Extended Schools

Extended schools are a key means of lifting children out of poverty and improving their outcomes and life chances in later life. They are at the heart of Every Child Matters (ECM), raising standards and ensuring that children:

• are healthy
• stay safe
• enjoy and achieve
• make a positive contribution
• achieve economic well-being.

Extended schools and their close relationships with health, social care and other partners are also central to the Children’s Plan and the vision of a 21st century school which contributes, with other factors, to all aspects of a child’s well-being.

What is an extended school?

An extended school works in partnership with its local authority and Children’s Trust, as well as with other local schools and partners from the voluntary, community and private sectors, to offer access to a range of services and activities which support and motivate children and young people to achieve their full potential. These services and activities are:

• a varied menu of activities, combined with childcare in primary schools
• parenting support
• community access to school facilities
• swift and easy access to targeted and specialist services.

Not every school will need to provide all of these on its site – access can be through a cluster of local schools or through other providers.

You can find further details at www.teachernet.gov.uk/extendedschools.