Activities and provision offered through Extended Schools are not prescribed but are decided in consultation with pupils, staff, parents and the community. Many schools that are already offering activities like homework clubs, after school sport activities, use of ICT to support learning and leisure, childcare and hiring out premises do not recognise that they are also an extended school - but they are. Extended Schools meet local need, which is why there is no single model.

Extended schools cannot work in isolation to provide this wide range of activities and school staff are not expected to deliver services on their own. Expertise from other schools, the community and other agencies can be drawn upon so that a wide range of quality and fulfilling activities can be offered. Schools that offer activities in partnership with other professional organisations like football coaching, health advice and guidance, or art are also Extended Schools. Governing bodies have a crucial part in developing and sustaining extended activities. The Governing Body, working in partnership with the school head and senior management team provide the vision and support to schools in developing extended services.

Our aim is for every school to provide extended activities and services:

• of a high standard with quality assurance processes built in
• delivered through community facing partnerships, using the wealth of expertise in our schools, private business, voluntary sector and professional agencies
• provided throughout the year, including school holidays to utilise the specialist facilities that our schools have to offer
• accessible to everyone - girls, boys, different ethnic groups, parents/carers, vulnerable children, children with SEN, young people, the local community
• which maximise the potential of the borough’s broadband network and e-learning services to support communication and information management, personalised learning, and enjoyment

• Find out the key contribution that extended schools can make to achieving the Every Child Matters outcomes
• Find out the wider benefits of extended schools.