Extended schools
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Last updated: 31 August 2006
Extended schools are schools which provide a range of extended services and facilities for the benefit of pupils, their parents, families and the wider community, tailored to local need. These schools are likely to be open to pupils, families and the wider community throughout the school day, before and after school hours, at weekends and during school holidays. The services offered by the school might include childcare, and learning or recreational activities for all members of the community. And, working with other partners, the school might also offer health and social care services.
A key way of delivering the Every Child Matters agenda, an extended school works with local providers, agencies (and in many cases other schools) to provide access to a core offer of extended services:
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Wraparound childcare 8am-6pm, all year round
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Varied range of activities, including study support, sport and music clubs
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Swift and easy referral to specialist services such as speech therapy family support services, child and adolescent mental health services;
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Community use of facilities including adult and family learning and ICT.
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Many schools are already seeing the benefits of offering extended services. Based on their experience the Government has set out the core offer of services above. The aim is that all schools will provide access to extended services by 2010.
Benefits of extended services
There is evidence that extended services can help to:
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Improve pupil attendance, behaviour, self-confidence and motivation, and therefore potential for impact on achievement;
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Better enable teachers to focus on teaching and learning;
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Enhance access to services for children, young people and families.
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Where schools were achieving high levels of multi-agency working there were considerable benefits in supporting vulnerable children and their families.
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Ofsted will report during school inspections on how extended services are contributing to improved outcomes for children and young people.
Partnership working
While schools are often ideally located to house extended services, schools are
not expected to deliver this agenda alone. Partnership working and links with
other schools, the local authority, other agencies and voluntary and private
sector providers can help to make the most effective use of facilities and
resources. For head teachers too, there is no expectation that they will be
responsible for managing extended services, even those that take place on the
school site. Support and guidance on extended services can be provided by the
local authority, which will coordinate the provision of the core of services on
offer within each community.
Community use
The Government is keen to promote the community use of schools. Making
schools accessible to the local community helps to raise pupils'
motivation, improves security for the school site, reduce
vandalism, and improve links with the community. The School Standards and Framework Act 1998
specifically requires governing bodies to have regard to the desirability of
school premises being made available for community use.
The law is clear about the legal implications of opening up school premises to non-school use or using them for out-of-school-hours study support. The governing body of every community, community special, foundation, foundation special and voluntary school has control of the occupation and use of school premises both during and outside school hours. There are exceptions where:
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Legally binding commitments have been or are made, such as through a trust deed, a transfer of control agreement or an LA direction
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School premises are required for use in local or general elections, or for parish council meetings.
Why increase community use?
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Links with the community help schools to raise pupils' motivation, expectations and achievement, which leads to higher standards and improved behaviour. Support from parents and local community organisations can be a crucial factor in improving pupils' attainment and combating social exclusion.
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In many locations, the school is the main, or even the only, place that can provide the local community with sports and other facilities. Using the local school as a centre for adult learning, childcare facilities and for meetings helps regenerate and strengthen communities. Schools can also support community learning and improving health.
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Increased use of school premises can lead to improved security for the school site and reductions in vandalism and graffiti in the surrounding area.
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Links with the community reinforce the fact that all education relates to the wider community and the world of work and professional practice.
Main text
Legislation
Key documents
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Further information
