Industry News
Government to boost extended school services
Posted on 26th July 2007
The Department for Children, Schools and Families has announced that it is to invest more than £1 billion in the extended schools programme over the course of the next three years.
The new initiative is aimed at ensuring that all schools will offer some extended services by 2010, including breakfast clubs, childcare, family learning and parental support.
Schools can choose to provide services themselves, or work in partnership with other schools, as well as local voluntary and community organisations.
Children, schools and families secretary Ed Balls said: "As the best schools demonstrate, you cannot raise standards and close achievement gaps without focusing on all the needs of every single child and tackling every obstacle to their learning."
Extended schools are a way of helping to improve children's lives and their level of attainment, he added.
Earlier in the month the government announced that it would be launching a £100 million campaign to ensure that every child has the opportunity to participate in at least five hours of sport each week.