The report, Small Schools, Big Communities: Village Schools and Extended Services, by the group Capacity, says that rural poverty is often hidden and not recognised by standard measures of deprivation.
It highlights a lack of affordable housing, poor public transport and the loss of local services as typical barriers facing rural families.
The report details the work of four extended schools clusters in rural areas. It says that village schools that offer extended services such as childcare and out-of-school provision are crucial in raising the achievement of children from isolated communities.
Margaret Lochrie, director of Capacity, said, 'Village schools are not only good for children, but provide an essential lifeline for families in need of help. As local authorities are required to reduce their spending, it is vital that the needs of rural families are not overlooked.
'The Government is due to introduce a Pupil Premium to provide additional funding for disadvantaged children. It is important that the formula adopted by the Department for Education for determining the payment reflects rural as well as urban types of disadvantage'.
One of the report's case studies is Docking Primary School, a village school in Norfolk that offers after-school and breakfast clubs, an educational psychologist, an advisory support teacher for children with special needs, a dental hygienist, a police community support office and a school nurse. The school also offers access to child and adolescent mental health services and parenting support. Every Thursday, the village's community bus picks up three or four elderly residents who join the children in the sports hall for lunch.
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