LibDems Publish Plans to Extend Opportunities for Schools

12.00.00am GMT Sat 28th Jan 2006

Local communities in Milton Keynes will soon be able to access a wide range of services in their local school, under plans recently published by the Liberal Democrat Council.

Schools will remain open beyond the normal school day to help meet the needs of children, families and the wider community, and improve children's life chances. By 2010, the services provided in and around school sites are expected to include:

• High quality childcare

• Activities for children and young people that go beyond the school day

• Support and information for parents

• Access to specialist support services

• Wider community access to IT, sports and arts facilities

Although all schools in Milton Keynes are already offering some additional learning activities, the schools that offer the largest range of services at present are those that are part of the innovative partnership between Leon School and Sports College, Drayton Park Primary School and Water Hall Primary School, who are working together to provide a full set of services for the community on the Lakes Estate. The services at Leon include free child care when parents are on adult education courses, a breakfast club, smoking cessation sessions, oral health and the Brook Advisory Service as part of a health and well-being road show, sports classes with qualified instructors, arts workshops, and access to learning mentors. There is also a Sure Start Children's Centre based at Drayton Park school, where parents and children under five can access a range of support services including health visitors, Relate, counselling and health promotion. There is also the opportunity to meet other parents and access job training.

Many other schools are working together in clusters to extend the learning activities that are on offer. For example, five infant schools in the Woughton area have already formed an effective partnership.

Commenting on the 'extended schools' strategy, Councillor Sandra Clark, Liberal Democrat cabinet member with responsibility for children said: "It is crucial to ensure that parents and children across Milton Keynes have access to as many services as possible. Schools will be open for longer and will become focal points for the whole local community to use. In that way, we will provide better opportunities for children, young people, their families and the wider community."