Extended Schools Many schools offer a range of activities such as breakfast clubs and after schools clubs and are able to do so through a combination of voluntary effort, schools funds and resources raised from grant making organisations. Under the Children and Young People Funding Package (launched by the Secretary of State March 2006), the Extended Schools initiative now has a targeted funding stream up until 2008. This means that some schools will be open from 8am – 6pm to provide wraparound childcare for school age children. As a first step funding has been made available to over one third of all schools in Northern Ireland, aimed at those schools operating in the most disadvantaged areas. The funding has been allocated directly to schools to support activities based on a school’s particular circumstances and needs per year for the next 2 years. The activities must be linked to the key outcomes for children and may include out of school hours childcare but it does not have to be. A school may, for example, decide to use the funding for community use of schools such as programmes for parents. The school should respond to the particular needs and aspirations of its community. Participation in the scheme is voluntary for schools. If a school chooses to provide childcare it may develop this service itself or work in partnership with community or private providers. The intention is that the programme should be targeted on children and young people who are disadvantaged, marginalised or have the most limited access to current services. For example, one measure that was used to identify a school that was to receive extended schools funding was the number of children receiving free school meals. A full list of schools who have received funding can be found on the Dept of Education website in the document ‘Extended Schools: schools, families, communities – working together’ www.deni.gov.uk Schools not receiving funding can still become ‘extended’. Parents whose children attend such schools should approach the Head Teacher to discuss the issue. Guidance on developing an extended school can be found on the Regional Training Unit website, the agency within the Dept of Education responsible for this initiative www.rtuni.org Extended schools may charge a fee for their services and you may be able to get help with these costs through either Tax Credits or childcare vouchers.
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