Department for Education
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Dawn Primarolo: Get to know what activities are on offer through your school

- New campaign to get more families using extended services

Parents will be targeted in a new campaign launched today, to help raise awareness of the range of activities, services and advice available through schools, as latest data shows that more than 90 per cent of schools are now offering extended services.

Over 20,000 schools are currently offering access to services for families in their local communities and thousands of children and parents are already benefiting. The new campaign aims to get even more families taking up the services available – with radio and press adverts starting today.

Schools are working in partnership with local services in their area to offer a range of activities for families, including:

.  before and after school activities including homework clubs, sport, music and arts activities - providing young people with a safe place to be before and after school 
.  childcare from 8am-6pm for 48 weeks a year for primary schools, on the school site or through other local providers 
.  parenting and family support, including parenting programmes and family learning sessions 
.  swift and easy access to specialist services such as speech and language therapy and mental health services 
.  community use of facilities including adult and family learning and information technology services

Commenting on today’s campaign, Children’s Minister Dawn Primarolo said:

“Extended services are a fantastic way for parents and families to access a range of activities, support and advice in a quick and easy way. I hope that our new campaign will help even more families use and benefit from the services on offer in their local area.

“It’s great to see that more than 90 per cent of schools are already providing the full core offer to families in their communities and we are well on our way to ensuring that all schools are able to provide extended services – reaching the vast majority of school-aged children and their families - by the end of 2010.

“As part of the Government’s vision for 21st century schools, we are committed to offering all young people and families access to exciting and constructive activities and services - regardless of background or income. We know that extended services can help to raise young people’s motivation, aspiration and achievement, as well as improve behaviour. That’s why we’ve provided over £200m to subsidise extended services for the most disadvantaged families.”

The Government is providing over £200m funding from 2008-11 to help support children and families from disadvantaged backgrounds, through the extended services subsidy. The subsidy is helping schools to ensure that services are available to all young people - including those who may not normally be able to afford them.

Insia Ishaji, who benefited from extended services on offer in her school and is now a Youth Ambassador for University of the First Age (an extended services provider),said:

“Extended Services gave me opportunities in life, changed me for the better, and ultimately helped me realise my dream job,”

“I love being able to share my journey with other young people and to give them life-changing opportunities.”

Editor's Notes
This press notice relates to 'England'
1. The extended services marketing campaign is launched today and includes radio and press adverts. Parents can find out more by visiting:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/extendedservices

2. Extended services are a key objective of the Government’s Children’s Plan and part of the vision for 21st Century Schools. Introduced in 2008 – the Government has invested over £1billion in extended services. The core offer is set out in the extended schools prospectus – available here: http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/_doc/13061/esp2008.pdf . Latest figures from the Training and Development Agency show that more than 90% of schools are now providing the core offer.

3. Through the extended services disadvantaged subsidy, over £200m is being provided between 2008-11 to re-engage children from low income families and children in care with the education system so they can benefit from new opportunities. The Training and Development Agency deliver this on behalf of Government – for more information visit: http://www.tda.gov.uk/remodelling/extendedschools.aspx

Contact Details
Public Enquiries 0870 000 2288,
info@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk

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