Useful contacts and further guidance
Learning to Listen provides guidance on the involvement of Children and Young People, and can be obtained from the Children and Young People's Unit, 4E Caxton House, 6-12 Tothill Street, London. SW1H 9NA, reference CYPUCP1 or from the Children and Young People's Unit website.
Consulting with Parents provides good practice guidelines on planning consultations for children's services and reaching parents. For copies contact National Early Years network, 77 Holloway Road, London N7 8JZ Phone 020 7607 9573.
Detailed information and guidance on governor and head-teacher responsibilities can be obtained from Roles of Governing Bodies and Head Teachers, issued by DCSF Reference DfEE 0168/2000.
A Guide to the Law for School Governors, for Community, Foundation, Voluntary Aided and Voluntary Controlled Schools is also now available to download, in Word, pdf and html versions.
The full text of the Regulations for governing bodies can be found on GovernorNet.
You can find contact details for local Rural Community Councils. For general enquiries write to The Countryside Agency, John Dower House, Crescent Place, Cheltenham, Glos GL50 3RA or telephone 01242 521 387.
The Ofsted website provides information on inspections and reports, advice and guidance including reports on individual services that schools may wish to offer. For general enquiries write to Ofsted, Alexandra House, 33 Kingsway, London WC2B 6SE.
Building Learning Communities is a toolkit published jointly by the DCSF and CEDC in 2000 and provides practical information and resources for developing the role of schools in the community. It is available from DCSF Publications as 344/2000 and can be downloaded from the Community Schools Network. For general enquiries or more information email Julian Piper at julian.piper@continyou.org.uk.
GovernorNet provides information on Governor responsibilities.
Information on charitable status can be obtained from the Charity Commission or by telephone on 0870 333 0123 and from the Inland Revenue.
Information about the letting of school premises owned by governing bodies, trustees and foundation bodies of foundation and voluntary schools.
Information on Data Protection can be obtained from the Office of the Information Commissioner. Alternatively you can phone the Information Line on 01625 545 745, or write to Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 5AF.
You can view an online version of the Education Act 2002. A copy can also be obtained by writing to The Stationery Office Ltd, PO Box 29, Norwich NR3 1GN or telephone 0870 600 5522.
More detailed information on how much to charge for activities, and how staff can be remunerated for out-of-school-hours activities can be found on GovernorNet.
Guidance on school charging and remissions policy can be found in the A-Z of School Leadership.
Information on finance and costs for new buildings can be found in guidance issued by the DCSF: Education Building Projects, Ref DCSF 0288/2003. You can also find further information about school building design and investment or by email from schools.capital@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk.
You can find information on Public Private Partnerships and the Private Finance Initiative.
General information on VAT for schools is available at the HM Customs and Excise website. The Customs National Advice Service can also provide guidance on schools' individual circumstances on 0845 010 9000.
Information on procedures for employing staff is available from the DfES on www.dcsf.gov.uk/a-z and from the Criminal Records Bureau at www.crb.gov.uk. Information can also be obtained by writing to Customer Services, CRB, PO Box 110, Liverpool L3 6ZZ or telephone 0870 90 90 811.
Further information on how school capacity is measured is available in Assessing the Net Capacity of Schools, issued by DfES, ReferenceDfES/0739/2001REV. Copies can be obtained from DfES Publications on 0845 6022260 or dcsf@prolog.uk.com or downloaded from www.dcsf.gov.uk/netcapacity.
Advice on community use is available in Building Bulletin 95, Schools for the Future: Designs for Learning Communities, available from the Stationery Office on telephone 0870 600 5522 or from www.teachernet.gov.uk/schoolbuildings.
The Governors' Guide to Estate Management is available from the DCSF.
General information on schools land and property can be obtained from www.teachernet.gov.uk/schoolslandandproperty.
Links to information on issues affecting school playing fields are available from www.teachernet.gov.uk/schoolplayingfield The Protection of School Playing Fields and Land for City Academies is available from this web site or in hard copy from the DCSF, Ref. DfES0580/01.
The DCSF Schools Assets team can be contacted on 01325 392136 or emailed at assets.schools@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk.
Detailed information on Health and Safety is available in Health and Safety: Responsibilities and Powers (DfES Guidance for LEAs and schools) http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/responsibilities and Health and Safety: DCSF A-Z of School Leadership and Management http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/a-z/HEALTH_AND_SAFETY.html Health and Safety information for governors is available at www.dcsf.gov.uk/governor.
