.uk|

Pupil Student Services

Pupil Student Services provide grants for further education, free school meals and clothing grants, and travel for elderly and disabled residents of Barking and Dagenham.

90 Stour Road, Dagenham, RM10 7JD

Tel: 020 8215 3004, Fax: 020 8337 3304

Pupil transport|

Children aged under 18 travel free on London buses. However, we may be able to help with short-term travel for disabled people.

Free school meals|

If you are receiving Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, the guaranteed part of Pension Credit or Child Tax Credit, you can apply for free school meals.

Clothing allowance|

Families who receive benefits such as Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance or Child Tax Credit, or who are on a low income, may be given a clothing allowance. We provide clothing allowances for school children in Reception and Years 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9.

6th form and education and training opportunities after the age of 16

These are offered by all secondary schools in the borough and by the further education colleges in the area.

Special educational needs and disability

Our services for children and young people offer the best possible educational opportunities for people living in the borough. We work hard with parents, carers, school staff and other people to include all children who have special educational needs or disabilities in their local mainstream school wherever possible.

The views of the child or young person on their own education is also very important. Different types of support and services are available to help children and young people with their education and development. We have produced a free folder of information called 'Special educational needs - a guide for parents'.

The Department for Children, Schools and Families has also produced a booklet with the same title. You can get copies of the booklets and further information from:

SENART, Town Hall, 1 Town Square, Barking, IG11 7LU

Tel: 020 8227 3540

Youth Support and Development Service

The Youth Support and Development Service provides a range of educational and personal development programmes for young people between the ages of 11 and 19.

The Vibe, 195-211 Becontree Avenue, Dagenham, RM8 2UT

Tel: 020 8270 6027