Extended schools

What is an extended school?

An extended school is one that provides a range of services and activities beyond the school day to meet the needs of its pupils and their families. Across the country many schools are already providing some extended services including adult education, study support, ICT facilities and community sports programmes. 

Extended schools are schools which provide a range of services and activities, often beyond the school day, to help meet the needs of pupils, their families and the wider community. Extended services can include child care, adult education, parenting support programmes, community-based health and social care services, multi-agency behaviour support teams and after-school activities.

Under new government childcare plans schools in England will stay open for 10 hours a day. Although the formal school day will not change, schools will open at 8am and remain open until 6pm to provide “wrap-around” childcare for working parents. This would provide time, before and after the formal school day, in which pupils could take part in supervised activities. Many schools already provide breakfast and homework clubs for children. The Government wants all schools to offer extended services,or to signpost resources, by 2010. The reasoning behind the proposals is to avoid the problems caused by parents and children having to move between nursery, school, childminder and childcare club to obtain the childcare they need. Even where it is “joined up”, the provision often stops in the school holidays.

The government acknowledges the need “to create a universal, one-stop service for parents”.Such "educare" schemes - combining education and welfare - are seen as a way of helping children to have a safer and more stimulating after-school environment and providing parents with a greater range of high-quality childcare.

The extra hours in school could be spent in activities such as sport, art, clubs and societies - but the government has already claimed that this will not mean extra work for teachers. Additional staff will be required and the five-year strategy says "parents might be asked to contribute towards the cost of some extended services". Schools could also work together in networks to provide a wider range of services.

Extended schools prospectus

On 13 June 2005 Education Secretary Ruth Kelly announced the publication of the Extended Schools Prospectus, which sets out the Government’s vision of what schools could offer their communities.

Ruth Kelly said: “This prospectus sets out how schools can develop additional services for families. Schools are at the heart of our communities and it makes sense to extend the services they offer beyond the traditional school day. By 2010 all children under 14 who want to, could have access to breakfast and after-school clubs offering exciting activities from 8am to 6pm . These would give them the opportunity to keep fit and healthy, to acquire new skills, to build on what they learn during the school day as well as have fun. I want parents to shape how extended services develop in their child’s school and I want schools to ask for their ideas. We’re not expecting teachers to deliver these services but for schools to work with providers in the voluntary and private sectors, support staff and other children’s services to develop their local provision. Extended schools will not only help children in their education, but also support hard working families to manage their home and work life.”

The prospectus outlines the services which primary schools will offer:

• childcare from 8am – 6pm,48 weeks of the year ;
• a range of before and after school activities;
• parenting support and family learning opportunities;
• referral to a wide range of specialist support services such as speech and language therapists.

Secondary schools will include:

• opening 8am -6pm all the year round;
• a range of interesting activities for young people;
• access to other services for young people and their parents;
• providing wider community access to ICT, sports and arts facilities.

Extended services and extended schools

A free online guide for parents/carers, plus guidance for schools on producing information leaflets for parents/carers:

To find out more about what extended schools are and what it means for you as a father, mother or carer go to : http://www.continyou.org.uk/guide

There you will find the answers to all your questions including:

• What are extended services and extended schools?
• Why are extended services needed?
• What makes extended schools different?
• What are the benefits of extended schools?
• How can I get involved?
• Useful links

For further information see http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/extendedschools

A copy of the prospectus can be viewed at Extended Schools: Access to Opportunities and Services for All

The facilities will include:

• High quality wraparound childcare provided on the school site (or through other local providers, with supervised transfer arrangements where appropriate), available 8am – 6pm all year round;
• A variety of activities on offer , such as homework clubs and study support, sport (at least 2 hours a week beyond the school day for those who want it), music tuition, dance and drama, arts and crafts, special interest clubs such as chess and first aid courses, visits to museums and galleries, learning a foreign language, volunteering, business and enterprise activities;
• 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;
• Swift and easy referral 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.

What are the benefits?

Schools offering extended activities and services have already seen major benefits.

Benefits for pupils and schools:

• higher levels of pupil achievement
• increased pupil motivation and self-esteem
• specialist support to meet pupils;
• wider needs
• additional facilities and equipment
• greater opportunities for staff for flexible working and career development
• enhanced partnership working with the community and better school security
• easier access to essential services for staff,
• helping staff recruitment and retention.

Benefits for families:

• improvements in child behaviour and social skills
• greater parental involvement in children’s learning
• more opportunities for local adult education and family learning
• greater availability of specialist support for families.

Benefits for communities:

• better access to essential services
• improved local availability of sports, arts and other facilities
• local career development opportunities
• better supervision of children outside school hours
• closer relationships with the school.