News

Every local authority will have at least one extended school by 2006 providing child care, health and social care, lifelong learning opportunities, parenting support, and access to computers and the internet.

The government is to spend £52.2m over three years developing the new school-based services for families in 240 schools. The most disadvantaged areas will be the first to be targeted but the programme will be rolled out progressively to all areas, according to the Department for Education and Skills.

The Education Act 2002 introduced changes which will enable schools to directly provide community services such as health and social care as well as child care.

All other primary schools are now being encouraged to consider setting up child care facilities, both for pre-school children and for school-aged children to use before and after the school day.

Baroness Cathy Ashton, minister for Sure Start, announced the programme at a Kids’ Clubs Network conference, although the funding had already been announced by chancellor Gordon Brown in the 2002 Spending Review.

Baroness Ashton told the conference: "Schools providing extended services such as child care, healthcare and family learning are a practical resource for children, parents and the community. By supporting pupils, parents and communities extended services help schools focus on raising standards."

Guidance on extended schools and on setting up child care in schools can be found on the DfES schools website: www.teachernet. gov.uk/extendedschools. Hard copies are available by calling 0845 6022260, quoting reference EXSG.