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DEBATE

Is all-day school a good idea?

ALISON FARNELL looks at the latest education debate

Remember Baker Days? They were the in-service training days for teachers introduced by the then Secretary of State for Education, Kenneth Baker. Now we have Kelly’s Hours!

A big topic of debate in the last few weeks has been Ruth Kelly’s announcement of £680m to be spent over the next few years to set up Extended Schools. It’s not really news because successive Secretaries of State have made announcements about using school premises to provide extended facilities for pupils and their families, ever since Labour were elected.

In fact, many schools already provide Breakfast and Out-of-Hours Clubs for their pupils, some even on Saturdays. Parents normally pay a fee for their children to use the facilities, which have generally proved popular.

The vision for the Extended School is to provide wraparound childcare from 8am to 6pm throughout the whole year. Children could enjoy fun activities, such as sports, dancing, chess, other games or even just watching TV and reading, all in a safe environment with special supervisors, rather than teachers.

The cynics say that this is a Government ploy to get more people, especially mothers, out to work. You might also argue that it will cut crime as there will be fewer ‘latchkey’ children wandering the streets. Children will certainly be looked after safely, and for those who join in, a healthy breakfast is an important start to their day.

Many parents seem glad to make use of the service so that they can work, and children have extra opportunities to learn new things, including vital social skills.

Ruth Kelly is a working mother with several young children. She also takes her Christian faith very seriously. No doubt she is convinced about the importance of good parenting and believes that it is parents’ responsibility, not that of the state or school, to bring up children.

As a high-earning, professional woman, she probably has considerable choice about how she ensures her children’s welfare while she works. Not all mothers have that luxury. Many work from necessity to provide for themselves and their children. When families don’t live nearby to help look after children, Extended School could be a ‘Godsend’ in the literal sense of the word.

Child minders and some Church groups already offer this out-of hours service. Linked to local schools, this could be another creative opportunity for Christians to support their local communities and provide the safe haven that some children need.

Alison Farnell is Director of The Stapleford Centre

afarnell@stapleford-centre.org

© Christian Family Network
is run by CPO, supported by
Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting,
Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.


		DEBATE Is all-day school a good idea? ALISON FARNELL looks at the latest education debate Remember Baker Days? They were the in-service training days for teachers introduced by the then Secretary of State for Education, Kenneth Baker. Now we have Kelly’s Hours! A big topic of debate in the last few weeks has been Ruth Kelly’s announcement of £680m to be spent over the next few years to set up Extended Schools. It’s not really news because successive Secretaries of State have made announcements about using school premises to provide extended facilities for pupils and their families, ever since Labour were elected. In fact, many schools already provide Breakfast and Out-of-Hours Clubs for their pupils, some even on Saturdays. Parents normally pay a fee for their children to use the facilities, which have generally proved popular. The vision for the Extended School is to provide wraparound childcare from 8am to 6pm throughout the whole year. Children could enjoy fun activities, such as sports, dancing, chess, other games or even just watching TV and reading, all in a safe environment with special supervisors, rather than teachers. The cynics say that this is a Government ploy to get more people, especially mothers, out to work. You might also argue that it will cut crime as there will be fewer ‘latchkey’ children wandering the streets. Children will certainly be looked after safely, and for those who join in, a healthy breakfast is an important start to their day. Many parents seem glad to make use of the service so that they can work, and children have extra opportunities to learn new things, including vital social skills. Ruth Kelly is a working mother with several young children. She also takes her Christian faith very seriously. No doubt she is convinced about the importance of good parenting and believes that it is parents’ responsibility, not that of the state or school, to bring up children. As a high-earning, professional woman, she probably has considerable choice about how she ensures her children’s welfare while she works. Not all mothers have that luxury. Many work from necessity to provide for themselves and their children. When families don’t live nearby to help look after children, Extended School could be a ‘Godsend’ in the literal sense of the word. Child minders and some Church groups already offer this out-of hours service. Linked to local schools, this could be another creative opportunity for Christians to support their local communities and provide the safe haven that some children need. Alison Farnell is Director of The Stapleford Centre afarnell@stapleford-centre.org © Christian Family Network is run by CPO, supported by Care for the Family, Marriage Resource, Positive Parenting, Care, Women Alive, Christian Herald and many others.