Extended schools — what is the role of the local authority (LA)?
This section looks at what the Government's expectations for local authorities are in relation to extended services.
Personnel
Every local authority has at least one Extended Services adviser (often called an Extended Services remodelling adviser or ESRA) who will be working strategically with local schools (who will often have school based or cluster based co-ordinators), children's centres and local providers. They will be working closely with the Director of Children's Services.
Education Act 2002
It is the school's governing body who has the power and responsibility for extended services under the Section 27 of the Education Act 2002. Section 28 of this Act requires schools to consult with parents, pupils of the school and the LA. The expectation is that LAs will be able to advise schools on existing consultation exercises and offer tips. Schools will also need to share consultation that they have carried out with LAs. LAs will be well placed to help ensure there are links between the Children and Young People's Plan (C&YPP) and the school improvement plan.
Childcare Act 2006
This reinforces what LAs are already doing, working — in partnership with the private, voluntary and independent sector — to shape and secure children's services, and focuses in particular on the provision of sufficient, sustainable and flexible childcare that is responsive to parents' needs.
The Act gives LAs a new duty — coming into force in April 2008 — of securing, so far as is reasonably practicable, sufficient childcare to meet the needs of working parents and parents making the transition to work. A related duty, came into force in April 2007, which requires LAs to complete a childcare sufficiency assessment by April 2008, enabling them to identify gaps and establish plans to meet the needs of parents, so that they can fulfil the childcare sufficiency duty.
Extended schools (and Sure Start Children's Centres) will have an important role to play in the provision of childcare and in terms of providing access to childcare (i.e. signposting). Schools will also be able to provide information for the childcare sufficiency assessments and to help — in conjunction with a range of local partners — to ensure that parents can find the childcare they need.
Education and Inspections Act
This places a new requirement on governing bodies of schools to have regard to their local authority's Children and Young People's Plan (C&YPP). There is also an amendment to the C&YPP regulations to place a reciprocal duty on LAs that will require them to consult schools, schools forums and admissions forums during the preparation of the Plan. This will help to give schools a greater role in shaping services for their local community.
How LAs can help schools:
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Audit existing services, including demand — especially childcare
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Add to their knowledge of local providers, especially childcare
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Secure sufficient childcare for children in their area and provide positive activities for young people
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Provide integrated youth support arrangements, including targeted support for the most vulnerable
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Provide parenting support services — local authorities will be developing strategies for parenting support and identifying a single commissioner of parenting support services.
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Have clear procedures in place (e.g. the Common Assessment Form) to identify children's needs and bring services together to provide effective multi-agency support from professionals.
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Design contracts and guidance on charging for services, partnership, health and safety, insurance and transfer of control agreements etc.
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Consult with pupils, parents and the local community
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Commission services and develop multi-agency teams, using the children's trust arrangements
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Link with local Sure Start Children's Centres
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Set up governance arrangements — through co-ordinators of governor services (COGS)
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By having a strategic overview of how other schools in the areas are developing extended services and the children's trusts in the local area.
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Set up cluster arrangements
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Get access to funding — allocations for every LA's start up funding for 2005-08 are available on the funding page.
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Link extended services into the LA Children and Young People Plan (C&YPP)
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Link with the local PCT
Case studies
All schools in Portsmouth are providing access to
the core offer of extended services
The local authority has formed five community improvement partnerships
containing all schools in the local authority. The partnerships enable the
schools to share extended services with primary care trusts, police forces and
voluntary organisations. The head teacher of one of the infant schools in
Portsmouth has said: "The clubs, run by staff, local club leaders and
providers have helped to make school life exciting and purposeful. Some of the
sports, IT and arts activities offered have helped raise our children's
self esteem, confidence levels, and improve emotional and physical
health". Read more here.
Swift and easy referral and multi agency working
— Poole Borough Council
Poole Borough Council has established two multi-agency locality groups to bring
together closer integration of children's services in the borough and
support the delivery of the five Every child matters outcomes and
extended school services. The groups are having a real impact on the speed and
manner in which children and families are able to access a wide range of
support services. Read more here.
Co-ordinating a wide range of holiday provision
— Surrey County Council
Surrey County Council have organised holiday activity weeks that bring
together pupils from eleven schools, targeting children with most need who
might not otherwise have access to such activities. The holiday activity
sessions pool resources from the schools as well as from local providers and
sports coaches, for example YMCA. Meath Green infants and junior schools are
jointly offering holiday childcare a provision which is open to children from
any of 11 Horley schools. Read more here.
Read more case studies showing local authority appraches here.
Last updated: 09 February 2009
