Delivering extended services - your PTA can help

A variety of activities beyond the school day.

The Government has pledged that by 2010 ‘all children should have access to a variety of activities beyond the school day’ and that these will give them ‘the opportunity to keep fit and healthy, to acquire new skills, to build on what they learn during the school day or to simply relax and have fun’.’

As no two schools will offer the same menu of activities and because each community will need something different there is no model or blueprint to follow. The TDA (Training and Development Agency for Schools) states:-

‘Schools are not expected to provide extended services alone or necessarily to deliver them all on site. Instead they should work in partnership with other schools and agencies including voluntary and community organisations, signposting existing services where appropriate. Schools are expected to consult widely with pupils, families, their own staff and the wider community to identify priorities and needs’.  

In this context, have you considered the role a PTA  might play in helping your school or cluster to deliver extended services?

Consultation

One of the most valuable things a PTA can do is to be part of the initial discussion process and to help facilitate the consultation into what services parents would like to see at their school.

A PTA can provide a valuable link with both parents and the local community which will enable the school to consult widely on the kinds of activities and services that are required and would be valued.

Following on from this, a PTA can then provide assistance in monitoring how thing’s are going, giving feedback to assist with the evaluation of the services provided.

Funding

PTAs can also provide a valuable source of additional funding, in support of extended services. The NCPTA member survey 2009 has indicated that the average amount a PTA raises is now £6,000 with nearly 20% of PTAs contributing £10,000 or over, to their schools. In addition, a PTA that is registered as a charity will be able to explore other, not-so-traditional funding opportunities such as:

• charitable donations from local and national companies
• eligibility to apply to grant-making charitable trusts: most charitable trusts will give grants only to groups formally recognised as charities
• being able to receive donations made through Payroll Giving and Company Matched Giving schemes
• application of Gift Aid

Promotion

A PTA can be used to promote extended services. Some schools will have a menu of activities on site, some will work in their clusters and some will act as information providers, referring parents to services that are available. A PTA can be used to positively promote the range and type of services that are available explaining how parents and families can access them. 

Case Study  - Dallam School PTA, Milthorpe, Cumbria

As with many secondary schools, interaction with parents was limited to the traditional parents’ evenings, school performances and school visit information sessions. With two thirds of the children being bussed into school everyday from a neighbouring county and others living over an hour a way in rurally isolated areas of South Cumbria, there was little opportunity for parents to meet. Drastic action was needed and the idea of using a newsletter as a ‘parent to parent’ link began to take shape. The Dallam School PTA newsletter is now a valuable way to signpost parents to services and support that is available to them. More than a traditional PTA newsletter, it is co-ordinated and edited by the Secretary of the PTA, with input and articles from other PTA members, school staff and school partner agencies such as the extended services co-ordinator, the school nurse and Connexions.

Delivery

Many PTAs routinely run breakfast and after school clubs, already helping their school to provide a varied menu of services and activities, within the scope of the extended services agenda. Support can be drawn upon from a PTA, so that a wide range of quality and fulfilling activities can be offered, such as homework clubs and study support groups, holiday clubs and information sessions for parents.

Case Study - Trafalgar Schools PTA, Twickenham, Middlesex

With 270 pupils and just one after school club, the Trafalgar Schools PTA wanted to increase the range of after school activities available. Following some initial research, which included surveying parents and children, a list of 18 potential activities were identified. The pupils were then asked to vote on their top three preferred options. From this a final list of activities was agreed and the after school programme was underway. To ensure that all children could benefit, the PTA agreed to allocate 10% of its annual income to fund subsidised places. The benefits for the pupils and wider community have been immense. Ten parent volunteers now manage and coordinate after-school activities for 170 children.

Case Study - Oakwood Avenue Community Primary School PTA, Warrington, Cheshire

The Oakwood Avenue Community Café opened in the summer of 2006 and is now a firmly established feature of the school.  The café has led to both parents and the local community becoming more socially involved with the school.  It provides a venue for a daily breakfast club, a twice-weekly baby clinic and a place for the PTA to hold their meetings and fundraising activities.

Insurance

Extended services activities that are managed and run by PTAs which are members of the NCPTA, will be covered by our £10 million subscription linked insurance. 

October 2009

This National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations (NCPTA) information sheet aims to provide clear advice but should only be considered as a general guide.

Further information sheets are available from www.ncpta.org.uk. For more specific advice please contact info@ncpta.org.uk or 01732 375460.

NCPTA 39 Shipbourne Road Tonbridge Kent TN10 3DS t 01732 375460 f 01732 375461 www.ncpta.org.uk.

Registered Charity no 1072833. The NCPTA is a company limited by guarantee and registered in England no 3680271.