General information on health and safety responsibilities, management, reporting accidents, etc. can be obtained from the Health and Safety Executive at www.hse.gov.uk or telephone 0870 154 5500.
Safe Keeping: A good practice guide for health and safety in study support is available from the DfES, reference DfEE 0197/2000 and is available from the DfES Publications on 0845 60 222 60 or email dcsf@prologistics.co.uk. Alternatively, you can obtain a copy by writing to DfES Publications, Sherwood Park, Annesley, Nottingham NG15 ODJ.
Guidance on First Aid for Schools: a good practice guide is available from the DfES at www.teachernet.gov.uk/firstaid.
Advice on risk assessment is available in the DfES A-Z of School Leadership and Management — Risk Assessment at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/a-z/RISK_ASSESSMENT.html The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also provides advice on risk assessment in 'Five Steps to Risk Assessment': HSE Books (tel 01787 881165) or from the HSE Hazards at Work— Risk Assessment webpage on http://213.212.77.20/pubns/raindex.htm.
More information on school security and roles and responsibilities can be found on www.dcsf.gov.uk/schoolsecurity and http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/a-z/SECURITY.html.
Managing School Facilities #4: Improving Security in Schools costs £6.95 from Stationary Office, or there is a limited number of free copies from PROLOG (DCSF Publications), telephone 0845 6022260. It can also be downloaded from http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/sbpublicationsandguidance.
Further information on general Fire Safety is included in Managing School Facilities Guide 6, available at www.teachernet.gov.uk/fire.
Information on insurance for schools is available at www.dcsf.gov.uk/a-z/INSURANCE.html.
The Disability Rights Commission publishes information on the Disability Discrimination Act including the Code of Practice for Schools www.drc-gb.org. For more information write to DRC Helpline, Freepost MID 02164, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 9HY or telephone 08457 622 633.
Energy advice, guidelines and sources of funding for schools can be found at www.schoolenergy.org.uk or from the Government's Environment and Energy Helpline on 0800 585794, where free site specific advice including surveys may be available.
Information on Energy efficient design can be found on Energy Conservation and Solar Centre web site at www.ecsc.org.uk
Further information for schools and local authorities on school travel plans and funding can be found at http://www.local-transport.dft.gov.uk/schooltravel
Schools can also receive free site specific advice including surveys on their travel plans from the Government's Environment and Energy Help line telephone 0800 585794.
The Healthy Schools programme encourages cycling and walking to school. Further information can be found on http://www.wiredforhealth.gov.uk/cat.php?catid=837
Information on practical projects, advice and ideas to encourage sustainable travel can be obtained from Sustrans at www.saferoutestoschools.org.uk. Alternatively, information can be obtained by phoning their Information Service on 0117 929 0888, or writing to Sustrans Head Office, 35 King Street, Bristol BS1 4DZ.
For more information on Vital Villages call 0870 333 0170 or visit the web site www.countryside.gov.uk/vitalvillages.
The community learning charity, ContinYou, offers practical advice on how to develop out-of-school-hours learning activities in reports, guides and briefings. It also provides good practice guides, publications and support on community education. See the ContinYou website www.continyou.org.uk for more information.
LAs can provide local EYDCP contact details.
General Information on EYDCPs can be found at www.dcsf.gov.uk/eydcp.
The Children and Young People's Unit is tasked with joining up policy-making for among children across Departments and removing barriers to effective working. Information on the CYPU can be found at www.cypu.gov.uk.
Information on regulation and registration of childcare can be found at www.ofsted.gov.uk. For telephone information on registering childcare, contact the Ofsted childcare helpline on 0845 601 4771.
Copies of the following publications can be obtained from DfES Publications, telephone 0845 6022260 or email dcsf@prolog.uk.com.
Childcare in Extended Schools: Providing opportunities and services for all offers detailed guidance on providing childcare through school premises.
Out-of-school-hours Childcare in Schools is a DfES good practice guide for schools considering the development of childcare on the school site. Reference EYDCP Rep 34.
Out of School Premises Guide provides detailed guidance on accommodation and equipment required. Reference PREMISES.
Good Practice in Childcare series.
The A-Z to Finding Funds provides detailed information on funding sources for childcare.
