Nursery World - Plans outlined for extended schools

Schools in England are set to offer childcare, healthcare and family support as part of the Westminster government's Pounds 52m extended schools programme, Sure Start minister Catherine Ashton announced last week. Speaking at the Kids' Clubs Network annual conference in London, Catherine Ashton said there would be 240 extended schools in England by 2006, at least one for every local authority.

Speaking at the Kids' Clubs Network annual conference in London, Catherine Ashton said there would be 240 extended schools in England by 2006, at least one for every local authority.

Extended schools and children's centres are seen as key to the Government's vision of integrated and sustainable childcare provision. Extended schools are intended to offer childcare, health and social care, family learning, study support, lifelong learning, sports, arts and ICT access.

The funding for extended schools will be aimed at disadvantaged areas initially. It is anticipated that 61 will be established in the first year of the scheme.

A spokeswoman for the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) acknowledged that aspects of the scheme were similar to the New Community Schools (NCS) programme in Scotland, first piloted in 1999. The Scottish Executive is rolling out the approach to all local authorities by 2006 and to every school by 2007.

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