Extended Services

Extended Schools provide a range of services and activities, often beyond the school day, to help meet the needs of children, their families and the wider community.                                                              

An extended school recognises that it cannot work alone in helping children and young people to achieve their potential, and therefore works in partnership with other agencies that have an interest in outcomes for children and young people and with the local community.

By 2010 all parents and children in both Ashford Rural and Ashford One schools will have full access to schools core offer of extended services namely:

• Quality childcare on-site or through local providers
•  A varied menu of activities, also known as study support
• Parenting support, including family learning
•  Swift and easy referral to specialised support services
•  Community access including adult learning

These extended services will help deliver the five Every Child Matters outcomes and will provide evidence for the school’s self evaluation form.

Please note that it is not appropriate for every school to offer the full core offer on site, particularly in case of childcare. It is essential to establish what is available locally and what the community need is, before any service is offered.

Currently 73% of Ashford Rural schools are offering the core offer.

Childcare

• The school provides access to childcare from 8am to 6pm, five days a week, 48 weeks a year, in accordance with its community’s needs.
• Can be provided by the school, or other provider, on or off the school site, all childcare provision should be Ofsted registered.
•  Can be provided by linking with childminders.
•  It is usually charged for.

Varied menu of activities

• Schools should have good study support and other activities in place.
• The school needs to offer access to a menu of study support activities either in school or by signposting to activities in other schools or providers.
• Activities can be charged for.
• If the activities in secondary schools extend the school day from 8am to 6pm, the childcare element for young people aged 11 to 14 years is fulfilled.
   

Parenting support

• Access to parenting groups using structured manual-based parenting programmes as well as informal opportunities for parents to engage with the school and each other.
• Family learning sessions to allow children to learn with their parents.
• Information sessions for parents joining reception or on transfer to secondary school.
• Information about nationally and locally available sources of information, advice and support.
   

Swift and easy referral

• Seek and receive guidance from the Local Authority and other agencies on the range of services available and put procedures in place to access them.
• Ensure all staff are aware of responsibilities with regard to identifying pupil needs
• School has clear internal processes to assess pupils quickly by an appropriate member of staff.
• The needs of children can be met either by staff or children’s services professionals.
• There should be a named individual to liaise with agency and family and to monitor the impact of intervention.
   

Community use of facilities

• Where the school has facilities suitable for use by the wider community it should look to open these up to meet wider community needs (arts, sports, IT, school hall etc).
• The school offers access to adult learning programmes.
• Consider community access in future buildings or refurbishments.