Ms Longfield told a 4Children conference in London on extended schools on 7 September, 'Schools must be supported with a robust funding strategy and package from the local authority.'
But some delegates expressed concern over the amount of direct funding available. Jim Wallman, head of development at the Trojans Scheme, an educational and training charity in London, said, 'The Government's school standards grant will give 250m direct to schools to set up extended services. But there are around 25,000 schools in Britain, so it works out at just 10,000 each.
'The extended school models that have been held up draw in extra funding from European sources, charitable trusts and others. This is a successful way of extending services, but it only works when a small number of schools is seeking funding. When more schools try to draw on these funds there will not be enough to support services long-term.'