The National Childminding Association (NCMA) is a national charity and membership organisation that speaks on behalf of registered childminders in England and Wales. More information is available at www.ncma.org.uk or by telephoning 020 8464 6164. The Head Office address is Head Office Bromley, National Childminding Association, 8 Masons Hill, Bromley, Kent BR2 9EY.
National Day Nurseries Association is a national childcare charity, which promotes quality childcare and education for all children in the early years. Information is available at www.ndna.org.uk or by telephoning 0870 774 4244. Alternatively, write to National Day Nurseries Association, Oak House, Woodvale Road, Brighouse, West Yorkshire, HD6 4AB.
Daycare Trust is a national childcare charity promoting high quality affordable childcare for all. For more information visit www.daycaretrust.org.uk. Alternatively, telephoning their Childcare Hotline on 020 7840 3350 or write to Daycare Trust, 21 St Georges Road, London SE1 6ES.
Information about individual childcare services available in local areas throughout England, Wales and Scotland can be found at www.childcarelink.gov.uk. Details of local information services and factsheets on childcare options are available from ChildcareLink on their freephone number 08000 96 02 96.
Further information on National Childcare Month can be found at www.nationalchildcaremonth.com.
Removing Barriers to Achievement — the Government's strategy for SEN was launched by Charles Clarke on 11 February 2004. Its aim is to achieve a vision where all children and young people have the opportunity to achieve their full potential through good quality care, leisure services and school. The strategy covers childcare and all aspects of school life and it includes action on promoting inclusive care and leisure facilities as a priority within the extended schools progremme. It will be taken forward in collaboration with local authorities, the voluntary sector, schools and connexions. Implementation will be overseen by OfSTED. Removing Barriers to achievement can be viewed at www.teachernet.gov.uk/senstrategy .
Lifelong Learning
Schools wishing to become involved in lifelong learning initiatives should in the first instance contact their LA, who will be able to provide further information on their adult learning plan, opportunities for involvement based on the local area and well as practical advice and support. They will also be able to put schools in touch with local Basic Skills Regional Coordinators and many LAs also have a family learning coordinator.
General advice and support is available from:
ContinYou at www.continyou.org.uk or telephone 02476 588440.
National Institute of Adult Continuing Education at www.niace.org.uk or telephone 0116 204 4200/4201. Alternatively, write to NIACE, 21 De Montford Street, Leicester LE17 7GE.
Further information on Neighbourhood Learning Centres for disadvantaged areas can be found at www.skills.org.uk.
Additional information on adult and community learning can be found at http://www.direct.gov.uk/adultlearning
The learndirect national learning advice line, offers information and impartial advice on learning opportunities as well as information on career opportunities, funding and related issues such as childcare. The advice line can be contacted on 0800 100 900. The information and advice service is also available online at www.learndirect.co.uk.
For general information on the funding and planning of basic skills provision, contact the Learning and Skills Council on 0845 019 4170 or at their web site www.lsc.gov.uk.
For information on Skills for Life, the Government's strategy to improve adult literacy and numeric skills, contact the Adult Basic Skills Strategy Unit at the Department for Education and Skills on 0207 273 1223 or go to the website at www.dcsf.gov.uk/readwriteplus.
For information on how you can support the Get On promotional campaign, get advice or marketing materials, go to the Get on Web site at www.dcsf.gov.uk/get-on.
Further information on inspections by Ofsted and the Adult Learning
Inspectorate can be obtained from www.ofsted.gov.uk and www.ali.gov.uk. Alternatively, more information about Adult
Learning Inspectorate can be obtained by telephoning 0870 240 7744 or writing
to Adult Learning Inspectorate, Spring Place, Coventry Business Park, Herald
Avenue, Coventry CV5 6UD.
Information on basic skills research and programmes can be found at www.basic-skills.co.uk.
The Basic Skills Agency provides details on how to train as a Basic Skills teacher. For more information telephone 0207 4054 017 or write to The Basic Skills Agency (BSA), Commonwealth House, 1-19 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1NU. Alternatively, contact your local Further Education College or LA.
Parentline Plus provides information and help to parents and carers, including a 24 hour helpline on 0808 800 2222 and a website at www.parentlineplus.org.uk.
