Extended Services In and Around Schools

An extended school is a school that recognises that it cannot work alone in helping children and young people to achieve their potential, and therefore decides to work in partnership with other agencies that have an interest in outcomes for children and young people, and with the local community. In doing so, it aims to meet not only the school's objectives but also to share in helping to meet the wider needs of children, young people, families and their community. Extended services in and around schools bring together existing services and organisations to create a coherent offer for pupils and families. Schools become the point of access to services.

Providing extended services will help schools meet their obligations towards children and the Every Child Matters (ECM) agenda. OFSTED currently inspect these aspects. Meeting ECM outcomes are expected to become of greater importance in future inspections.

Core Offer

The Government’s requirement is that by 2010 all schools are able to make access to sustainable services in all five areas of the ‘core offer’. Many schools are expected to be in this position much earlier than this date. The five areas are:

Childcare in primary schools and a ‘safe place to be’ in secondary schools.
A wide range of study support activities for children – which will complement childcare provision
Information for parents, access to parenting groups and programmes and family learning
If there is local demand, community use of suitable school premises

Effective arrangements for identifying and reviewing children and young people in need of support, and have plans in place to implement Common Assessment Framework processes

‘Make access to’ is important wording – all schools do not have to provide all services. As long as services are accessible to parents in the school or a neighbouring location (possibly including another school, health centre, community centre, library, youth centre or other local provision), with clear signposting from a school, then the requirement will be met.

Extended Services - Opening up opportunities in our local communities