Schools set to provide broader services for families

Children's Minister Margaret Hodge has announced that 61 schools have been earmarked to provide extended services for families.

The schools will provide a full range of community services, such as childcare, health care, study support and access to IT. By 2006, at least one school in every local education authority will receive funding to provide these services.

The government has also announced 29 more examples of joined-up early years services providing care, education and family support services for under-fives. They will join the network of Sure Start Children's Centres.

Margaret Hodge said these joined-up services mean "better support for children and families in England".

"The extended schools and children's centres that we are announcing today will help families access what they need, where and when they need it. They will act as one stop places, providing services organised around the needs of children and families," she said.

It is anticipated that after-school activities will help to make better use of buildings which would otherwise be empty and parents and grandparents will be encouraged into schools to help others or to learn themselves. Parents will also find it easier to access flexible childcare at the extended schools, the minister said.

New children's directors, proposed in the recent Children's Green Paper, will be responsible for bringing together all children's services in every local authority.

(gmcg)