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 Extended School Introduction |
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What is Extended Schools?
Extended schools provide a range of services and activities, often beyond the school day, to help meet the needs of children, their families and the wider community. This forms the basis of the Government's long-term vision for delivering extended services in and around schools, in partnership with local providers. It sets out a core offer of services that all children should be able to access by 2010.
These services are wide ranging and their purpose is to improve and increase opportunities for all and to widen participation. The development of such services around the places where children and young people spend much of their time is the key to Every Child Matters and there is growing evidence to support the view that this leads to improved outcomes for children and families. Beyond the benefits to children’s education, schools with extended services form strong links with its community which then becomes part of the community’s regeneration, strengthening important relationships, supporting adult and community learning and improving health.
In Hornsea, we are currently working as a cluster of schools with our feeder primary schools (Aldbrough, Beeford, Brandesburton, Hornsea Burton, Hornsea Community, Leven, Riston, Sigglesthorne and Skipsea) to develop extended school services.
The core services which extended schools in the Hornsea cluster are working to develop are
Childcare
Extended schools play an important role in the provision/delivery of childcare. Government strategy is that by 2010 all parents of primary-age children will be able to access affordable “wrap around” childcare at or through their school from 8am to 6pm, all year round. The childcare can be based at the child’s primary school, at a nearby school or on a different site provided in partnership with private or voluntary sector providers (including childminders), with supervised travel arrangements to and from the provision.
By 2010 all secondary schools will be open from 8am to 6pm all year round, providing access to a range of activities for young people such as music, sport and holiday activities.
There are several models of childcare delivery that schools and providers can adopt:
1. Direct delivery – the school makes all the arrangements including employing staff and administering and charging for the provision. This model of childcare is not usually financially viable in schools with fewer that 250 pupils.
2. Delivering with third parties – the school works with a third party provider from the private or voluntary sector, including networks of childminders.
3. Working in clusters with other local schools – some schools will work in clusters to share resources and to rotate responsibility for childcare over holiday periods.
A Varied Menu of Activities on Offer – Study Support
The definition of study support is a learning activity outside normal lessons which young people take part in voluntarily. As a general rule it seeks to include all those who wish to take part and there is no charge to participants. By embracing many activities, it can help improve young people’s motivation, build their self-esteem and help them become more effective learners. Above all it aims to raise achievement. Activities include homework and study clubs, sport and outdoor activities, the creative arts, community volunteering, mentoring, opportunities to pursue particular interests ( such as chess, local history, languages) and learning about learning.
In the past, many study support activities have been facilitated by teachers, now there are many more opportunities for outside agencies to provide these activities, including Sports Development coaches, Youth Service, Connexions, local voluntary groups, etc.
Parenting Support
Information sessions/drop-ins for parents at key transition points, parenting programmes run with the support from other children’s services and family learning sessions to allow children to learn with their parents.
Swift and Easy referral to a Wide Range of Specialist Support Services
To include 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 site.
Provision of Wider Community Access
Such as access to ICT, sports and arts facilities including adult learning
An extended school will seek to increase the provision of a range of activities and learning opportunities which aim to widen participation in learning for adults over the age of 19 years. This includes the provision of both accredited and non-accredited courses/programmes/workshops, etc in venues accessible to the community.
Courses for adults can be offered on the school site during lesson time, if space is available, or out of school hours. |
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