The rollout of extended schools won't necessarily be bad news for children bullied or disillusioned with school, youth club leaders have said in response to concerns raised by children's workers that more after-school clubs could alienate unhappy pupils.

Ceri Davies, director of programme development at YMCA England, said: "It's the relationship between our staff and young people that is critical and having productive relationships with them outside of the school environment."

His comments follow a speech by education secretary Charles Clarke at a 4Children conference last week, where he reaffirmed proposals in the Department for Education and Skills' five-year plan for "wrap-around" care for children (Children Now, 14-20 July).

Some delegates at the conference told Children Now they were worried the focus on extended schools could alienate children either bullied at or disillusioned with school, or excluded from school altogether.

But Davies said the culture and nature of relationships in after-school clubs was more important than the building or environment. He also said the chance of bullying in properly run clubs was slim.

"The level of supervision needed to run after-school clubs is much higher than, say, levels during lunch breaks," he said. "You need a ratio of one staff member to every eight children aged under eight and most clubs apply this to the over-eights as well."

In his speech, Clarke admitted it would take time for all schools to make an extended schools offer to parents, either on their own or in partnership with other schools in their area.

"But we want it to happen and we will be providing practical help, training, capital funding as well as some revenue support to help roll out the strategy," he added.

A survey published by 4Children to coincide with the conference found that almost half of all primary schools thought they were likely to provide an extended school within the next two years.

It also found waiting lists for childcare and extra activities in school were 76 per cent oversubscribed, showing the demand from parents for more support.

The Daycare Trust said using school was an effective way of maximising existing resources to fill the childcare gap for older children.

The charity Parentline Plus said extra-curricular activities provided by schools should not be all academic, while teaching unions warned the extra workload must not fall on teachers.