Schools, extended services (which include out-of-school activities, parental support and child care), and arts and cultural organisations should work together to improve cultural learning for children, young people and families, according to a booklet published by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, Arts Council England and the Training and Development Agency for Schools. ‘Culture for All – Integrating cultural opportunities into extended services and services for young people’ draws on the Government’s Children’s Plan (2007) and Every Child Matters programme to encourage all those involved in cultural provision “to develop high-quality, consistent cultural opportunities for all children and young people and their families, no matter where they live or what their background”. It also highlights the importance of key local policies, including children’s and young people’s plans, sustainable communities strategies and local area agreements, and encourages arts organisations to work with their local children’s trusts – local partnerships bringing together the organisations responsible for children’s services. The report says that the Government “is providing funding for extended services and positive activities through the area-based grant” and suggests that local authorities could tap into new sources of funding if they team up with third-sector organisations.
