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Core Offer - Activities |
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A VARIED MENU OF ACTIVITIES / STUDY SUPPORT – Primary schools:
The school provides access to a varied menu of activities including:
- “Catch up” and “stretch” activities; homework clubs;
- Arts activities, such as dance, drama, arts and crafts;
- Sports activities (at least 2 hours a week for those that want it)
- Other recreational activities, e.g. special interest clubs, music tuition, modern foreign languages, volunteering, business and enterprise activities, and visits to museums and galleries.
This does not need to be provided directly by schools. There are significant benefits in working with existing or new voluntary, community or private sector providers in the local area or the local authority to provide these services. Provision does not need to be on site but can be in the local area with appropriate safe transport in place.
- All schools should have good study support and other activities in place – the above list is not exhaustive. Study support should not be narrowly defined, but can include a range of all activities based on the demand shown by consultation with young people and parents.
- Activities do not need to be on the school site, especially where you are working with partners to deliver childcare or activities. Where it is off site, safe transport arrangements should be in place.
- TRANSPORT: Safe transfer should be provided if consultation shows there is demand from a sufficient number of parents. This can be arranged by the provider or the schools and charged to parents. The number of parents of children with disabilities or special educational needs regarded as providing sufficient demand may be lower than for other groups.
- Activity should be provided in response to demand and need. If thorough consultation shows there is no current demand for an 8 – 6 childcare offer, or that this need is already met through existing quality private, independent or voluntary providers (inc childminders), then provision should not be set up. However, if future consultations show a change in need then this demand should be met.
- Activity (where it is appropriate to charge for them) should be affordable and sustainable (a locally-based judgement in line with the economic status of the area) and eligible for Working Tax Credit for parents on lower incomes. Schools should also think about the need to provide subsidies to allow children from more deprived backgrounds to access study support – see DCSF Planning and Funding guidance for more details.
- As well as offering them directly, schools can also offer access to activities by signposting to other schools or third party providers such as leisure centres or other activities organised by the local authority and voluntary, community and private providers.
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