Schools already have an important role to play in their local community. Through extending their services, schools can develop and deepen their links with children, young people, their families and the wider community.
What are extended services?
Extended services provide a range of opportunities and activities, often beyond the school day. They help meet the needs of children, young people, their families and the wider community. Schools are already providing extended services and have been doing so for some time.
By September 2010, all children, young people, their families and the wider community should have access to a core offer. Extended services offer the opportunity to:
- Keep fit and healthy
- Learn new skills
- Build on what they learn during the school day
- Have fun and relax
- Make new friends.
Extended schools in North Lincolnshire
Extended services form part of the wider Every Child Matters agenda. All schools will deliver a core offer by September 2010. North Lincolnshire currently has 83 schools meeting the core offer.
The core offer is:
- Primary schools provide access to high-quality childcare from 8am to 6pm, five days a week, 48 weeks a year, in accordance with their communities' needs, combined with a varied menu of activities (study support) to enhance achievement and broaden interests
- Secondary schools provide access to a varied menu of study support and enrichment activities which provide fun and stimulating activities for young people, as well as a safe place to be
- Schools provide access to parenting support, including information sessions for parents of pupils joining reception and on transfer to secondary school, signposting to national and local sources of information, advice and support - access to parenting groups using structured, evidence-based parenting programmes - and family learning sessions to allow children to learn with their parents, where consultation has shown there is a demand
- Swift and easy access: working closely with other statutory services and the voluntary and community sector, schools ensure that children with additional needs are identified as early as possible, and are well supported through integrated working with other services
- Schools ensure they provide community access to appropriate facilities, such as ICT suites, sports and arts facilities, and also provide access to adult learning.
Whilst this is the minimum which needs to be offered, schools should work together to avoid duplication of provision and join forces to ensure that the right activities and services are offered in the right place at the right time. To help with this, North Lincolnshire has divided the area up into localities and is promoting the appointment of a cluster co-ordinator. The role of these individuals will be to audit what is already being offered within their area, either by the school or through another provider, identify where the gaps are and to consult with pupils and parents about what is required. This will ensure that activities offered will meet demand and ultimately become sustainable.
Who are the cluster co-ordinators in North Lincolnshire?
When does all this need to be achieved by?
The Government has set the target of September 2010 when all schools in England will be offering the core offer of provision as outlined above.
Who will be delivering the services?
A range of providers and individuals are already engaged in extended services. These include teachers, specialist instructors, members of support staff, volunteers, statutory and voluntary organisations.
Where are activities offered?
This will vary from school to school. Some activities will be offered on school sites as they will have the facilities to do so, but other activities will also be delivered in and around the community for example at libraries, in youth centres, museums, leisure facilities, community centres etc. It could also mean one school in a cluster offering their facilities for children and young people from other schools to access services.
How much will activities cost?
This will vary from activity to activity and where it is being offered. There may well be a cost for hiring facilities at another venue together with provider costs that need to be covered. For families on a low income, then the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit maybe a possibility of offsetting some of the costs.