ST CECILIA’S CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL
AFTER SCHOOL CLUB INTRODUCTION The After School Club provides after school care for up to 24 children everyday during term-time from the end of the school day until 6p.m. The club is open to all children in full time education attending St. Cecilia’s school. The club offers a range of activities such as arts and crafts, indoor and outdoor sports and much more. The club has a safe and stimulating environment for your child to make many new friends of different ages. The club allows the children to build relations with adults other than their parents and teachers. The high level of care enables them to gain confidence and learn new skills. The club is a friendly place where children can be themselves and be accepted for who they are.
February 2016
POLICES AND PROCEDURES CARE OF CHILDREN The care and well-being of the children is paramount, all activities are planned with regard to the safety and developmental needs of the children. The programme is child centred and staff try to meet the individual needs of each child. Children are encouraged to play co-operatively and be involved in making decisions about the activity programme. In order to ensure a consistent and complementary approach to the children’s day at school the club is run bearing in mind the ethos and policies of St. Cecilia’s Primary School as laid out in the school brochure.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES The after school club supports the principles of equal opportunities. We are fully committed to caring for children in a diverse community. We treat the children in our care with equal concern and without prejudice to their religious persuasion, racial origin, cultural background, gender, disability or special needs. We encourage every child and play worker to personally contribute towards a happy and caring environment and to show respect and appreciation to each other as individuals. All activities are mixed with girls and boys co-operating together to develop an understanding and appreciation for each other’s talents.
ADMISSION POLICY The club is available to any child who is in full time education at St. Cecilia’s School. The club provides care for 24 children every school day during term time till 6p.m. As the number of places are limited, there are occasions when the club is oversubscribed so the following criteria come into effect:1. Parents who are Club Supervisors or play workers for the St. Cecilia’s After School Club. 2. Children and families in special circumstances. When the club is oversubscribed your child's name will be put on a waiting list and you will be contacted when a place becomes available by the club supervisor.
SNACK TIME Children are expected to sit with the rest of their group during snack time. They are encouraged to eat and drink what is provided, but are never forced to do so. In order for club staff to meet your child’s dietary needs, please put this information on the Registration form. We try to provide a variety of snacks that can be eaten by all the children, however, if your child is on a very restricted diet it may be necessary, or you may prefer to provide food and drink for them. Menu: drinks include Orange, Lemon or Blackcurrant. There is a choice of bread, toast or crackers with either butter, ham, cheese, marmite, honey or jam. We also have snacks of carrot, cucumber sticks, tomatoes and fruit. A further snack of a drink and a biscuit is provided part way through the session.
CLUB RULES The aim of the club is to create an informal and friendly atmosphere, therefore rules are kept to a minimum and are only necessary to ensure the club runs smoothly, for example: safety, consideration for others, respect for staff and other club members, care of premises and equipment. The current rules are carefully explained and reinforced to the children on a regular basis in line with the school Golden Rules.
SWEETS We do not allow children to bring sweets to the club. For birthdays the club staff provide a celebration treat.
HOMEWORK Homework may be completed at the After School Club but help cannot be provided by the club staff.
BEHAVIOUR We encourage parents to work with us in our efforts to maintain an atmosphere in the club of harmony, and respect for all. You can do this by making sure that your child is aware of what is expected of them by club staff and why good behaviour is important. Club staff aim to encourage good behaviour through praise and appreciation of your child’s achievements. Equally, inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour will be dealt with immediately in the following ways: 1. If your child is repeatedly disruptive, or does something of a more serious nature then the club supervisor will inform the person collecting the child that evening and a verbal warning will be issued informing them that their place may be terminated if the situation continues. We would ask for parental support to resolve this matter. 2. If your child continues to be disruptive then the club supervisor will write to you, giving full details and asking for your support in the matter. This will be classed as a Second Warning. If you do not normally collect your child from the club then at this stage you will be asked to come in and meet with the club supervisor and the Headteacher to discuss the best possible action for your child. 3. If your child is continually disruptive then they may be asked to leave the club for a ‘cooling off period’. This will only be done in consultation with the Headteacher and club supervisors. 4. Continual or extremely bad behaviour may result in your child being excluded from the club permanently with no entitlement of a refund.
ANTI BULLYING Bullying in any form, either physical or verbal will not be tolerated at the club and is dealt with very firmly. Children are encouraged to show consideration and care for others and to report any bullying to club staff. Please note bullying is not a one off occasion of poor behaviour. Bullying is dealt with by the following procedures The issue will be discussed with the child/children involved, so they can gain understanding of the effect of their actions on others. Children must clearly understand that verbal and physical violence to others will never be tolerated. That name calling, racist remarks, teasing or intimidating of any kind is not tolerated, and should be reported immediately. Any bullying incident will be recorded and any on-going difficulty discussed with parent or carer upon collection of the child. As with behavioural difficulties, any recurrent bullying situation will result in parents being informed in writing with a verbal warning that further bullying may result in exclusion. If a child reports an incident that happened at the club to a parent at home, the parent should speak to the club supervisor. Be assured that sensitivity and appropriate support will be given to any child suffering from being bullied, and the situation will always be discussed with the parents or carers.
