Autumn start for school childcare
Alison Mercer
Wednesday, September 4, 2002
Schools will be able to provide childcare for the first time this autumn - a development that the out-of-school charity Kids' Clubs Network (KCN) hopes will revolutionise provision for older children. At present, there are only enough places for 6 per cent of school-age children. However, KCN believes the Education Act, which gave schools new powers to provide childcare from 2 September, will pave the way for a significant expansion.
At present, there are only enough places for 6 per cent of school-age children. However, KCN believes the Education Act, which gave schools new powers to provide childcare from 2 September, will pave the way for a significant expansion.
Anne Longfield, KCN chief executive, said, 'The Education Act could revolutionise school-age childcare in England.
'It could bring us in line with France, where schools already play a much bigger role in the community.
'Schools there are open for a longer day than in the UK, and childcare is part of the service they provide to families.
'The Education Act means we could see a dramatic increase in school-age childcare and, over the next few years, a steady climb towards our goal of an out-of-school club in, or close to, every primary school.'
Surveys by KCN have consistently shown the biggest stumbling block to anyone planning to open an out-of-school club is premises.
Until now, schools have not been able to provide community services such as childcare themselves, and this has placed a physical barrier on the growth of out-of-school clubs, which has now been removed.
KCN also believes that clubs based outside schools couldbenefit from the change, as schools might be able to provide them with increased support and information.
