Private Education -- Finding the Money
By Michael Challiner

The decision to send your child to a private school is a very personal one. There are parents who make this commitment soon after, or even before, their child arrives in the world. The child’s name may be put down for the parent’s choice of independent school. Quite often the school may be the one which a parent attended or one chosen because they wish the child to be educated according to a particular religious belief.

There are also private schools catering for children with special needs as far as their education is concerned. Children with impaired hearing, problems with vision or mobility or some degree of learning disabilities are catered for. Schools are available for specially gifted children, offering training in drama, music or dance alongside a comprehensive academic curriculum.

All independent schools in England and Wales are required to be registered with the Department for Education and Skills. In Scotland and Northern Ireland the registration is with the Scottish or Ireland Executives.

The normal pattern of private education is kindergarten or pre-prep school from the age of four (sometimes earlier) and then on to prep school until the age of thirteen when they move into a senior independent school.