Agenda item

This report asks Members to consider the draft final report of the scrutiny review into the extended schools service in York.

Consideration was given to the draft final report of the scrutiny review into the extended schools service in York.

Members were reminded that this topic had been registered in 2005 with the aim of investigating how City of York Council was bringing together partners to plan services across the city, how budgets were being dealt with and how schools were thinking about delivering services together, to ensure that everyone in York received the best possible benefits. 

For background information and for new Members it was explained that an extended school was one that provided a range of services and activities often beyond the school day to help meet the needs of its pupils, their families and the wider community.

Members were informed that the delay in bringing this report forward resulted from the change in bodies to consider the proposals. Officers confirmed that, following consultation with the Head of Early Years and Extended Schools and other Officers, the report contained very draft recommendations. It was hoped to incorporate any additional recommendations from today’s meeting in the final version for presentation to the Committee at their July meeting, prior to consideration by Scrutiny Management Committee and Executive.

Members and Officers made the following comments during formulation                        of the recommendations

• The inclusion of the Chairman’s Forward.
• Results of Extended Schools Audit (to be completed by end of June) to be used to compare and contrast.

• Do schools need assistance from the LEA in the provision of additional services?
• Need to understand what communities require for schools and assistance required by the LEA in moving towards the delivery of these services.

• Concern that schools that aspires to Community Partnership Models 3 and 4 would benefit from the support of a business manager and or advice from the LEA.
• With falling rolls there was more flexibility with accommodation for further provision of additional services.
• Increased need for schools to cluster together e.g. a secondary and two primary schools to form partnerships to share facilities.
• Examination needed to be made of the complex issues relating to use of school premises and the advice hirers were receiving in relation to charging.
• Need to consider only covering costs (heating, lighting, maintenance, cleaning) when charging for hire of school premises.
• Built in review in report required to view schools progress.

Officers confirmed that a complete list of the recommendations would be compiled to email round to Members before the next meeting.

RESOLVED:   i)   That the following recommendations be included in the draft final report on the Extended Schools Service in York for consideration by the Committee at their next meeting:

1.      The Council is asked to support the stretch target of every school in York to be working as an Extended School by September 2006 working to at least Model 2 (the Training and Development Agency feel that this can be achieved and are supporting training courses for every school, governor and other sector staff).

2.      The Council to take up the opportunity of bidding to be a Pathfinder authority developing 15 hours free education places around care and play.

3.      The Council is asked to continue to support the shared foundation partnerships and the restructured Early Years and Extended Schools service in ensuring that every school in York meets the target of being an extended school (to Model 3 requirements) by 2010. This may involve allowing schools to operate a flexible lettings policy for accommodating community facilities.

4.      The Council to support the bid to be a Pathfinder Authority in order to improve parenting support in schools to meet Model 3 requirements.

5.      The Extended Schools provision to be revisited by Scrutiny in March 2008 to reach the 2010 target.

6.      Schools and partnerships to base and develop their services on a locally based audit of needs.

7.      The Local Education Authority through the Children’s Information Service to assist schools in creating local community profiles of needs.

8.      The Council to support the development of the clustering of schools to share and develop services and business support.

ii)  That Annex 3 to the report “Building on the Shared Foundation Community Partnership Model to Create Extended Schools and Integrated Children’s Centres in the City of York” be rewritten to take account the Extended Schools core offer of May 2006.

iii)                That, if available, the Extended Schools Audit to be included as an additional Annex to the report

REASON:      To facilitate completion of the former Education Scrutiny Board’s outstanding work.