Nursery World - Out-of-school clubs count on progress

* The number of after-school clubs in England has doubled since 1997, but the Kids' Clubs Network claims there is much more to be done. According to the charity, the 300m made available through the New Opportunities Fund in 1997 has made a big difference to out-of-school childcare, with 240,000 places at after-school clubs now compared with 115,000 in 1997. However, it said last week that the current expansion of out-of-school clubs would meet only 60 per cent of demand, and pointed to a problem of sustainability in disadvantaged areas.

According to the charity, the 300m made available through the New Opportunities Fund in 1997 has made a big difference to out-of-school childcare, with 240,000 places at after-school clubs now compared with 115,000 in 1997. However, it said last week that the current expansion of out-of-school clubs would meet only 60 per cent of demand, and pointed to a problem of sustainability in disadvantaged areas.

In a five-point plan, the KCN called for an extra 200m to cover start-up costs to reach the target of 20,000 clubs across the UK by 2010, more subsidy for clubs in disadvantaged areas, more access to school premises for community use, extra provision for children aged 12 to 14, and more training to ensure high-quality childcare.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included