The role of school governors in extended services

What are extended services?

All schools are expected to provide access to a ‘core offer’ of extended services – and governing bodies have an important role to play in making sure these services are designed to meet the needs of children, young people, families and the community.

Extended services can help you deliver the vision for your school and your school cluster. They increase the school’s capacity to meet children’s needs and can be a powerful mechanism for improving life chances. Extended services are a key building block for the Government’s vision of a 21st century school that develops the talents of all children and young people and equips them for the future. This will support further integration of extended services, high-quality teaching and learning, a skilled workforce and effective partnership working.

The core offer comprises:

• a varied menu of activities (including study support and play) plus childcare in primary schools

• swift and easy access to targeted and specialist services

• parenting support to help them engage with their children’s learning, and

• community access to facilities such as playing fields, sports halls and ICT suites.

The role of school governors

Governing bodies must ensure that extended services help to promote high standards of education. The schools that see the greatest benefit are those that ensure extended services have explicit objectives that are linked to the school improvement plans and pupils’ learning needs – for example, improving literacy,communication skills, confidence and team working. Provision is often most effective when targeted to particular groups of pupils to achieve specific outcomes and planned across a locality where possible. Appropriate governance arrangements are an essential element of setting up extended services.

More information from www.tda.gov.uk