Research has shown that study support has a real impact on those who attend, in terms of increasing academic attainment and improving behaviour and attendance. The more relaxed atmosphere of out-of-school hours activities, and that pupils choose to take part, have been motivating factors for participating pupils, and in many cases this can transfer to the classroom.

Study support is now widely recognised as having an impact on a variety of education priorities.Out of hours activities can contribute to removing barriers to achievement (such as disaffection, crime, behaviour problems etc), and so can help to transform primary and seconday education and establish links to the wider community.

Click on the links below or on the left to show how study support impacts on other areas of education policy, or how it fits into the work of other teams within DCSF.

Behaviour Improvement Programme
The Behaviour Improvement Programme is part of the Department's Behaviour and Attendance Programme. There are currently 61 LAs involved in the programme at present. Each one has developed locally based programmes that best meet the needs of schools where poor attendance and truancy are significant barriers to learning.

Children in Care
The Children in Care Education Projects Programme is jointly funded by the DCSF and the Department for Culture Media and Sport to assist Local Authorities in their role as corporate parents to promote the education of children and young people in public care.

Excellence in Cities
The Excellence in Cities Programme is a targeted programme bringing additional resources to address the needs of core urban areas.

Excellence in Cities: Gifted and Talented Strand
The Excellence in Cities/Excellence Clusters Gifted and Talented strand is a national strategy to improve the identification, education and support of gifted and talented children.

Extended Schools
Extended schools provide a range of services and activities, often beyond the school day, to help meet the needs of its pupils, their families and the wider community.

GovernorNet
Designed for governors, following extensive research and feedback, this site provides up-to-date information on all aspects of school governance and features links to other useful sites and articles, including some on the practice and benefits of study support.

Innovation Unit
The Innovation Unit is interested in innovative ideas capable of making a real impact on teaching and learning standards. The main task for the Innovation Unit is to promote understanding of the innovation process and then identify strategies for making it powerful and systemic. The Unit offers support to DCSF policy teams, partner organisations and schools, in promoting innovation.

Key Stage 3 National Strategy
The Key Stage 3 National Strategy aims to raise standards by strengthening teaching and learning across the curriculum for all pupils aged 11 to 14.

Key Stage 4 Curriculum
In January 2003 the DfES published 14-19 Opportunity and Achievement. This document sets out changes to the curriculum at Key Stage 4 (14-16 year olds), which are likely to be implemented from September 2004.

London Challenge
The London Challenge seeks to capitalise on improvements already made and tackle problems to raise aspirations and attainment in secondary schools in London.

Parental Involvement in Children's Education
The new Parent Centre website is for all parents and carers who want to help their child or children to learn.

PE and School Sport
The Prime Minister has made a commitment that all 5-16 year olds will have an entitlement to two hours of high quality PE and school sport a week within and outside the curriculum. The DCSF and the Department for Culture Media and Sport have a joint objective to enhance the take up of sporting activities by 5-16 year olds. As part of this strategy they jointly fund the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority's PE and School Sport (PESS) project which aims to identify and disseminate examples of good practice to help schools deliver the two hour commitment.

Primary Strategy
The new Primary Strategy supports teachers and schools to raise standards across the whole curriculum by extending the support provided through the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategies, of supporting teachers, trainee teachers, and others working to improve Literacy and Numeracy in primary schools.

School Improvement and Excellence
The work of The School Improvement and Excellent Division is to improve the outcome of underperforming secondary schools, provide support to Fresh Start Schools, and restore weak and failing schools following Ofsted inspections. The Division also provides policy advice on schools in challenging circumstances, monitors and supports schools to identify strategies to raise standards of pupil attainment in schools facing challenging circumstances, and is responsible for the strategy on distribution and use of School Improvement Grant.

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