Julia does extended services by the book
The extended services co-ordinator for West Nuneaton is celebrating after seeing her work end up in print and in bookstores.
Julia Everitt, cluster co-ordinator for the West Nuneaton schools, has worked on a collaboration with Dr Suzanne O’Connell, a former Warwickshire junior school head teacher, to produce a book on the extended schools agenda that all schools are being asked to fulfil.
Entitled ‘Extended Services: A guide to making it work’, the book provides a layman’s look at the issue of extended schools as they look to implement the agenda.
Extended services looks to make schools available to parents from 8am to 6pm, 48 weeks a year. Among the activities that Julia has brought to schools have been out of school exercise classes for children with weight problems and parenting skills, cooking on a budget, yoga and aerobics for parents.
The book tackles issues such as consulting communities, engaging with parents, applying for funding and checking the success of any provision.
It has been well received with academics. Reviews say the book ‘provides a most welcome, practical and well-informed resource’ and ‘Full of comprehensive ideas … to provide highly effective services to their community.’
Julia Everitt said: “The book company approached Suzanne who has a writing background and she approached me for help. My expertise was on the ground, bringing the knowledge gained from working with families in Nuneaton on an almost daily basis.”
Karen Sheerin, extended services development officer with Warwickshire County Council, said: “This book is quite a coup for extended services in the borough. Dr O’Connell is a former head teacher in the area.
“Julia, for her part, is a wonderful local cluster co-ordinator. Local people have always known she was committed to providing opportunities for them as part of the extended services provision. Now they know she is also an expert! They’re all in very good hands.”
For information on extended services in the area over the summer holidays log onto http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/extendedservices.