County Council's Extended Services in Schools scheme ahead of national averages

Latest figures show that 98% of Worcestershire schools now offer a full core of Extended Services putting the county well ahead of the national averages.

Worcestershire County Council has been working hard in partnership with schools since 2005 to highlight the many advantages of the project, which aims to give children the possible start in life to ensure they go on to reach their full potential.

Central Government launched a campaign last month (February) to help raise awareness of the activities and advice on offer through the programme. Figures indicated that around 90 per cent of all schools nationally currently offer the full core of Extended Services activities.

Worcestershire, currently with 98 per cent of all its schools, is well on course to hit the 100 per cent mark in the next couple of months.

A host of activities - ranging from homework clubs, sport, music and art - for youngsters to enjoy are currently being offered before and after school hours. Parenting and family support are also offered, along with access to specialist services, such as speech and language therapy.

As part of the scheme, and where possible, schools with facilities suitable for community use should are encouraged to open these up to the wider community.

Cllr Marcus Hart, County Council Cabinet Member for Children and Young People (aged 0-11 years), said: "Ensuring that every child is given an opportunity to fulfil their promise is the ethos that drives the Extended Services programme and here in Worcestershire we are totally committed to doing all we can to ensure this happens.

"We've been working hard with schools and families since 2205 and those successful partnerships have put in this position we find ourselves now – well ahead of things nationally. We expect each and every one of our schools to offer the Full Core of Extended Services by the end of Spring, which is a fantastic achievement. Everyone involved should be rightly proud of their hard work because it really will make a difference.

For more information about extended services visit www.worcestershire.gov.uk/extendedservices.