Out-of-School-Hours Care

It can be very challenging for parents to organise their schedule around traditional school hours and holidays and one of the big draws of our school is that we offer a full, quality, flexible package – a longer school day, with added sport and other activities giving children health, extra skills and self-respect. It’s good for the children, good for society and good for parents! Our school is open from 7.30am to 6.00pm to care for your child.

We are committed to promoting the welfare and development of all our children at all times through the provision of a safe and secure environment, not least so that parents can have confidence that their children are well looked after.

We offer comprehensive Out of School Hours Care for working parents or for those who need a little extra time to finish the shopping or prepare the evening meal. Our Out of School Hours Care is now inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate alongside the overall school inspection. The last Ofsted inspection report is available to parents on request. How the School meets the Statutory Requirements is described in the School’s Policy for Out of School Hours Care which is also available to parents on request.

The children are supervised at all times by professional and caring staff. A nominated and qualified paediatric first aider is always on hand. The staffing of all Out of School Hours Care is constant, giving parents complete peace of mind. The children have access to all the Firwood Manor facilities, including the Art room, Library and I.C.T. suite.

Aims of Out-of-School-Hours Care:

• to provide a wrap around service before and after school and during the school holidays;
• to integrate the service into the school so that quality education and care is combined to provide “educare”;
• to staff the service with quality staff who know the pupils and can plan to meet their needs;
• to provide an enriched experience that meets the OFSTED standards and requirements as a minimum;
• to liaise closely with parents so that both home and school can work together to meet the needs of each pupil on an individual basis.

Staffing

The Headteacher in liaison with the Out of School Hours Care staff is responsible for ensuring that the provision meets the Department of Children, Schools and Families quality standards as a minimum, including CRB checks for staff, Health and Safety and Child Welfare requirements.

The management of the day-to-day Out of School Hours Care lies with the Co-ordinator. S/he will liaise with school staff and partners outside the school who contribute to the programme.

There is a named deputy who is able to take charge in the absence of the manager.

Co-ordinator for Out of School Hours Care: Mrs. M. Cluskey

Assistant Co-ordinator: Miss H. Wright

All staff, involved in Out of School Hours Care, work within the school at other times. This means that expectations are constant throughout the children’s day.

Types of Care Available

Before School Care

The provision of a Breakfast Club is very helpful for parents who have to commute. It enables pupils to start the day without being rushed, to enjoy meeting their friends and also ensures that they have eaten a healthy meal before the busy school day.

Our Breakfast Club takes place from 7.30 to 8.45am. The staff are actively involved in delivering a specially designed programme for the children, which includes quiet study time, quiet games, constructional play, reading and even finishing homework.
Between 8.30 and 8.45 the children are escorted to their respective classrooms to prepare for the start of the school day.

After School Care

Our Stay and Play Club takes place from the end of the school day to 6.00pm. Again, the staff are actively involved in supervising the children who stay behind. The timing and content of the after school sessions is carefully planned. Pupils need time to relax and play and to do any prep/homework.

Parents need never worry about getting stuck in traffic or otherwise being late to pick up their children. Any children who are not collected at the end of the school day automatically go to Stay and Play. All children are given a light snack at 4.00pm. to replenish energy levels.

Holiday Care

The Holiday Club is always very popular. Usually the full service operates at least 48 weeks per year. Details are given to parents prior to each holiday period. Parents are asked to enrol for weeks outside of term in advance although this is not necessary as parents’ circumstances can change daily. There is a varied programme of fun activities, which take place on and off site and include football, rugby, lacrosse and dance summer camps and visits to the cinema, theatre, Tatton Park and a variety of museums and art galleries. The same quality and standards apply although the programme is adjusted to include more leisure and play activities with a particular emphasis on outdoor physical activity.

The opportunities given to the children for learning and play offer a mix of active and quiet times, of free choice and adult-led activities and of planned activities and free play.

Breakfast and Afternoon tea are available. The children bring their own packed lunches.

At all times, the philosophy of the School’s Behaviour Policy and Teaching and Learning Policy is put into practice.

Organisation

When organising groups of children, the ages, abilities and needs are taken into consideration. Children are assigned to a key worker and wherever possible consistency of key worker is a priority. However, movement of children and staff between groups may occur to provide children with a richer experience. As children arrive for Breakfast Club, they have breakfast in the hall and then move into the library where they may finish homework or take part in a planned activity. At the start of Stay and Play, the children have a snack and a drink. Afterwards, the older children move to the quiet area to do their homework. Activities are organised for the younger children. At all other times, there is a mixture of activities, some of which are designed for particular age groups and some of which are designed for vertically organised groups. Staff should always keep a careful eye on vertically organised groups to ensure that the needs of the younger children are met. During Stay and Play time children are accompanied to the toilet by a member of staff.

Minimum staff ratios are maintained at all times.

Registration

Parents are asked to sign their children in to Breakfast Club and out of Stay and Play. In the case of Holiday Club, parents are asked to sign in and sign again when they collect their children. Passwords are used if the person collecting the child is not known to the staff.

Sick Children

All of the School’s procedures for dealing with illness, administration of medicine, first aid and accidents apply to Out of School Hours Care.

Food and Drink

The children have access to fresh drinking water at all times.

Snacks provided by the School are healthy and nutritious in line with the School’s healthy eating policy.

During Holiday Club, parents are asked to provide a packed lunch.