ATL

ATL comment on government plans to put schools at the heart of local communities

Nansi Ellis, head of education policy at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said:

"We are pleased the government is making a financial commitment to meeting children's education, health, leisure and social needs. Schools should be at the heart of their communities, but the government must be clear about who is responsible for co-ordinating and providing the services that children and families need. All too frequently school staff have problems getting hold of social workers, health workers and other professionals at the time children need help. A chronic shortage of staff in some of these professions will not be solved by locating the services on single sites."

Notes to editors:

1. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) is an independent, registered trade union and professional association, representing approximately 160,000 teachers, headteachers, lecturers and support staff in maintained and independent nurseries, schools, sixth form, tertiary and further education colleges in the United Kingdom.
2. ATL exists to help members, as their careers develop, through first-rate research, advice, information and legal advice.
3. ATL is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) and Education International (EI). The union is a member of the social partnership - working with the UK government, employers and other unions on education issues. ATL is not affiliated to any political party and seeks to work constructively with all the main political parties.