Inclusion: challenges for extended services in a rural environment

I want to get this forum going on the Learning Exchange to see what kind of approaches people are taking to the challenges in rural environments and how the inclusion of children, families and young people in remote areas is being addressed. We know what the issues are and the one that never goes away is the TRANSPORT one.  I think we'll end up calling it the 'T' word.  Everyone's views are welcome - please do share your good ideas with the community that is building up on here.

I spent the later years of my teaching career in a rural secondary school in south Herefordshire.  Over 80% of the young people were 'bussed in'.  The school was on a service bus route which was quite circuitous and as a teacher of Drama, rehearsals had to coincide with the departure of the service bus.  What I found though was that where the extended services activity was attractive enough, adults and young people would attend regardless of their financial circumstances.  What do you think?  Have you got anything to add re: transport or any other issue about rurality that you would like to share.  Car sharing was always a good option.  At one point when I was able to offer low cost adult education, we had over 200 students enrolled accessing the site over three evenings per week.  the service bus stopped at 8.00pm but classes often ran with people from south Herefordshire benefitting from wider learning.

It would be great to hear your success stories and how ES is thriving because and not despite rurality.

hi there

Yes I agree with you both that accessing extended services in a rural area is a huge challenge and universally acknowledged. However, while not wishing to challenge the basic truth I think it is sometimes helpful to recognised that transport is a common problem for access in urban areas as well. While children and young people may only live a short distance from the provision, if it is not safe to attend, if children are afraid to leave home, if circumstances in their street are challenging, then access to activities is still a problem.

I was involved recenlty in some working groups looking at rural devleopment in Peterborough through the Greater Peterborough Partnership. I attended different workshops on transport, housing, environment and the common thread which came through these regarding issues of all kinds was that if for example, transport is a problem for young people living in rural areas, then it is a problem for older adults and others. The logic of the analysis suggests that common approaches to common challenges across a rural setting is a part solution.

What do you think?

Joe Hayman may be able to answer your last question Jenny. I'll ask him to get on this forum and post a reply.

However, lots has happened. Have a look at:

http://www.tda.gove.uk/remodelling/extendedschools/howtodeliveres/ruralaccess/rural/discussiontopics/transport.aspx

There's a summary onthe page of the approached that authorities have taken to solving rural transport issues - and look at the library of case studies on the TDA has built up - http://www.tda.gov.uk/.

Another useful site: http://www.a2binfo.net - this site integrates the community transport information system and pulls together the 3 main players offering transport to communities:

• rural transport partnerships
• individual transport providers
• the community transport user

But - dearie me, you're right! trying to solve this issue, especially the urban transport issue in deprived areas, could be a case of the bus route to Hades being paved with good intentions...! :-)

Check out this page on the Commission for Integrated Transport website (remembering of course that it's only an advisory body):

http://www.cfit.gov.uk/docs/2006/itd2006/index.htm

As far as I can see, the DfT published the latest version of its policy called Delivering a Sustainable Transport System in 2008. Among its stated goals, it wants to:

• contribute to better safety and health and longer life expectancy by reducing the risk of death, injury or illness arising from transport and by promoting travel modes that are beneficial to health; and
• promote greater equality of opportunity for all citizens, with the desired outcome of achieving a fairer society

which both seem to cover what we are discussing here.

It seems to me that because there's such a variety of transport partnerships and arrangements across regions, improving access to extended services for children and families in rural areas as well as making urban transport in deprived areas safer and more accessible are issues that can only be solved at a local level. So extended service providers really do need to hook up with the transport people in their local authorities.

Perhaps when we get more local authority members on this site, we'll hear of some useful approaches.

I meant to attach this article earlier - it's called Countryside Alliances - and it's from a previous ETC magazine issue - and it had good responses from headteachers in rural areas.

View attachment

Here is an excellent website I've just discovered - there are probably many out there though! Anyway, this is a great example of a cluster of schools in a group of villages finding a way to keep in touch with parents and children about their extended services offer. Visit Coves.