HC Deb 16 March 2004 vol 419 cc229-30W
Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make it his policy to enable local education authorities which are experiencing falling school rolls to use surplus capacity to develop(a) extended schools under the Government's extended schools programme and (b) the co-location of health, social services and parenting support provided by local agencies. [161135]

Mr. Stephen Twigg

[holding answer 15 March 2004]Yes, schools can use surplus school places to provide capacity for extended services which can include the co-location of services provided by other agencies such as health, social services and parenting support. Schools are being encouraged to do this.

Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made on the implementation of the extended schools programme; and if he will make a statement. [161136]

Mr. Stephen Twigg

[holding answer 15 March 204]The Department for Education and Skills has made considerable progress on the implementation of the extended schools programme. The Education Act 2002 includes a new power for school governors to provide family and community services. In October 2002 we issued guidance on setting up extended services along with related guidance on developing child care facilities. 25 LEAs were funded in 2002–03 as pathfinders. The aim of the pathfinders was to test out a variety of approaches used by schools and authorities in the development of family and community facilities and services on school premises. Evaluation findings will be made available shortly.

Over the period 2003–06, the Department for Education and Skills is making funding available to create up to 240 full service extended schools, with at least one in each LEA area. 60 full service extended schools are being created this year. We are also making funding available over the same period for the planning, development and management of extended services in other schools. By 2006 this funding will cover all LEAs.

Mr. Denham

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills (1) what funds he has made available to develop extended schools in Southampton; [161133]

(2) what opportunities there are for Southampton local education authority to bid for funds for extended schools. [161134]

Mr. Stephen Twigg

[holding answer 15 March 2004]Southampton LEA will receive £168,480 through the Standards Fund in 2004–05 to develop one full service extended school, providing a prescribed core set of services, with further funding available in 2005–06. In addition, £26,000 in 2004–05 and £26,500 in 2005–06 has been allocated to Southampton local authority as part of its general Sure Start Grant for the development of child care services in the full service extended school. The LEA will also receive funding in 2005–06 for the co-ordination and management of extended services in other schools, with additional funding allocated to the authority at the same time to develop child care services in extended schools. There is no bidding process involved in the allocation of extended schools funding.