CYP Now - In Practice: Know how

Many children's centres are being established on school sites. Meanwhile, schools are looking at bringing in private and voluntary sector organisations to run childcare and other family and community services as part of extended services. This is when the issue of governance - or who is in charge of what - rears its head. There is a range of models and it's important that governing bodies, head teachers, and partners find the right one for them.

1. Governing bodies must be clued up about extended schools and the coreoffer of services they're expected to provide, because they should betaking the lead. This includes identifying gaps in provision, consultingparents and the wider community, and identifying and buildingrelationships with external providers. A small governing body couldidentify one person to lead on this while a larger secondary schoolmight set up a sub-group.

2. Governing bodies are not alone in this work. Each authority has atleast one co-ordinator of governor services, who can advise ondelivering the core offer. There's also the local authority's extendedschools remodelling adviser, who can offer advice and support on how toproceed and make best use of funding. The chair of governors should alsowork closely with the head teacher.

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