Choice Advice Service
Tameside Choice Advice Service
Starting Out at Primary School or Moving On to Secondary School
Information For Parents
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- What is The Choice Advice Service?
- What can a Choice Adviser do for you?
- What "Choice" do I have?
- Is the Choice Adviser and information they give impartial and in confidence?
- How can I contact the Choice Advice Service?
- How can the Choice Advice Service work with you?
What is The Choice Advice Service?
The Choice Advice Service (CAS) is a service for parents who are applying for a school place for their child/children. The service offers impartial guidance, support and information to any parent choosing a school for their child/children who live in Tameside. Parents may find the service particularly useful when their child/children are about to start primary school or are in year 5 and 6 and moving on to secondary school.
What can a Choice Adviser do for you?
A choice adviser will aim to make sure you have a full understanding of all the information available and that it is presented clearly to you. This could include:
- How the school transfer and admissions process works, eg. offering assistance in filling in forms both for Tameside and neighbouring boroughs.
- Provide impartial information about local schools
- Help you find out about schools that will best suit your child's needs.
- Tell you about provision for children with special educational needs.
- Inform you about the various admissions polices for different types of schools in the area.
- Give information on travel and uniform policies.
- Discuss options available to you if you are not offered your preferred school. This includes guidance through the appeals process and the equal preference scheme.
What "Choice" do I have ?
Although we talk about choice, as a parent you only have the right to express a preference for a choice of school for your child/children. If you are making a decision about your child starting primary or moving to secondary school you will be given the Starting Out and Moving On booklets produced by Tameside Council's School Admissions Team, and they will allocate a place for your child at your preferred school if your preference meets the criteria set out in the booklets.
Is the Choice Adviser and information they give impartial and in confidence?
The Choice Advice Service will provide an impartial service to all parents. The CAS will offer information and support to help you come to your decision, however they will not make a decision for you or give direct advice, nor can a choice adviser recommend or guarantee a place at any school. Confidentiality is always respected and information will only be shared with parents permission.
How can I contact the Choice Advice Service?
The Choice Advice Service is available :
Monday - Wednesday : 8.30am - 5.00pm
Thursday : 8.30am - 4.30pm
Friday: 8.30am - 4.00pm
You can speak to a choice adviser by telephone or meet face to face. If a Choice Adviser is unavailable please leave a message and a return call will be made as soon as possible. You can also send an email or a fax. The Choice Advice Service will also run sessions throughout the year at various venues in Tameside.
How can the Choice Advice Service work with you?
This may include offering impartial guidance, support and assisting you in finding information about:
- What schools are in your area.
- When and how to register your child for a school.
- How the admission system works and what the admission criteria means.
- Assistance in completing forms.
- Applying to schools outside of the borough.
The Choice Advice Service is also able to offer home visits and/or meet you at a venue that is convenient to you.
| Contact Information | |
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 Send us a Message |
 Tameside Choice Advice Service Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton under Lyne OL6 6DL |
 0161 342 4422
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 0161 342 3305
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