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Plan for children being unveiled | Plan for children being unveiled |
(11 minutes later) | |
The government is unveiling its 10-year "vision" for children, which includes proposals to ask schools in England to provide wider services for parents. | 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. | This could include help with housing, benefits, parenting skills and health within school-based centres. |
It is also planned to make millions of pounds available to refurbish playgrounds in an attempt to increase play opportunities for children. | |
But heads have warned schools cannot "correct all the ills of society". | But heads have warned schools cannot "correct all the ills of society". |
The 10-year Children's Plan will also call for more information for parents about their children's learning and behaviour. | |
It will also propose a review of the primary curriculum in England and a shift to a more flexible form of testing. | |
Commercial pressure | Commercial 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 consultation that led to the plan particularly recognised the need for spaces to play and let off steam for eight to 13-year-olds. | 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. | Children, Schools and Families Secretary Ed Balls is expected to press for an end to what he calls the "no ball games here" culture. |
Welfare centres | |
Hundreds of millions of pounds in government grants to modernise playgrounds in every neighbourhood are expected to be made 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. | 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. | |
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. | |
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. | |
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. |