Children not educated at school may be educated at home. Information on home education is provided in the article on the ‘Organisation of the Education System’.

Schools may provide a range of additional services and activities to pupils, their families and the community. These extended services, enabled under the provisions of the Education Act 2002, often take place outside of normal school hours. Extended services that schools might offer include access to:

• learning opportunities for pupils outside of the school day, such as study support or homework clubs, or sports and arts activities

• parent support services or more specialist services such as health, social care or additional learning needs (ALN) services

• childcare services before and after school

• school facilities for members of the community, for example, for adult and family learning, sports, and information and communications technology (ICT). 

These services may be delivered on school sites by voluntary or community groups, or by members of school staff outside of their normal working hours.

Sections 88-90 of the School Standards and Organisation (Wales) Act 2013 require local authorities to provide free breakfasts to all pupils in maintained primary schools that have requested them. Information on the scheme is available from the Welsh Government.

For information on alternative provision for children and young people who would otherwise not receive suitable education because of illness, exclusion or any other reason, see the article on ‘Support Measures for Learners’.

Article last reviewed April 2021.