To help providers set up and run family learning activities, DCSF and NIACE have published a toolkit which is available from NIACE on 0116 204 4200 or via the web site at www.niace.org.uk.
Research on the benefits of family learning can be accessed on www.learningbenefits.net.
The Parents Centre provides information to parents on how they can support their child's education and participate in family learning. This can be accessed on www.dcsf.gov.uk/parents.
Further information and resources can be found in the family learning section at www.campaign-for-learning.org.uk or by telephoning on 020 7930 1111. The Head Office address is 19 Buckingham Street, London WC2N 6EF.
Healthcare and Social Services
Children's Trusts integrate local education, social care and some health services for children and young people.
Children's Trusts are a key organisational vehicle in the drive to achieve the five main outcomes for children identified in the recent Green Paper 'Every Child Matters' — being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making a positive contribution and economic well-being. In the Green Paper the Government stated that its long-term vision was to integrate key children's services within a single organisational focus. The preferred model for achieving this integration is Children's Trusts. The Green Paper confirmed that most areas should have Trusts by 2006.
Children's Trusts go beyond children, families and schools departments by including children's health services, connexions, youth offending teams etc.
Visit www.dcsf.gov.uk/childrenstrusts/ for further information.
Information on local PCTs is available from local authorities, GPs or local Healthy Schools Co-ordinators.
The Children and Young People's Unit is tasked with joining up policy-making for healthcare and social services among children across Departments and removing barriers to effective working. Information on the CYPU can be found at www.cypu.gov.uk.
Wired for Health provides information on healthy schools and provides links to regional and local healthy schools contacts and web sites and can be found at: http://www.wiredforhealth.gov.uk.
The Health Visitor and School Nurse Innovations Network exists to help local practitioners and gives examples of best practice. It is available at http://innovate.hda-online.org.uk/.
Information on Primary Care can be obtained from http://www.doh.gov.uk/pricare/. For general enquiries telephone 020 7210 4850 or write to The Department of Health, Richmond House, 17 Whitehall, London SW1A 2NS.
The Ofsted report on Sex and Relationships is available from the Ofsted website at www.ofsted.gov.uk.
The Teenage Pregnancy Unit web site contains information about the work of the cross-Government Unit and implementation of the Government's Teenage Pregnancy Strategy. Information can be obtained from www.teenagepregnancyunit.gov.uk . Alternatively, telephone 020 7972 5098 or write to Teenage Pregnancy Unit, Department of Health, 5th Floor, Skipton House, 80 London Road, London SE1 6LH.
Information on local NHS services is also available at http://www.nhs.uk/localnhsservices/. For general enquiries telephone their Enquiry Line on 020 7210 4850.
Information on The National School Fruit Scheme is available at www.doh.gov.uk/schoolfruitscheme.
Cultural and Sporting Activities
Information about lottery funding, and where to apply, is available at www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk or by telephone on 0845 275 000.
Further information on Awards for All is available from www.awardsforall.org.uk. Application forms can be obtained by calling 0845 600 2040.
Further information on Sport and education and sports organisations can be obtained from the Department of Culture, Media and Sports on www.culture.gov.uk, or by telephone on 020 7211 6000. Information can also be obtained by writing to The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH.
Sport England is a national agency leading in sports development work and committed to providing opportunities in sport for everyone. They distribute funding for both capital and revenue projects. More information and guidance notes can be found on www.sportengland.org.uk. Alternatively, you can telephone on 020 7273 1500 or write to Sport England, 16 Upper Woburn Place, London WC1H 0QP.
Information on regional contacts and national sports organisations can be obtained from the Sports Gateway at Sport England at http://www.sportengland.org/gateway/gateway_1.htm. Contact details as above.
Information and advice on individual programmes in your area can be obtained from your Sport England regional office, or from the Sport England Lottery Fund Helpline 0845 7649649.
The Youth Sport Trust website provides information for schools, teachers and Sports Development Officers. For more information phone 01509 226600 or write to Youth Sport Trust, Sir John Beckwith Centre for Sport, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU.
Schools interested in providing dual use facilities through the Best Value Programme should contact their local Leisure Services Departments.
The Arts Council distributes government and lottery funding and works to increase awareness and support for the arts across England. Further information can be found on www.artscouncil.org.uk or by telephoning 020 7333 0100. For general information or enquiries write to The Arts Council of England, 14 Great Peter Street, London SW1P 3NQ.
