Extended Schools Provision

The Governments Extended Schools Strategy requires that by 2010 every state school in the UK is delivering at least the Core Offer of Extended Services to it’s staff, pupils, parents and the wider local community.

The Core Offer of Extended Services is split into five categories:

  • Wrap-around childcare (mainly a requirement for Primary schools)
  • Varied menu of activities (available to staff, pupils & parents)
  • Parenting support (advice groups, training, hobbies etc)
  • Swift & easy referral (targeting the safety, health & wellbeing of young people)
  • Community access to facilities (making use of schools and local community facilities)

In September 2007, the college appointed an Extended Schools Co-ordinator, who would primarily focus on broadening the college’s existing extended services provision, in line with the Extended Schools and Every Child Matters agenda, and to enhance our relationships with our main feeder primaries, and as a cluster, work together to provide a range of activities/facilities for the pupils, parents, staff and members of our local community.

Since the appointment of our Extended Schools Co-ordinator, the College has been successful in the delivery of Extended Services and has worked with our feeder primaries to introduce the following activities/projects since September 2007:

  • Successfully carried out a consultation with pupils and parents of Ercall Wood.
  • Established good links and have regularly met with or are in contact with the Headteachers of each of the primaries to discuss views and requirements of the Extended Schools Agenda.
  • Organised two projects to run over February half term which involved pupil, parent and teacher participation from all four schools.
  • Parents’ events – have worked with various members of staff in organising a Healthy Schools event and KS3 booster classes for parents.
  • Worked with the Headteachers from Wrekin View and Short Wood Primaries in setting up Breakfast clubs which were funded by the Extended Schools cluster money.
  • Introduced to each school the PFS programme (Playing for Success) which is a Literacy & Numeracy booster workshop held at Telford AFC Study Centre over a 9 week period.
  • Currently working with different departments in setting up various during and after-school activities for our feeder primaries.
  • A summer holiday Rock School involving pupils from Ercall Wood and Year 6 students from feeder primaries.
  • A Summer fair with the PTFA of Ercall Wood and Wrekin View schools held at Ercall Wood.
  • Arts Extend – worked with 4 members of our School Council on producing a film on Climate Change, which was screened at the Whitehouse Hotel with lots of dignitaries attending.
  • Learning Innovation Centre – worked with Lawley Primary pupils who designed a board game for us to produce for possible retail sale.
  • Establishing links with the Miripuri Community to strengthen relationships and gain knowledge of their requirements/needs as a community, and how the college can support them.
  • Use of Ercall Wood facilities was given free of charge for a two week Mirpuri community project during the summer holidays.
  • A project to engage the school community to optimise outdoor space for Performance Art at Ercall Wood through 'Find Your Talent' in conjunction with Telford and Wrekin's Culture Zone.
  • A joint project with Shortwood Primary School run by SMDS staff to facilitate swimming for female students from the Muslim Community.