This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/education/7136564.stm

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Schools to offer parents services Plan for children being unveiled
(29 minutes later)
Schools in England may be asked to provide wider services for parents as well as children, under proposals in the government's Children's Plan. The government is unveiling its 10-year "vision" for children, which includes proposals to ask schools in England to provide wider services for parents.
This could include help with housing, benefits, parenting skills and health within school-based centres - and a helpline offering parenting advice. This could include help with housing, benefits, parenting skills and health within school-based centres.
The plan will also call for more information for parents about their children's learning and behaviour. It is also planned to make millions of pounds available to refurbish school playgrounds, in an attempt to increase play opportunities for children.
But heads warned that schools could not "correct all the ills of society". But heads have warned schools cannot "correct all the ills of society".
The Children's Plan, setting out a 10-year strategy, will also propose a review of the primary curriculum in England and a shift to a more flexible form of testing. The 10-year strategy will also call for more information for parents about their children's learning and behaviour.
The Children's Plan will also propose a review of the primary curriculum in England and a shift to a more flexible form of testing.
Commercial pressureCommercial pressure
There will be moves to protect youngsters from excessive commercial pressures - including advertising that makes children worry about their appearance and weight or which "sexualises" young girls.There will be moves to protect youngsters from excessive commercial pressures - including advertising that makes children worry about their appearance and weight or which "sexualises" young girls.
The importance of children having somewhere safe to play outside will also be emphasised.The importance of children having somewhere safe to play outside will also be emphasised.
The plan, to be announced on Tuesday by the Children, Schools and Families Secretary, Ed Balls, will mark a further move towards schools becoming centres for family welfare services as well as teaching pupils. The consultation that led to the plan particularly recognised the need for spaces to play and let off steam for eight to 13-year-olds.
Children, Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls is expected to press for an end to what he calls the "no ball games here" culture.
Police in schools
Hundreds of millions of pounds in government grants to modernise playgrounds in every neighbourhood are expected to be available over the next three years.
The plan, to be announced on Tuesday by Mr Balls, will mark a further move towards schools becoming centres for family welfare services as well as teaching pupils.
Schools are increasingly being seen as one of the few agencies that can effectively reach families facing difficulties - and their role is being expanded into areas once associated with social services.Schools are increasingly being seen as one of the few agencies that can effectively reach families facing difficulties - and their role is being expanded into areas once associated with social services.
For pupils, there are already mentors and counsellors - and "extended" schools offer breakfast in the mornings and childcare activities into the early evening.For pupils, there are already mentors and counsellors - and "extended" schools offer breakfast in the mornings and childcare activities into the early evening.
But the government now wants schools to do more to support parents - with the type of family services on offer in children's centres being extended to schools.But the government now wants schools to do more to support parents - with the type of family services on offer in children's centres being extended to schools.
'Overload''Overload'
Social services information and welfare support for parents will be located in school buildings, along with counselling and advice for helping with their children's behaviour or health problems.Social services information and welfare support for parents will be located in school buildings, along with counselling and advice for helping with their children's behaviour or health problems.
There have been concerns that parents of secondary school pupils feel cut off from finding out about their children's progress - and there will be initiatives to make information more available to parents.There have been concerns that parents of secondary school pupils feel cut off from finding out about their children's progress - and there will be initiatives to make information more available to parents.
This could include using websites and e-mail to keep parents in touch with teachers - and a "parents council" for parents to have more say in schools. This could include using websites and e-mail to keep parents in touch with teachers - and a "parents council" for parents to have more say in schools. The plan will also propose a "parents panel" which will advise the government on family policy.
The plan will also propose a "parents panel" which will advise the government on family policy.
But the Association of School and College Leaders, representing head teachers and senior staff, has cautioned that schools could become "overloaded" by such expectations.But the Association of School and College Leaders, representing head teachers and senior staff, has cautioned that schools could become "overloaded" by such expectations.
The heads' union says the government increasingly sees schools as a "lever" to achieve its social policy - but it warns that if this is overused it will leave schools facing an unachievable number of competing demands.The heads' union says the government increasingly sees schools as a "lever" to achieve its social policy - but it warns that if this is overused it will leave schools facing an unachievable number of competing demands.