In 2005, the Department for Education and Skills stated that:-

"By 2010, all children should have access to a variety of activities beyond the school day. Well organised, safe and stimulating activities before and after school provide children and young people with a wider range of experiences and make a real difference to their chances at school. It gives them the opportunity to keep healthy, to acquire new skills, to build on what they learn during the school day or simply to have fun and relax."

Park View Extended Services Cluster

The Doorway to Success

Extending the range of opportunities for children, young people and families in and around Chester-le-Street.

Schools that are in the
Park View Cluster:-

As part of a cluster of schools, we are fully engaged with the 'Every Child Matters' outcomes of:-

• being healthy;
• enjoying and achieving;
• being safe;
• making a positive contribution;
• achieving economic well-being.

Extended services can be accessed either at your local school or in partnership with local venues and are based on providing families with:-

Quality childcare - provided on the school site or through local providers, with supervised transfer arrangements where appropriate, available 8.00am to 6.00pm all year round.

A varied menu of activities - through the cluster of schools and their partners, all children and young people should have access to good study support activities to complement the curriculum, such as homework clubs, study support, drama, art, music, sports and arts clubs and many more. These activities can be offered on site or by other providers, with information available from the schools. Many of these activities may incur a charge.

Parental support

- schools already provide information about your child's progress in school and at key points in their journey through school, such as transferring to a new year group. The schools and their partners may also offer family learning activities for you and your children to attend together.

Swift and easy referral to a wide range of services

- should your children need additional support from a specialist service such as Speecy and Language or Child and Adolescent Mental Health issues, the school nurse, behaviour support, anti-bullying officer, social services, police, Connexions, etc. The school will ensure as much support as possible is provided within the school.

Wider community access to ICT, sports and arts facilities - this is about schools in the cluster and their partners offering the community access to suitable facilities and adult learning programmes. Facilities could include the use of ICT or sports equioment, where appropriate, and where it is practical for the school to do so.

Now you have a little more information on what could be developed, we need to know what you, the children, young people, parents and community in and around Chester-le-Street would like. In each of the schools in the cluster, we will be seeking your opinions on:-

• What currently works well;
• What else you would like access to;
• What you would like more help with;
• How you would like to receive information about Extended Services.

We need you to be involved to make these YOUR Extended Services.