Core offer
Many schools are already seeing the benefits of offering extended services. Based on their experience the Government have set out a core offer of services that they would like all schools to offer access to (in partnership with local authorities and local providers) by 2010:
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High quality wraparound childcare in primary schools provided on the school site or through other local providers, with supervised transport arrangements where appropriate, available 8am — 6pm all year round or to reflect community demand.
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Varied menu of activities to be on offer, including homework clubs and study support, sport, music tuition, dance and drama, arts and crafts, special interest clubs such as chess and volunteering, business and enterprise activities.
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Parenting support including information sessions for parents at key transition points, parenting programmes run with the support of other children's services and family learning sessions to allow children to learn with their parents.
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Swift and easy access to a wide range of specialist support services such as speech therapy, child and adolescent mental health services, family support services, intensive behaviour support, and (for young people) sexual health services. Some may be delivered on school sites.
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Providing wider community access to ICT, sports and arts facilities and adult learning and sign-posting to existing community facilities.
These services will need to be shaped to meet the needs of pupils, parents and the community; this core offer ensures that there is a minimum of services and activities for families. Services will not necessarily be provided on the school site or by teachers.
Providing easier access to all types of services around the places where children and young people spend most of their time is key to the Every Child Matters objectives of ensuring that children stay safe, are healthy, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and acheive economic well being. Schools developing extended services will also mean developing a multi-agency approach to children's services through closer collaboration between other schools, social services, healthcare professionals and the police.
What is the Government's vision?
The former Education Secretary, Ruth Kelly set out the Government's vision for extended schools in her speech at the Target 2010 Sure Start Extended Schools Conference in November 2005. See also the questions and answers from the Guardian children's centres and extended schools hotseat with the Children's Minister on the 12th October 2006.
This page was last update on 11th July 2007.
