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Extended schools

An extended school is one that provides a range of services and activities often beyond the school day to help meet the needs of pupils, families and the wider community.  In June 2005 the Extended School Prospectus set out a core offer of services that all children should be able to access through schools by 2010.

The Core Offer

Primary Schools

1. Access to wraparound childcare between 8.00 am and 6.00 pm, five days a week, 48 weeks in a year.  Childcare can be a breakfast or out of school club, or activities such as art and craft, drama, sport, homework / study clubs, special interest clubs, etc.

Secondary Schools

1. The school is available as, or has arrangements to provide access to, a safe place to be before and after school.  If offers a wide range of activities such as study support, sport, art and craft, drama, science, etc.

All schools

1. Parenting support.  This can include activities such as information sessions for parents / carers; access to parenting groups and family learning; access to information about a range of services available in the area.
2. Swift and easy access.  This means that schools support parents/carers to gain information about a myriad of things from local activities to advice about special needs.  Parents/carers are also enabled to access professional advice, for instance from educational psychologists, speech and language specialists.
3. Community use.  Schools are open to groups from the community using their facilities where appropriate and for a reasonable charge.  For example, IT for adult education, the hall for Brownies and sports clubs.

Schools are not required to provide all these services, nor do they need to all be delivered from the school site.  Schools will put on or signpost parents and young people to services according to the needs and requirements of the community they serve.

What have schools in Calderdale achieved so far?

• 82 schools offer full access to childcare, before and after school, and during school holidays, through local childminders, clubs, nurseries or within schools.
• 84 schools offer full access to a wide range of activities before or after schools and during the school holidays.
• 69 schools offer full parenting support, including transition sessions for parents, coffee mornings, family learning, parenting courses and open access to school staff.
• 86 school offer access to specialist services and full access to a wide range of information for parents through noticeboards, newsletters and websites.
• 65 schools offer full access to their facilities for community use.  This means a wide variety of clubs, societies and providers are now using school facilities for community use.

For more information about extended schools please contact:

Parents are central to this agenda.  We need to plan services that you want and need.  Please take time to think what would support your child's learning and your family's needs and let us know.

Further information is available on the Parents Centre website - Parents Centre - Extended Schools|

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