Schools to offer parents services

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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. This could include help with housing, benefits, parenting skills and health within school-based centres - and a helpline offering parenting advice. The plan will also call for more information for parents about their children's learning and behaviour. But heads warned that schools could not "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. 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. 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. 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. '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. 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.