Schools struggle to find money for extended services

A government report into the first year of extended services found that around half of school staff believed they did not have adequate funding to make after-school clubs and other activities a success.

This comes amid mounting pressure from pupils and parents to increase the range of activities.

Four out of 10 parents want schools to help more with childcare needs, particularly during holidays.  

The full range of extended services means schools should be offering out-of-school-hours activities, childcare, parenting support, access to other services such as health and opening up school facilities to the community.

However, a third of parents said that their child’s school was still not making school buildings and grounds readily available to the community.

The majority of pupils surveyed wanted to see a greater range of activities available at different times, before and after school and during school holidays.

Schools are also being called on by parents to improve promotion of extended services. While nine out of 10 schools were providing holiday activities, just four out of 10 parents knew about them.

Promotion also needs to focus more on disadvantaged pupils. A third of school staff surveyed said they struggled to attract disadvantaged pupils and families to take part in extended services activities and support.

The report adds: "Few parents felt they knew a great deal about the kinds of additional services offered by their child’s school."

Alison Ryan, education policy adviser at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, said: "It’s clear from this research that there is a demand for extended services. However, those who most need these services are often hard to reach. The coalition government’s budget cuts will hit the poorest in our society, so it’s vital that those planning extended services find more effective strategies to reach these families."

She added that the role local authorities play in coordinating extended services and getting schools to work together may be jeopardised by the move to create academies and free schools. "The government needs to put in place a stable funding regime to ensure consistent and sustainable provision across the country."