The publication, 'Choice for parents, the best start for children: making it happen' states that currently 12 per cent of primary schools and 10 per cent of secondary schools offer access to some term-time childcare. Since September 2005, more than 5,000 schools have agreed to take part in the Government's extended schools programme.
A timeline illustrates the Government's aim to have 2,500 schools providing access to a core of extended services by September 2006 and 7,500 by the following year. Half of primary and a third of secondary schools should be extended by 2008.
The plan sets a framework for how the Government expects local authorities to deliver care. Services will be developed in consultation with parents and the wider community and in response to local need.
Jim Wallman, head of development for Kids' City out-of-school providers, said of the timeline, 'It's a tall order and its success is based on whether there is sustainability and making sure that the funding flow works. Kids' City has recently undertaken an expansion plan and that shows that it is possible but it is quite a stretch. Start-up funding is not quite fully on its way down to the service delivery level. It is being used to build infrastructure at the local authority level which is currently causing a delay.
'There is also the question of funding services in areas where families can't afford to pay. It is fine in areas of relative wealth, but our concern is for areas of relative deprivation where maybe start-up will not happen as fast, or even worse, provision starts and fails, which does not help anyone.'
Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, called the publication 'an important milestone in the development of new support for children and families in the UK'. She said, 'The challenge now is for all local authorities and partners to develop joined-up support for children and families in every community, from the early years through to teenagers.
'All evidence shows that investing in families in this way will be of major benefit to children, parents and the wider community, with reductions in inequalities from health to education and employment.'
For a copy of the publication go to www.surestart.gov.uk.
