Anne Longfield, Chief Executive of 4Children said: “Whilst we recognise the concerns of some headteachers around the speed of the rollout of extended schools we know that the vast majority of headteachers are not opposed to the principle of extending school services. 4Children has been working closely with the Department for Education and Skills, TDA and Continyou to advise all schools on how to create more opportunities for children. The aim of extended school services is not to place extra burdens on teachers but to maximise the potential of the school as an important centre of the community bringing together existing childcare providers to create services that work with and compliment school services.
 
“At present over 50 per cent of childcare schemes for school age children operate on school premises with many more partnerships between schools and childminding networks, nurseries and community based clubs developing all the time. Linking provision in this way helps parents and children and significantly reduces the burden for teachers.  It also helps ensure that childcare providers can offer high quality, affordable support for children and families – whether childcare is run from the school or in the community and linked to the school.
 
“But long term support and increased funding beyond 2010 is still needed to make sure that extended schools are embedded into the services we provide for children. Local authorities, external childcare providers and community services all need to be supported so that the financial burden does not fall on schools to provide this service.“

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