Childcare/education
Sure Start settings
Grants & funding
Inclusion
Extended schools
The Government is supporting the development of extended schools which will offer access to a range of services for children, young people, their families and communities often beyond the school day. Schools, located as they are right at the heart of the community are ideally placed to support the Every Child Matters objectives.
Building on the experiences of those schools already delivered extended services, the Government have set out a core offer of extended services that they want all children to be able to access through schools by 2010:
- high quality 'wraparound' childcare provided (primary schools) on the school site or through other local providers, available 8am-6pm all year round or to reflect community demand.
- a varied menu of activities to be on offer such as homework clubs and study support, sport, music tuition, special interest clubs and volunteering.
- parenting support including information sessions for parents at key transition points, parenting programmes and family learning sessions.
- swift and easy access to a wide range of specialist support services such as speech and language therapy, family support services and behaviour support.
- providing wider community access to ICT, sports and arts facilities, including adult learning.
Schools will need to work closely with parents and existing providers to shape these activities around the needs of the community. Schools will complement not replace existing local provision, for example a school might work with childminders to deliver the childcare element of offer.
'Extended school' is not a status that schools can centrally apply for as there is not a blueprint for the types of activities that schools might offer. How these services look and how they are delivered in, or through, a particular school will vary.
There are obvious advantages where children’s centres and extended schools are co-located as offering joint services can provide a more streamlined service to parents and families.
If you have any queries, you can email the Extended Schools Team: extended.schools@dfes.gsi.gov. uk
Here you will find advice and guidance on developing extended services in and around schools, funding allocations for local authorities, the extended schools prospectus outlining the vision, as well as a discussion forum, research reports, press notices and case studies.
