Out of the 26 winning EYDCPs at last month's Partners in Excellence Awards, which is run jointly by the Department for Education and Skills and the Daycare Trust, a number had their work with older children recognised.
Hartlepool EYDCP, for example, won an award for creating 818 new out-of-school places, a 475 per cent increase, since 1998. The places are both school and community based.
Penny Thompson, business support officer, and Kim Rowntree, childcare development officer for Hartlepool, have been 'knocking on schools' doors'
to help heads put in bids to the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) to set up clubs. As well as being won over by parental demand, heads have been persuaded by hearing that other schools have taken the plunge. 'They usually start with a breakfast club and then go on to after-school provision. Almost all the 23 schools have now done this,' said Ms Rowntree.
Another award winner, Derbyshire EYDCP, received funding for 1,102 new out-of-school places in its February 2002 bid to NOF. It decided to make provision for 10- to 14-year-olds a priority and consulted with them widely. 'They get bored in the holidays but don't want things planned every day,' explained childcare manager Kate Fitzhugh. 'They want to lie in but then, say, go to a skate park. In term-time they want homework clubs - but not on a Friday.'
There were problems putting the Derbyshire NOF bid together illustrating the difficulties providing for this age group. Ms Fitzhugh hopes that these will be resolved in 2003. 'The fee based system which is required by NOF was a major stumbling block as many providers were worried about long-term funding. It was felt that the amount parents would pay would not cover the costs. NOF also requires provision to reflect parents' working hours and this makes it difficult when planning a scheme with irregular hours.'
Getting services to adapt to provide what children want is also the message from Leicestershire EYDCP, which won an award for Dreaming4Real, a series of 35 arts workshops, designed as a children's consultation exercise.
Children's information manager Jackie Cockcroft instigated the workshops, which took place in primary schools and libraries.
'Children's main concerns were drugs and safety,' said Ms Cockcroft. 'They want the freedom to explore outside alone, to make dens and use their imagination but with an adult in the vicinity. '
The report of the consultation can be read at www.charnwoodarts.org.uk/dreaming4real
