17 June 2005
Government plans to extend school opening hours have been met with pleas for proper funding from councils and head teachers.
By 2010, schools will be expected to offer childcare from 8am to 6pm, providing a range of before and after school activities such as homework clubs, music lessons and sport. Schools will receive funding of £250m directly, while local authorities will distribute a further £430m.
But the Local Government Association warned that this might not be enough. Alison King, chair of the LGA's children and young people board, said: 'For this programme to work effectively, it is crucial that sufficient funds are provided. The funding only extends for two years and the amounts, which equate to £30,000 a year for a primary school and £50,000 for a secondary school, really do not go far, particularly if it's going to be used for capital works.'
Head teachers also called for the scheme to be properly resourced. John Dunford, general secretary of the Secondary Heads Association, said there was a risk that extended schools would draw heads away from their core responsibilities.
'Heads must continue to be in charge of schools and resources must be used to ensure adequate support is available to provide these wider activities. Entrusting the leadership of extended schools to other professionals is not an option,' he said.
A prospectus published by the Department for Education and Skills on June 13 set out the government's vision of what extended schools could offer. Education Secretary Ruth Kelly said parents should take a lead in determining what services were available at their child's school.
'We're not expecting teachers to deliver these services but for schools to work with providers in the voluntary and private sectors, support staff and other children's services to develop their local provision,' she added.
According to the DfES prospectus, primary schools might also offer parenting support and referral to, for example, speech and language therapists, while secondary schools might provide wider community access to computing, sports and arts facilities.
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