Welcome to the Northumberland Extended Services Website

Extended Services in Northumberland

The core offer of extended services, which all schools in Northumberland are now delivering, is made up of five elements:

• childcare (in primary and special schools)
• a varied menu of activities including study support, sport and music clubs
• swift and easy access to targeted and specialist services
• parenting support including family learning, and
• community access to facilities including adult and family learning, ICT and sports facilities.

Schools are not expected to provide these services alone, or necessarily to deliver them on site. Instead, they should work in partnership with other schools and agencies, including voluntary and community organisations, signposting existing services where appropriate. The model of delivery in Northumberland is through the 15 schools partnerships, which include first, primary, secondary and special schools. Schools are expected to consult widely with pupils, families, their own staff and the wider community to identify priorities and needs.

By providing extended services, schools will be supporting and reinforcing initiatives such as the Healthy Schools programme and fulfilling their statutory duties to promote pupil wellbeing and community cohesion, and to serve the wider community.

Research carried out by a range of organisations, including Ofsted, over the last four years suggests that those schools which are already offering extended services are experiencing a range of benefits, including:

• more motivated pupils
• better attendance and behaviour
• more engaged and better equipped parents
• greater willingness to adopt healthier lifestyles, and
• better community access to local services.

Please click an area of our work to find out more.

For more detailed information and printable materials about Extended Services in Northumberland, please click here.