4Children was commissioned to examine extended services in nine special schools in the East Midlands in early 2007, funded by the Department for Education and Skills (now the Department for Children, Schools and Families) through the Fast Track programme. The Final Report, launched in March 2007, explores the innovative practices and the considerable diversity of ways that these schools are shaping delivery of extended services to achieve better outcomes for children and families. It also identifies the challenges that remain in the process towards delivery of the full core offer.

Key success factors that were found to be consistent across the schools and central to the delivery of effective services for the children and their families include:

Partnership with a range of other agencies, specifically health

Expertly trained staff able to meet the individual needs of pupils

Creative and innovative ideas and determination to overcome barriers

Holistic view of the children’s and families’ needs, and understanding of the individual support needs of parents and carers

Provision of the full childcare offer 8am–6pm was recognised as being challenging to deliver, and support from the private and voluntary sectors was highlighted as being necessary to achieving high quality services in which parents can place their trust. The main barrier to providing services beyond the school day which was most often referred to was transport.

Other issues which were identified include:

Whether the range of childcare services being offered were covering all the needs of the families in the community – highlighting the importance of regular, varied and accessible methods of consultation

Providing parenting support can be particularly difficult in relation to those parents and carers with whom there is little or no contact – schools need to consider how they can reach these individuals

Access to the community and the range of facilities that could be offered to the community varies according to the location and suitability of the school premises

The report recommended that individual schools needed to consider how they could ensure that the appropriate range of childcare services is available, to enable parents to make informed choices. Also, where a need for services is identified, the school should aim to identify where appropriate provision can best be offered and in what ways their skills and knowledge can be used to support the quality of the provision.

For more information about the report, Special schools in the East Midlands delivering the full core offer of extended services: an examination of best practice, and the services available through Consultancy4Children, please call 4Children on 020 7512 2100.

Click here to view the report.


Editors notes:

Regional Partnerships
Multi-agency and collaborative working has defined the Regional Partnerships approach since they were established in 1999. Funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), the Regional Partnerships have developed a unique partnership approach to policy and practice development in children’s services. The Partnerships’ main focus is upon improving services and provision for children with special educational needs and disability.

Since April 2006, the focus of the Partnerships widened to support many children with additional needs or whose circumstances make them vulnerable, including those who are Looked After by the Local Authority. The Regional Partnerships work through a range of stakeholders from statutory agencies, voluntary and community sector and regional Government Offices.

The East Midlands Regional Partnership is facilitated by Pat Graham and Pat Bullen. They are supported by Keeley Jenkins, the Partnership’s Administrator.

Find out more about the East Midlands Regional Partnership at: www.em-rp.org.uk

4Children
4Children is the leading agency shaping and influencing national policy, and developing and delivering a wide range of innovative children’s services throughout the country. 4Children plays a key role in the current move to universal and preventative services for children and families, highlighting the need for and supporting integrated thinking and delivery throughout childhood and adolescence; 0–19 years.

Consultancy 4Children provides authoritative advice and strategic support to help turn policy into practice. 4Children works closely with a number of government departments, including the Treasury, Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and Department of Health on strategic planning and development. 4Children is commissioned by the DfES to provide innovative Fast Track strategic intervention and roll-out support to Local Authorities, and to support the delivery of extended services including childcare in and around schools.

4Children’s network of senior consultants offer strategic and operational advice on developing children’s centres, extended schools, youth services, and wider support for childcare in partnership with the voluntary and community, private and independent sectors.

Click here to find out more about Consultancy 4Children.

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