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If you have entered the UK with your partner and have permission to work, it’s a good way to meet local people, make new friends and earn extra money. It may be difficult to find well-paid work in your area of experience, so you may have to take a job that you would not normally do back home. There are many ways to look for work – here are some suggestions.
Volunteering means giving your time and skills for free. Voluntary work can be a great way to learn new skills, gain experience and be involved in something worthwhile in the local community. If you are in the UK on a visitor visa, you won't be able to do unpaid work.
You can join a local public library where you can borrow a large range of books, CDs and DVDs, use the internet, and find out about the local area. It's free to join a library. You will only need to show a document proving who you are – a passport or bank card and something with your current address.
The government's Sure Start website has the most up-to-date help and advice about childcare in Middlesbrough.
www.direct.gov.uk/en/parents
The University has a 66-place nursery available to staff and students, accommodating children from age 6 weeks to 5 years. The nursery is based on the University campus at Park Road North. Charges are £33 per day or £148 per week. The nursery is open from 8.15am to 6.00pm Monday to Thursday and 8.15am to 5.15pm on Friday.
For more information: www.tees.ac.uk/studentsupport Or email: nursery@tees.ac.uk
Childcare Vouchers are a government initiative to help working parents pay for childcare. Childcare vouchers are exempt from National Insurance and Tax, so parents can save £1,195 per year on childcare.
Childcare vouchers can be used to pay all registered or approved childcare providers for children under 16 years old. Sodexo operate a simple on-line childcare voucher scheme which is administered through Human Resources at the University. For more information please contact Janet Waine, Deputy HR Systems & Administration Manager, Human Resources on 01642 342205.
If your child is under 16 years of age and will be with you as your dependant for more than six months, they should be able to go to a state primary or secondary school free of charge.
The state system is divided into three types of schools:
Children over the age of 16 and adults can attend college classes or adult education centres, but there's a fee. By law all children in the UK for more than a short stay should attend school full-time from the age of five.
Private schools are often referred to as public schools – this can be confusing as public schools are not for the public and charge fees. The Independent Schools Council lists all public schools in the country.
There are also some part-time schools in the UK catering for children from different religions or who speak different languages. Your children can attend these in addition to their main school. It's worth noting that you can't book a school place in advance of your child arriving in the UK.
The academic year for state primary and secondary schools runs from early September to late July. The academic year is broken up into three terms. Half way through each term there is a holiday of one week. The term dates are:
In the UK parents don't have the automatic right to take their children out of school during term time. In fact parents can be prosecuted if their children fail to attend school. If you do need to take your child out of school, you should contact the school as early as possible to discuss it.
If your child is unwell or unable to attend school for another reason, you should contact the school as soon as possible.
After school clubs and services means childcare before or after school hours. This helps parents who have to drop off their children before school starts or aren't able to collect their children at the end of school time.