Extended Schools Services

What does it mean for parents?

Extended schools provide a range of services and activities, which will help to meet the needs of pupils, their families and the wider community. Extended schools also give parents and carers the opportunity to become more involved in the life of their school and support their children's education and have the potential to raise pupil achievement.

The Extended schools agenda comprises four areas:

• Varied Menu of activities including childcare Primary schools provide access to high-quality childcare, 8am-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. The Children's Information Service (see related links) will have further information and options on childcare either in your child's school or in the local area.
• Swift and easy referral Where children require specialist support from other services there is also an undertaking to provide quick and easy referral to those services e.g. behaviour support, family support services.
• Parenting The provision of parenting support will give parents access to information and guidance on issues which may affect children, including sexual health, relationships and drug abuse. It will also provide learning opportunities for parents themselves to learn alongside their children through family learning. It will also include information sessions for parents at key transition points and parenting programmes run with the support of other children's services. The Children's Information Service (see related links) will have further information on Parenting courses.
• Community Access This part of the core offer will provide parents and other adults with the opportunity to undertake adult learning e.g. the chance to gain numeracy and literacy qualifications, study a language or develop ICT skills - all of which can contribute to improving life chances for parents and families. This part of the programme is also about allowing more widespread community access to school facilities. This will help to ensure that families have access to an important community resource on a year-round basis. See related links for further information on adult and community learning in the Borough.

You can visit the TDA website for more detailed information on the core offer or look at our PDF leaflet below.

You can find out more about the services and acitivties in your child's school by visiting the school website or contacting the school directly.

To speak to the extended schools team call 01628 683668.

Core Offer Leaflet

This leaflet lays out the minimum services, the "core offer," which schools, in partnership with each other and external providers, are expected to offer by 2010.

•   Core Offer Leaflet (37K)

Extended Schools Services Strategy

•   Extended Services 2006 - 2008 Strategy (pdf 394kb)

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