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Kent Extended Services support schools both centrally and
through cluster based Extended Services Development Managers to
develop  a range of services to support schools to
build their capacity to become universal access points for
Children, Families and Communities.
The Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF) has set
out a core offer of services which requires that schools will
provide access to quality childcare, parent support, including
family learning, community access including Adult Education, study
support with a varied menu of activities and swift and easy access
to specialist services.
Having achieved the stretch target in 2007, set by the DCSF,
there are currently 183 schools in Kent who are delivering the full
core offer. By September 2008 the Extended Services Team is
required to ensure that over 300 schools are delivering the full
spectrum of services detailed by the core offer and by 2010 all
Kent schools must be delivering to this standard.
Extended Schools, working in tandem with Children's centres and
local prevention and early intervention teams provide a range of
support locally, designed to respond to family needs. Many schools
have developed their own range of support programmes to meet the
needs they have uncovered through local consultation. In many
clusters the Extended Services Development Managers (ESDM) have
brokered successful local partnerships with childcare providers,
youth, leisure and health care provision to ensure economies of
scale can be achieved by schools working in smaller partnership
groups to deliver activities and services across a locality, thus
building a sustainable resource for communities.
In 2007 four Kent schools achieved Advanced Status as Extended
Schools, through the Integrated Quality Framework assessed by
Quality In Study Support (QISS) at Canterbury Christ Church
University. Homewood School, Sittingbourne Community College, The
Canterbury Campus and Christ Church CE Primary School were the
first in the country to be accredited as advanced by the National
Assessment Team. The schools will be receiving their award in
London on 7 February 2008. |