Extended Schools - Extended services
The Extended Schools initiative aims to support learning and attainment, community cohesion and economic activity by ensuring that schools and other agencies work together to support delivery of a core offer:-

• Childcare before and after school and during school holiday. Delivered by schools on site or by third party providers on or off site.
• A varied menu of activities before and after school and during school holidays. To support and enrich children's learning. To help children and young people develop positive aspirations.
• Parenting support including family learning. Ensuring that parents have enough information to enable them to give their children the best support throughout their education. Providing additional and more specialist information as required. Supporting families that are moving toward crisis or are dysfunctional.
• Quick and Easy Referral. The use of the Common Assessment process to identify and refer children, young people and their families who are in need of additional support, beyond that delivered by the school,  to organizations that can provide it.
• Community access. Enabling the wider community e.g. Senior Citizens, youth organisations to make use of the extensive facilities within schools.

The services are delivered via 6 clusters of schools grouped on a geographical basis. These clusters identify the local need and the programme that will be offered either on a school site or through an alternative local facility. For national developments click on www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/extendedschools