CONDITIONS OR SPECIAL NEEDS If your child has any medical conditions or special needs please make sure you include this information on the application form. Once your child has started at the club, if a new condition or need occurs it is important that you let the club supervisor know. ADMINISTERING MEDICINES If your child must take prescribed medicine then you will need to complete a Medical Consent form which is available from the club. If medicine has been given during the day and is ongoing after school hours full details need to be given by parents.
INHALERS If your child has an inhaler for asthma or any other conditions it is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that they are handed into the school office, clearly labelled with the child’s name and dosage.
PERSONAL CIRCUMSTANCES In order to help staff give appropriate and sensitive care to your child, please let the club supervisor know if there are any changes in your personal circumstances that are likely to have an effect on your child, for example: bereavement, new home, family breakdown. It would also be helpful if you informed staff of any problems or particular areas of concern you have regarding your child’s behaviour.
CONFIDENTIALITY All information contained in your child’s records is treated confidentially and the right to privacy for you and your child is respected. Any difficult or potentially embarrassing matters will be treated sensitively. In extreme situations such as child protection or the need for urgent medical treatment, in the best interests of your child, we may decide it is necessary to share personal details with other professionals such as, teachers, social workers or medical staff.
DEALING WITH ACCIDENTS All accidents and injuries are recorded in the club’s accident book. If your child has a minor accident the person collecting will be told and asked to sign the accident book. In the event of accidents or illness needing medical attention, club staff will make every effort to contact you.
CHILD PROTECTION All safeguarding concerns will be dealt with in line with the schools policy and procedures.
COMPLAINTS We try to review all aspects of our work on a regular and ongoing basis. However, from time to time you or your child may feel that you have a complaint about some aspect of the club or about an individual member of staff. Hopefully, it is usually possible to resolve any problems as they occur, by discussing them with the club supervisor. If you feel that your complaint has not been adequately dealt with or is of a particularly serious or sensitive nature then you should contact the Headteacher.
ABSENCES/CANCELLATIONS NOTIFICATION OF ABSENCE/CANCELLATIONS The After School Club must be advised if your child is absent from school or not attending for any other reason to ensure all children are safe and accounted for. Please telephone 07759 227779. We are contactable from 8.00 to 9.00 and 15.00 to 19.00. There are no refunds or credits payable except under very exceptional circumstance and at the discretion of the Headteacher. This needs to be agreed before the absence.
COLLECTION OF CHILDREN Children are signed out at the end of each session by an adult. They will be only allowed to leave with you or the people you have authorised on the Registration Form. If the authorised person is under the age of 16 an additional letter giving written permission will be required, this will then be kept on file.
LATE COLLECTION PROCEDURE If your child is not collected on time the following procedure is implemented:At 5.55 p.m. If you or the person designated has not contacted the club, we will try and contact the emergency contact on the child’s Registration Form and arrange emergency collection. At 6 p.m. the school is closed and staff and child have to vacate the building. If there has been no parental contact and
staff at the club have been unable to contact the emergency contacts on the child’s Registration Form we have no alternative but to contact the Social Services Department. We hope to avoid this happening as it is stressful on all concerned.
St. Cecilia’s After School Club reserves the right to charge £5.00 per child per 15 minutes.
RE-CURRENT LATENESS The club recognises that there may be occasional late collections which are unavoidable. However 2 late collections in a half term without notification or reasonable explanation may result in your child’s place being terminated with no refund of fees.
CLUB FEES £10.00 per child per session, all cheques are to be made payable to St. Cecilia’s After School Club. REGULAR AND BLOCK BOOKINGS Regular and block bookings will be invoiced at the beginning of each half-term and must be paid within 14 days thereafter a penalty charge of £5.00 per week will be incurred. If a second request of payment is made and has not been received within 5 working days then your child’s place will be terminated.
ANNUAL REVIEW Towards the end of the Summer Term parents with children in the After School club will be written to and asked to confirm what, if any, places they require for the Autumn Term. Any places that become available will then be allocated from the waiting list in accordance with the Admission Policy. The waiting list will be opened to children starting in F2 once the official offer has been made. Applications to go onto the waiting list must be made in writing. If all the places are allocated then your child will be placed on a waiting list and you will be informed when a place becomes available as soon as possible. Club fees will be reviewed twice yearly by the Management Team and will subsequently be changed after half a terms notice has been given.
GENERAL INFORMATION It is of utmost importance that all parents update the After School Club of any telephone changes and other alterations regarding the Registration Form. Please remind your child/children that they will not be allowed to return back to their classrooms once they are under the care of the club. CONTACT NO:- 07759 227779 We are contactable from 08.00-09.00 and 15.00-19.00
