Extended Schools and Children's Centres
Children's Centres and Extended Schools
...making it easier to access activities and support for children, young people and families
Children's Centres and Extended Schools are part of a national Government backed programme to give more opportunities and better support to children. There are five areas that children and young people have said are particularly important for their well being:
- to be healthy
- to stay safe
- to enjoy and achieve
- to make a positive contribution, to society and those around them
- to achieve economic well being
Children's Centres and Extended Schools will help to meet these goals for all children and young people, through a range of exciting activities.
Children's Centres
Children's Centres will work with other organisations to make sure that young children and families are able to access services locally. A contact list of all the Children's Centres is available.
What will Children's Centres offer?
- Child and family health services, such as information, help and support for pregnant mums or open drop in sessions to get advice from the Health Visiting team on your child's health.
- Information on benefits, job and training opportunities
- Support for children with disabilities and/or additional needs, with swift and easy access to specialist services.
- Housing support services
- Family support and play opportunities including crèche facilities
- Activities to encourage speech and language development
- Full day care and early education , through existing private day nurseries, play groups, out of school club, local child minders and new provision to meet the needs of communities where needed. This high quality child care will be available from 8am - 6pm, five days a week, 48 weeks a year.
Children's Centres has built on the success of the Sure Start programmes in Tameside. There are 15 Children's Centres operational and by 2010 there will be a Children's Centre for every community in Tameside.
Will it cost me money?
Many of the services available through Children's Centres and Extended Schools will be available free of charge. There will be charges for some other services, such as childcare. Some parents will be able to apply for help with up to 80% of the costs of childcare, through the working family tax credit. Please ask!
Get involved!
Would you like to volunteer to help with children or young people? With a growing range of exciting activities, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to get involved. Enjoy a sport and want to share your skills with others? A local parent who would like to represent the views of others in the community? Please get in touch!
Have your say...
We need your help to ensure we meet the needs of the community. Give us your views or find out more information, please contact:
- Children's Centres - 0161 342 2687
- Extended Schools - 0161 342 2998
If you would like more information about childcare please contact the Children's Information Service on 0161 342 5434, or visit their Tameside Children's Information Service at Tameside Early Years Quality Development Centre, Manchester Road, Audenshaw M34 5GJ.
Extended Schools
Through the Extended Schools project we will be offering a wider range of activities and support, using school buildings and other local facilities.
By 2010, all parents of primary school aged children will have access to affordable childcare at or through their school from 8am-6pm, all year round. All Secondary schools will be open from 8am-6pm all year round, offering a range of activities and services for pupils, their families and members of the community.
What will Extended Schools offer?
- Child care: High quality childcare, so that children and young people can be looked after in a safe, supportive environment from 8 in the morning to 6 in the evening, all year round - if required. This will either be on the school site or through other local providers - with supervised transfer between sites where appropriate.
- Out of School Activities: There will be a choice from a wide range of activities, which might include:
- Chess club
- Dance and Drama
- Study Support
- Volunteering
- Music
- Football
- Learning a foreign Language
- Adult fitness and wellbeing sessions
- Parenting support, including:
- information for parents whose children are at key transition points, for example finishing primary school or secondary school.
- family learning, giving parents and carers the chance to learn with the children.
- Learning and study support, outside of school hours
- Specialist Support Services: Swift and easy referral to a wide rage of specialist support services such as speech therapy and family support.
- Community Use: Members of the community will have access to Computers and Information Communication Technology at high schools, with help on how to use them. Arts and sport facilities will also be available for community use, and there will be opportunities for adult learning.
Schools will work with partners to develop extended services suitable for their local communities.