Schools: Extended Services

House of Lords written question – answered at on 9 February 2004.

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Photo of Lord Northbourne Lord Northbourne Crossbench

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What arrangements are being made for the funding of extra costs incurred by "extended schools"; and

Whether schools which are not able or willing to operate extended after-school programmes for their pupils will be allowed to enter into partnerships or other arrangements with providers from the private or voluntary sectors to run programmes on school premises; and whether such arrangements would qualify for grant or other support.

Photo of Baroness Ashton of Upholland Baroness Ashton of Upholland Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare), Department for Education and Skills, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare), Department for Work and Pensions, Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions) (Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare) (also Department for Education and Science), Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education and Skills) (Sure Start, Early Years and Childcare) (also Department for Work and Pensions)

The Department for Education and Skills has made £12.6 million/£23.8 million/£97.2 million of funding available for the main extended schools programme and £2.8 million/£7.6 million/£14.7 million through the Sure Start unit for the childcare element of the programme over the period 2003–04 to 2005–06. Additionally, a small amount of funding has been made available to help join up the extended schools programme with community cohesion and neighbourhood renewal programmes.

Funding may be used by schools to cover the costs of staff to help to develop and manage the extended services, including managing relationships between different agencies, and may also cover additional staffing and revenue costs, capital adjustments and transport costs associated with extended school activities. Funding is being rolled out over a three-year period. Over one third of LEA areas have benefited so far and the funding will reach all LEA areas by April 2006.

Guidance issued by the Department for Education and Skills in October 2002 states that there are no restrictions on who may set up programmes or services. It gives advice about the key groups to be consulted and suggests that schools may work in partnership with local and national community and voluntary groups and clubs, and businesses. A copy of the guidance has been placed in the Library.

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