Extended schools
The Government’s vision is to give every
school the opportunity to become an extended school (or
community-focussed school in Wales), providing a single point of
access for an integrated range of family services.
The Government’s 10-Year Childcare Strategy states that “by
2010, all parents of primary-age children will be able to access
affordable childcare at or through their school from 8am to 6pm,
all year round”. NCMA welcomes this vision and is keen to make sure
that extended schools make the most of home-based childcare.
Not all children – especially the under-5s – will benefit from
being in a school fulltime. Some children will be happier in a home
setting and some will need childcare outside of normal extended
school hours. Childminders can also help by looking after excluded
children or offering family support. This is why it is vital to
include both registered childminding and approved childcare as part
of the extended school package you offer your families.
There are many ways in which NCMA can help you ensure your
extended school offers home-based childcare as part of its service.
You may need to check what childcare provision already exists in
the school’s catchment area. NCMA can help you with this and
support you in developing a vacancy matching service. This could
involve employing, perhaps between a group of schools, a member of
staff to run the service, matching parents’ childcare needs with
the vacancies offered by registered childminders and approved
childcarers.
Alternatively, you may decide that connecting an existing
childminding network with a school or group of schools is the way
forward – NCMA would be happy to advise you on achieving this. It’s
also worth bearing in mind that offering extended school services
through existing self-employed childminders generally involves far
less expense, administration and stress than providing on-site
care!
If you'd like to talk to NCMA about how to work with
childminders to provide extended services for your school, contact NCMA.