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.
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