Information on the 16 pilot locations for Creative Partnerships can be found at www.creative-partnerships.com or by telephoning 020 7973 5133. Address as above.
Contact details and information on Regional Arts Councils and their activities can be found at www.arts.org.uk
Information and practical advice is available from the Campaign for Learning at Museums and Galleries at www.clmg.org.uk. For general information or enquires telephone 01288 354 536 or write to Nicola Nuttall, Director, CLMG, The Old Ship, Fore Street, Stratton, Cornwall EX23 9DA.
Further information on Artsmark can be obtained from www.artsmark.org.uk or by telephoning their Helpline on 0800 056 0196. Alternatively write to Artsmark, The Art Council of England, 14 Great Peter Street, London SW1P 3NQ.
Learning Through Culture, the DCSF good practice guide to museum and gallery education programme can be obtained from http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/museumsandgalleries.
More information on the National Foundation for Youth Music can be obtained from www.youthmusic.org.uk or by telephone on 020 7902 1060 and by post at National Foundation for Youth Music, 1 America Street, London SE1 0NE.
More information on Growing Schools can be found on www.schoolsgarden.org.uk.
Learning through Landscapes is a charity committed to improving the design, management and use of school grounds. Further details on Learning through Landscapes can be found at www.ltl.org.uk or by telephone on 01962 846 258 or by post at LTL, 3rd Floor, Southside Offices, The Law Courts, Winchester SO23 9DL.
Other Services for Children and Young People
More information is available on Connexions at www.connexions.gov.uk or by post at Connexions Service National Unit, DCSF, Moorfoot, Sheffield S1 4PQ.
More information on Study Support is available from www.standards.dcsf.gov.uk/studysupport/.
ContinYou provides advice, resources, information and support about out-of-school-hours learning from www.continyou.org.uk. Contact them by post at 17 Old Ford, London E2 9PL or telephone 020 8709 9900.
Information on Education Business Links and advice for schools on work experience and commercial activities in schools is available from www.dcsf.gov.uk/ebnet/.
Other Services for the Community
The Neighbourhood Renewal Unit offers information about the New Deal for Communities and Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder areas at www.neighbourhood.gov.uk. Information is also available on their Helpline on 020 7944 8383 or by writing at Neighbourhood Renewal Unit, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, 3rd Floor, C/5, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU.
Guidance on Safer Schools Partnerships is available at www.teachernet.gov.uk/streetcrime.
Together we can tackle it is produced by the Home Office and DfES and provides a checklist for police and schools working together to tackle truancy, crime and disorder. It can be downloaded from www.crimereduction.gov.uk/youth13.htm or from DfES Publications, reference Together we can tackle it.
The e-learning foundation was established to raise funds for the provision of information, learning, and communications technology for schools. More information is available at www.elearningfoundation.co.uk or by telephone on 01372 824 372 and by post on e-Learning Foundation, Dorset House, Regent Park, 297 Kingston Road, Leatherhead, Surrey KT22 7PL.
The objective of UK Online centres is to enable everyone in the UK that wants it to have access to the internet and e-mail near to where they live. Information on UK Online Centres can be found at www.dcsf.gov.uk/ukonlinecentres/.
learndirect has been developed to improve adult access to learning opportunities. More information can be obtained from the website www.learndirect.co.uk.
Parents Online aims to enhance the knowledge and use of the Internet by parents by providing them with free access through partnerships with UK online centres, schools, libraries and other organisations via a dedicated website, value and raising parents' awareness of the Internet, as an educational resource by holding online events. Further information can be obtained from the website: http://www.parentsonline.gov.uk/.
The Active Community Unit (ACU) helps support voluntary and community organisations. More information is available from Active Community Unit, telephone 0207 217 8400 or www.homeoffice.gov.uk. For general ACU enquiries you can telephone the Helpline on 020 7217 8400 or write to Home Office Customer Information Service, 7th Floor, 50 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AT.
More information on rural areas and developing services can be obtained from The Countryside Agency at www.countryside.gov.uk. Alternatively they can be contacted at The Countryside Agency, John Dower House, Crescent Place, Cheltenham, Glos GL50 3RA.
Information can also be obtained from Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) at www.acre.org.uk. They can also be contacted at ACRE, Somerford House, Somerford Road, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1TW.
Last updated: 29 April 2008
