After-school clubs help pupils but need steady funding

27 Jul 06
Breakfast and after-school clubs have a beneficial effect on children's confidence and motivation but they are being hampered by short-term funding, school inspectors said this week.

28 July 2006

Breakfast and after-school clubs have a beneficial effect on children's confidence and motivation but they are being hampered by short-term funding, school inspectors said this week.

An Ofsted survey examined the effect extended schools had on children and young people, as well as on adults and the wider community, following the government's pledge that by 2010 all children should have access to a variety of activities beyond the school day.

The report, published on July 26, said services were more successful when they were delivered to a plan that secured standards, value for money, affordability and long-term sustainability.

Miriam Rosen, Ofsted's director of education, said: '[Extended services] are giving users more self-confidence, helping them to develop better relationships with family members and peers and raising their aspirations and attitudes to learning.'

However, there were concerns that short-term funding made it difficult for providers to plan strategically. Limited spending periods for some grants constrained the breadth and depth of services, while the short time between the planning period and start of funding did not always allow for adequate consultation.

Anne Longfield, chief executive of the children's services charity 4Children, praised the report. 'To embed extended schools further, we need to make some of the changes recommended in the report,' she told Public Finance.

A separate study, published by Ofsted on July 21, showed that the majority of schools welcome the shorter, sharper inspection regime and believe it has already contributed to improvements.

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