Childcare, Education and Training:Education Banner

The Mendip area offers a wide range of childcare and learning provision to meet the needs of children, young people and adults.   From pre-schools to colleges and from toddlers to adults there is excellent provision for care and learning in the area and a wealth of options to cater for all individual needs.  

Where do I look for childcare providers in Mendip? 

Choosing childcare can seem a daunting task. If you are looking for help and advice try these websites:

  • The parents section of the Pre School Learning Alliance website www.pre-school.org.uk/parents/choosing-childcare.php
  • Sure Start’s is a government programme that was established to help provide the best start for children. Their website www.surestart.gov.uk/ offers advice for parents on finding and choosing the right childcare for their young children and contains details of the financial help that is available to help meet the costs of childcare.
  • The Children's Information Service can provide a comprehensive list of childcare providers in the area. Telephone them on 08000 960296 or visit their website www.childcarelink.gov.uk/.
    Mendip Area.
  • The Inland Revenue website www.hmrc.gov.uk/ provides information on the range of financial support available to people with young children and how parents can access the support.
  • The government’s Direct Gov website has lots of general information on pre-schools, schools, options for 14 – 19 year olds, university and higher education and adult learning.    www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/index.htm

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Where do I find information about state schools and colleges in Mendip?

Somerset County Council has an edirectory that you can search for information about state schools and colleges in the area and gives links to their websites. 
Find the edirectory at www.six.somerset.gov.uk/sixv3/schinfo/

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Where can I find out about the admissions policy for state schools in Mendip?

Somerset County Council’s website gives information on the admission policy for state schools in Mendip.  www.somerset.gov.uk/somerset/learning/admissions/index.cfm

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What are the expected intake numbers for next year?

Admission numbers for the current and coming academic years are available through Somerset County Council’s Edirectory.


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How do I find Ofsted reports?

Ofsted has all their inspection reports on their website:
www.ofsted.gov.uk

How do I find information on a schools performance?
Check out government performance tables:
www.dcsf.gov.uk/performancetables/


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How do I find out about independent schools in Mendip?

There is no definitive list of Independent schools but the individual schools have their own websites:
All Hallows School: www.allhallows.somerset.sch.uk
Downside School, Radstock: www.downside.co.uk
Millfield School: www.millfield.somerset.sch.uk
Wells Cathedral School: www.wells-cathedral-school.com


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Where can I find a list of Further Education Colleges in the area?

Strode College is based in Street and delivers further education programmes across Mendip. See their website for more information and details of courses www.strode-college.ac.uk
There are also a number of 6th form schools in the county offering post 16 programmes.  Details of these schools are available in the eDirectory. 


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Where can I find information about training opportunities for young people? Somerset County Training is the largest provider of Government Funded Vocational Training in Mendip.  Providing a variety of programmes including

  • Apprenticeships
  • Train to Gain
  • Entry to Employment
  • Basic Employability Training
  • NVQ Commercial Packages
  • Assessor and Verifier Training

Somerset County Training website is www.somerset.gov.uk/sct/


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Where can I find information about adult educational courses?

For information on qualification and recreational courses for adults check out the following providers:
Adult Learning and Leisure:    www.learnsomerset.co.uk
Frome Community Education:  www.fromecollege.somerset.sch.uk
Strode College:  www.strode-college.ac.uk


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Are there schools catering for special educational needs in Mendip?

There are a number of special needs schools in the area:
Critchill School, Frome: A purpose built special school designed to educate pupils aged between 4 and 16 years of age with a learning difficulty.  www.critchillschool.ik.org

Priory North Hill House School, Frome: Independent Education for Students with Asperger's Syndrome; approved by the DfES for boys aged 7-16. www.nhh4as.co.uk/

Wessex College, Frome: Is a small special school for children with social, emotional and behavioral disorders who are between the ages of 11 and 16 years.

Farleigh Further Education College, Frome: Fully approved by the DfES as a residential special school for pupils aged between 10 and 17 with Asperger’s syndrome.  www.farleighcollege.co.uk/

Direct Gov also has a useful section on special educational needs:
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