HL Deb 23 February 2004 vol 658 cc3-4WA
Lord Northbourne

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What additional financial support they intend to make available to schools which provide extended school programmes, such as supervised homework and sport after school hours: and how it will be allocated. [HL1197]

Baroness Ashton of Upholland

In addition to the funding which I set out in my reply to my noble friend's previous question about support for extended schools, the Department for Education and Skills has made £75 million available through the Standards Fund for study support (out of school hours) activities in 2003–04. From 2004–05 the funding has been amalgamated into the School Development Grant and schools should expect to receive the same amount for study support as they did last year plus 4 per cent inflation proofing. The New Opportunities Fund is also providing just over £20 million to support out of school hour sports opportunities in schools within the school sport partnership programme—a third of schools in England are already within a partnership.