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Transforming services for young people
The Council has moved a step closer to extending the services available through the borough’s schools with an agreement to press ahead with four schemes as the first phase of an exciting initiative.
Executive Councillor for Children and Young People Councillor Graham Arthur has given his backing to proposals to develop Extended Schools in four areas with differing levels of need and existing facilities.
Divided into nine area-based groups, schools were asked to get together to propose how they could contribute to the Extended Schools programme. Phase one will commence from next month with a second phase expected in April 2006.
Councillor Arthur said: “We are really moving forward with our plans to transform services for young people in our communities. We are committed to ensuring all children and young people in this borough have the opportunities to thrive.”
Extended Schools will provide access to a range of services - such as childcare, education, sports, the arts, health and social care, and community uses - outside normal school hours.
Not all services will necessarily be provided on site and schools will not be expected to run all of them, but will work in partnership with other local agencies and groups.
The Priory School, in Orpington, became Bromley’s first Extended School in January and their expertise will be used to help develop schemes across the borough.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
One submission was requested from each of nine localities, based on strategic planning areas.
Phase one will cover: Planning area 1 - Clock House, Crystal Palace, Penge and Cator; Planning area 3 - Hayes and Coney Hall, Shortlands, West Wickham; Planning area 6 - Chislehurst, Mottingham and Chislehurst North; Planning area 8 - Chelsfield, Pratts Bottom, Orpington.
Each will be invited to appoint or second a project co-ordinator to work with the schools and other agencies to implement the “core offer” of Extended Schools.
The core offer covers:
high quality childcare, with supervised transfer where appropriate, between 8am and 6pm all year round;
a variety of education, sport and arts activities beyond school hours, including homework clubs, music tuition, dance and drama, special interest clubs, foreign languages, business and enterprise activities etc;
parenting support and family learning sessions;
quick and easy referral to a wide range of specialist support services, such as speech therapy, mental health services, family support, behaviour support and sexual health services; and
providing wider community access to computing, sports and arts facilities including adult learning.
Developments will link in with the Council’s proposals to expand Children’s Centres, for under-fives, across the borough.
For media enquiries, please contact Richard Simcox, Communications Officer on 020 8313 4310, or email richard.simcox@bromley.gov.uk.