Campaign to get families using services

ENGLAND – Parents will be targeted in a newly launched campaign, to help raise awareness of the range of activities, services and advice available through schools, as latest data shows that more than 90 per cent of schools are now offering extended services.

Over 20,000 schools are currently offering access to services for families in their local communities and thousands of children and parents are already benefiting.

The new campaign aims to get even more families taking up the services available by way of radio and press adverts.

Schools are working in partnership with local services in their area to offer a range of activities for families, including:

• before and after school activities including homework clubs, sport, music and arts activities – providing young people with a safe place to be before and after school.
   
• childcare from 8.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. for 48 weeks a year for primary schools, on the school site or through other local providers.
   
• parenting and family support, including parenting programmes and family learning sessions.
   
• swift and easy access to specialist services such as speech and language therapy and mental health services.
   
• community use of facilities including adult and family learning and information technology services.

Commenting on the campaign, children’s minister Dawn Primarolo said: “Extended services are a fantastic way for parents and families to access a range of activities, support and advice in a quick and easy way. I hope that our new campaign will help even more families use and benefit from the services on offer in their local area.

“It’s great to see that more than 90 per cent of schools are already providing the full core offer to families in their communities and we are well on our way to ensuring that all schools are able to provide extended services – reaching the vast majority of school-aged children and their families – by the end of 2010.”