By 2010, all children should have access to a range of extended services in and around their school.
While many schools may choose to develop an even richer mix of services and activities, the core offer for mainstream and special schools is:
Primary schools provide access to high-quality childcare, 8am–6pm, five days a week, 48 weeks a year, in accordance with their communities’ needs, combined with a varied menu of activities (study support) to enhance achievement and broaden interests.
Secondary schools provide access to a varied menu of study support and enrichment activities which provide fun and stimulating activities for young people, as well as a safe place to be.
Schools provide access to parenting support, including information sessions for parents of pupils joining reception and on transfer to secondary school; signposting to national and local sources of information, advice and support; access to parenting groups using structured, evidence-based parenting programmes; and family learning sessions to allow children to learn with their parents, where consultation has shown there is a demand.
Swift and easy access: working closely with other statutory services and the voluntary and community sector, schools ensure that children with additional needs are identified as early as possible, and are well supported through integrated working with other services.
Schools ensure they provide community access to appropriate facilities, such as ICT suites, sports and arts facilities, and also provide access to adult learning.
TDA October 2007
The key to the agenda is collaboration and multi-agency working.
Extended Services at Devizes School
Here at Devizes School we were successful in our bid for funding to Wiltshire County Council for a network co-ordinator for Extended Services for Devizes and Lavington.
Mrs Stephanie Davis started in September 2006 in a 2 year post to help all schools (primaries and secondary’s) in the network to fulfil the core offer.
Stephanie has found that the areas which have needed the most support in the network are; Family Learning, Parenting Support, Transition between schools (primary to secondary), Counselling and Time to Talk sessions for all pupils.
Devizes School is already providing a great deal of the core offer of extended services however, as always we are striving to continually improve our opportunities to our pupils and their parents/carers.
A couple of key successes for Devizes School have been:
Extended Services funded the Relate Counselling service for a 3 hour session once a week between Sept 2006 – July 2007. Due to the need expressed by pupils we have taken the step to employ our own counsellor, who now works a full day with a ‘drop-in’ session.
Extra transition work with some year 6 pupils in the town to help them settle into secondary school life more easily. The result has meant that those pupils have felt happier and settled in quicker than what was originally expected.
Coming soon especially for you - more parenting support; Subjects could include drugs, alcohol and sexual health, homework, G.C.S.E. options, beyond 16 years the choices… communication and teenage troubles - the options are endless please contact Stephanie or the school (tutor/ year head) if there is a particular subject you would be interested in.
Meanwhile please read the newsletters to hear what is and has been happening in the network:
Newsletter 1