Extended Schools Remodelling Support Programme
The development of Extended Schools is one of the fundamental elements in the Government's Change for Children strategy as set out in the extended schools prospectus 'Access to Services and Opportunities for All' published in June 2005. This identifies a core of extended services which it expects all children and families to be able to access through their local schools by 2010 – which are:
- high quality and affordable 8am-6pm childcare provided on the school site or through other local providers.
- a varied menu of activities - to include study support, and activities for young people to do after school at weekends and during school holidays.
- parenting support - to include information sessions, transition programmes and family learning opportunities.
- swift and easy access to specialist support services for pupils.
- wider community access to school facilities - including ICT, sports and arts facilities and adult learning opportunities.
In April 2005 the Government charged the National Remodelling Team (NRT) with putting in place a training support programme for schools to be delivered through the local authoritiesThe County Council was required to nominate an Extended Schools Remodelling Adviser (ESRA) and to train a number of Extended Schools Remodelling Consultants (ESRC's) to deliver a national programme of extended schools remodelling workshops. The ESRA and the consultants, the delivery of the remodelling programme and the on-going support of the schools engaged was all expected to be funded from the extended schools Standards Fund grant (SFG). The County Council opted to split the ESRA role between the Education Officer for Extended Schools and a part-time officer in Education Personnel service, who had experience of the previous remodelling work with schools.
The NRT (now merged with the Training Development Agency (TDA).then set targets for local authorities for the number of schools to be engaged in the remodelling programme and more recently the number of schools delivering the full core offer.Local authorities have listed all their individual schools on a national database, and must update entries as schools start to deliver any of the core services.
Hampshire Extended Schools Remodelling Support Programme
In September 2005 all Hampshire schools were invited to join an Extended Schools Remodelling Support Programme for their area. By June 2006 over 30 school clusters involving 200 schools had engaged with the first series of 10 programmes underway across the county.By January 2007 there are 18 programmes underway with over 350 schools engaged.
The programme is designed for all the schools within two or three clusters or pyramids to participate with partner representatives from a given area. The programme currently comprises a series of 3 workshops, preceded by a briefing session for cluster heads and governors, and developmental work between each stage. The workshops are delivered by a small team of consultants who have been trained by the TDA to facilitate the process. Each programme is scheduled over approximately two terms but can be adjusted according to how far schools have already progressed prior to the first workshop or the amount of time needed for the developmental work between the workshops.
Three places are allocated to each school to enable participation by delegates drawn from the school leadership team, the governing body and the school support staff, and to create a small change team that can report back and ensure continuity between workshops. Each school is encouraged to identify and invite key partner representatives drawn from local community organisations they are already engaged with in providing services or new partners they would wish to engage with.
Partners might include current service providers, local PCT/health representatives, organisations within the voluntary sector, the police, local childcare providers, Connexions, local parish, district or borough councils – especially leisure and community officers, businesses with school links, church and faith groups, youth service, resident and community associations, community centres, private education/training providers, sports and arts groups, local strategic partnerships, FE/HE colleges. All relevant County Social Care and Education departments will be informed of the workshop dates directly by us.
The programme provides the opportunity to identify and build on existing good practice; map current local provision; identify gaps and the opportunities these may represent for collaboration and development; consider joint resourcing and priorities; develop plans for further extended services that meet locally identified needs, support school improvement plans and Every Child Matters outcomes. The programme is funded through the Hampshire Extended Schools Standards Fund.