School hours

As part of a "wraparound" care service, where parents can leave their children from dawn to dusk without having to find childminders, Charles Clarke, the education secretary, will announce this week that he wants every primary school to offer "educare" services from 8.00am to 6.00pm.

Stakeholder Response: 4Children

Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children, said: "The demand from parents and children to extend the opening times of primary schools is overwhelming – children want more opportunities to take part in activities and parents need childcare to enable them to work. Recent research by 4Children demonstrates, for the first time, a major shift in attitude amongst schools themselves, responding to government plans and encouragement. Our research found that just over two-thirds of schools are already offering childcare or other extended activities, whilst almost half of all primary schools think that they are likely to be providing an extended school within the next two years.

"However, if the government is going to capitalise on this enthusiasm and support, considerably more intervention and investment will be required to make it happen. Ministers have recognised the importance of investment in early years through its billion pound programme to develop children's centres.It now needs to recognise the importance of sustaining that investment in children as they move through the school years. The eagerly awaited government 10 year plan for childcare must include significant investment in childcare for school age children in and around school.  Without this, the identified barriers of lack of premises, staffing and sustainability will remain insurmountable and a major opportunity to change children's lives will be lost."

Stakeholder Response: Institute of Education

"If long working hours are a concern, a debate is needed about how to reduce them, especially for fathers, because discussions about employment and family life in Britain too readily end up putting mothers in the dock. We should instead be discussing what would be good working hours for parents and a good amount of time for children to spend in services, and then look at what might be done to get closer to both.

"Finally, extended schools mean rethinking school and the relationship between education, care and other activities. We need new integrative concepts, practices and professions for a holistic approach to children and their daily lives, instead of dividing them into separate compartments: traditional education, with care 'wrapped around'.

"The continental theory and practice of pedagogy, most nearly translated into English as 'education in its broadest sense', provides one promising example. The trite and vacuous term 'educare' should be banished, and replaced by the product of more careful thought."

Stakeholder Response: Professional Association of Teachers

Alison Johnston, PAT senior professional officer,said: "In an ideal world, this initiative would be welcome. It puts schools at the heart of their communities by extending the concept of 'education' to include pupils' health, well-being and life experiences.

 

"However, if the scheme is to work in practical terms, the government must back its good intentions with the funding and training necessary to provide and equip the skilled education, childcare and health professionals needed to put these plans into action."