Agenda item

- report by Lynne Bruce-Minotti, Extended Schools Co-ordinator.

The Early Years and Childcare Strategy Manager, School Improvement Section, introduced a report by the Extended Schools Co-ordinator relating to a change to the Education Act 2002 to allow School Governors to provide activities and services to children, young people, parents/carers and the wider community.  Schools would be encouraged, in consultation with users and partners, to take the lead in co-ordinating activities such as childcare, sports, arts, study support, adult learning, family learning and the integration and co-location of other specialist workers on a school site.

The report set out proposals and details as follows:- 

Extended Schools

An ExtendedSchool is one that provides a range of services and activities often beyond the school day to help meet the needs of its pupils, their families and the wider community.

Across the country many schools are already providing some extended services including adult education, study support, ICT facilities and community sports programmes.

Schools and their partners can build on existing provision and consider what additional services or activities schools might provide, or how they could be organised.  Working with local partners, schools can develop as little or as much provision as they think suitable for their own community.

Other activities and services schools could provide

- Childcare – including breakfast clubs, after-school clubs, holiday and weekend activity.

-  Community Learning, such as adult, family learning and study support.

-  Health and Social Care – health promotion/co-location of services/early intervention.

-  Sports and Arts development.

-  Parenting/Family support.

-  Greater community use of School buildings and grounds.

The Role of School Governors

The Governing Body has ultimate responsibility for deciding whether the school should offer additional activities and services and what form these should take.

Before making decisions, Governors need to be aware of any additional responsibilities that may result from providing additional services through the school.  As with existing school activities, Governing Bodies can delegate the practical delivery of services to others, but they will keep ultimate legal responsibility.

Progress in Rotherham

The Government has provided funding to Local Authorities over recent years to nominate a school which will become a ‘full-service school’.  This means that they have to deliver a prescribed range of services and activities for their pupils, parents/carers and the wider community.  RawmarshCommunity School was nominated and is in the 2^nd year of a 3 year programme.  They deliver successfully against all the identified strands and attainment levels have increased on the previous year.

In April, 2005 the Local Authority received a Standard’s Fund one year grant of £418,000 to support the central and school co-ordination of Extended Schools.  We have produced an electronic audit for all schools to complete which will indicate:

·                    what activities and services are already taking place

·                    who the users of the activities and services are

·                    who is delivering them

·                    when they are being delivered (after school/during holidays etc)

·                    the involvement of pupils, parents/carers, governors in the planning

·                    whether extended activities and services are included in the School

Improvement Plan

·                    whether schools wish to develop new activities and services.

·                    the schools training needs on Extended Schools

·                    what other establishments are within walking distance of each

school, e.g. Children’s Centres, Libraries, Community Centres etc.

A summary of the findings of the audit will be retained by each school, and the analysis will be available for all schools to access in order that they may plan together and benchmark against other schools.  The audit will also support the Council’s strategy for supporting all schools to co-ordinate extended services and activities.

A Toolkit for Schools was being developed to support their Extended School developments. A model ‘partnership agreement’ is being developed for schools to use with the providers of services. We are awaiting some final Government Guidance and will then arrange for Schools staff and Governor training in localities across Rotherham.

The strategy to date has been to raise awareness with all stakeholders, to promote an approach which involves pupils and parents/carers in the shaping of the provision, and partner organisations in contributing to the cohesive planning and delivery.

An Extended Schools Steering Group has been established which has representation from stakeholders and supports the strategy in Rotherham.

Funding is already available through a variety of sources to provide extended schools services and activities, such as Surestart, Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and Learning and Skills Council.   A Standard’s Fund Grant of £416,000  is allocated to support both central and school co-ordination of Extended Schools, however it is unclear whether thi funding will be continued beyond 2005-2006.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be received and the contents noted.   

(2)  That the Extended Schools Strategy in Rotherham be welcomed and that every support be given to Governing Bodies where there is minimum capacity within the school.