Extended schools
Extended schools can help to deliver Every Child Matters.
"An extended school works with the local authority and other partners to offer access to a range of services and activities which support and motivate children and young people to achieve their full potential." Extended schools: Building on experience, produced by DCSF
These services and activities are:
- a variety of activities, including study support, sport and music clubs
- childcare (in primary schools)
- community access to school facilities, including ICT and sports grounds
- swift referrals to targeted and specialist services
- parenting and family support.
There are now over 5,000 schools offering the full range of extended services, and almost half of all schools are on their way to doing so. The Government aims for all schools to provide access to these core services by 2010.
Schools need not provide these services alone or even on their own site. They can work with a cluster of local schools to connect their students to supporting services or signpost to existing services. They can also partner with other organisations, such as social services, primary and secondary health services, and voluntary and community organisations.
The initiative has shown positive results, with a recent Ofsted evaluation (July 2006) asserting that "the major benefits to children, young people and adults were enhanced self-confidence, improved relationships, raised aspirations and better attitudes to learning" (Extended services in schools and children's centres, Ofsted, 26 July 2006).
The development of extended schools means greater opportunities for employers to become engaged in education. For more information about the development of extended services, see also: Every Child Matters: Extended schools.