Extend your thinking

11th November 2005, 12:00am

Share

Extend your thinking

https://www.tes.com/magazine/archive/extend-your-thinking
Schools should encourage parents who are working 16 hours or more a week to see if they are eligible for the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit. It can be up to a maximum of 70p for every pound;1 that is paid out in childcare costs, up to a limit of pound;175 per week for one child and pound;300 for two or more children. In this context the term “childcare” also covers:

* out-of-hours clubs run by a school or local authority on school premises;

* out-of-hours clubs provided by an extended school;

* breakfast clubs and after-school clubs for children aged three years and above;

* lunchtime “wraparound” childcare clubs for nursery children;

* childcare on the school site which is currently exempt from registering with Ofsted.

* For further details of how tax credits could assist in your provision of out-of-hours learning, visit: www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk

ContinYou is developing a “one-stop online shop” to support schools running out-of-hours learning and study support. There will be guidance for setting up and sustaining activities, as well as a live database of case studies and good practice. Information will be addedas it is completed. Visit: www.continyou. org.ukextratime8to6 Do you want to know how successful your extended provision is? ContinYou has produced a toolkit to help schools evaluate their extra offerings. The framework is being offered to local authorities through a package of training and materials. www.continyou.org.uk; 024 7658 8440.

Also from ContinYou is Taking Part, a pack to help local authorities improve access to mainstream out-of-hours opportunities for looked-after children. It aims to help children’s services make after-school learning and study support an entitlement for children in care. The pack, including a DVD, costs pound;8; the guide is also downloadable from www.continyou.org.uk

Want to keep reading for free?

Register with Tes and you can read two free articles every month plus you'll have access to our range of award-winning newsletters.

Keep reading for just £1 per month

You've reached your limit of free articles this month. Subscribe for £1 per month for three months and get:

  • Unlimited access to all Tes magazine content
  • Exclusive subscriber-only stories
  • Award-winning email newsletters
Recent
Most read
Most shared