September 11

Hello everyone!

Welcome back to the start of a new school year.

We hope you all had a fantastic summer. We would like to welcome all of the new starters to our out of school club. It is very encouraging to see that our services are helping more and more parents every year, which we hope continues.

Summer Holiday Club Success

 

The Holiday Club was a huge success once again with almost everyday fully booked.  We provided a wide range of activities and trips to ensure the children had a fun and exciting time while they were in our care. Our programme included; cooking, messy model making, a paint party, as well as going bowling, visiting Whitley Bay Playhouse to watch Bob The Builder and playing crazy golf at Tynemouth.

You can check out our full holiday club adventure in the holiday club books located on the front desk in the club.

We are open for holiday club on 21st October for teacher training day from 8am-6pm.

The Autumn half term holiday club is Monday 24th October—Friday 28th October. Our opening times are 8am-6pm. The programme of activities and trips will be available in a few weeks.

The cost is £25 full day and £15 half day (swap over time 12-1pm only available on non-trip days)

Book early to avoid disappointment!

 

6pm Finish 

The 6.00pm finish has been reviewed by the Management Committee and due to parental feedback from the questionnaires completed before the summer, the club will continue to operate until 6pm for the foreseeable future! 

Prices 

The Out of School Club Prices are as follows:

Breakfast Club                                    £6                 

After School Club (to 4.30pm)                   £7

After School Club (to 5.30pm)                   £9.50

After School Club (to 6pm) £14.50

After School (from clubs 4.30-5.30pm)        £4.50

After School (from clubs 4.30-6pm)            £9.50

Wrap Around Care                                £20

Holiday Club                                       £25 (half day £15)

 

Capital Grant

 

The Capital Grant Spending of £20,000 to improve the club came to an end in April 2011 and I am excited to tell everyone about all of the new and exciting resources the club has benefitted from. The club has been designed in such a way in which 4 specific areas has been created: a quiet room, playroom, creative area and outdoor area. In the quiet room we have been able to create a snack area with 2 new tables and flooring, a cosy area with 2 leather sofas and a LCD television and a reading area complete with book case and seating. The playroom has been transformed with a new carpet, wall mounted LCD television, 2 pc’s, cameras, wii console, all new furniture and baskets to store toys in. Areas within the playroom include; a role play area and home corner complete with kitchen and dressy ups, the creative/messy area including sand and water trays, painting easel and table for arts and crafts activities as well as a small world area, writing area and ICT area. We have also developed the outdoor space to have our own garden to plant, grow and dig, as well as a playhouse, sheds, outdoor equipment and chalk, paint and marker boards. In addition, we have purchased many new toys and resources for all of the areas.

The Capital Grant has immensely improved and transformed the club into a new, exciting and dynamic place for all children to learn, develop and achieve their full potential.

 

New Staff & Staff Training

Holystone Out of School Club strives to provide the best possible childcare through a highly skilled and trained workforce. Recent staff training has been started and completed in the following:

·  Joanne Garner currently has a BA Hons degree in Playwork/Childhood & Play and Professional Practice Studies. She has recently enrolled to study; Early Years Professional Status, 60 credits towards a Master’s Degree and A1 Assessors Award. Joanne has successfully completed; Level 2 Award in Paediatric First Aid, Appointed Person for Safeguarding Children and Epi Pen Training.

· Ashleigh Brettwood currently has a BA Hons degree in Childhood Studies and has recentlycompleted; Level 2 Award in Paediatric First Aid, Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering, Safeguarding Children and Supporting Children Through Fears and Anxieties in Early Years Settings as well as Appointed Person for Safeguarding Children and Epi Pen Training.

· Louise Gallagher has completed; NVQ Level 3 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development, Working with Children who Display Challenging Behaviour and A Positive Approach to Behaviour Management & also attended Autism training and Makaton training to fulfill her role as SENCO for the club.

· Rachel Studley has recently completed; NVQ Level 3 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development, A Positive Approach to Behavior Management & Working with Children who Display Challenging Behaviour, Epi Pen Training and Makaton training.

· Natalie Matthews has recently completed; NVQ Level 3 in Children’s Care, Learning and Development, A Positive Approach to Behavior Management and has also completed; Level 2 Award in Paediatric First Aid, Level 2 Award in Food Safety in Catering, Supporting Children Through Fears and Anxieties in Early Years Settings & Working with Children who Display Challenging Behaviour, Epi Pen Training and Makaton training.

· Rebecca Drennan is our newest member of the team and is currently working towards a Diploma in children, and young peoples workforce and has completed Epi Pen Training and Makaton training.

Carpark

  

I would like to remind all parents/carers that the allocated spaces for club users are the top two bays nearest to the entrance gates which are highlighted yellow and have direct access to the foot path for Health and Safety reasons.

This also applies to taxis - would all parents please ensure drivers are aware of this.

Parents/carers dropping off to the club in the morning can use the marked visitors bays with access available up to 8.30pm.

After school, the gates are opened at 3.30pm and the marked bays can be used from then to collect. I appreciate there are only 2 bays allocated for club users and that there are often 3 or 4 parents collecting at the same time. However, as the afternoon progresses, the carpark becomes less congested and therefore it is perfectly acceptable for you to use empty bays as long as you do not block in other cars.

 

24 hour cancellation period.

 

Due to the increasing demands, the club has applied to Ofsted to increase the capacity from 32 to 42 places available so that we can accommodate all bookings. This has been approved and the club is still fully booked almost every night with waiting lists in place.

 

It is vital that you give at least 24 hours notice to cancel your child’s place. Failure to do so will result in you STILL BEING CHARGED for your place.

 

This does not include illness and unforeseeable events however, you still must contact the club at the earliest opportunity to cancel in such circumstances. In doing so, the cancelled place can be offered to another child.

Thank You

 

We would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter and I hope we will gain your full support in addressing any issues raised.

We would also like to hear any thoughts, suggestions, and ideas that you may have regarding the out of school club. Please fill out a speech bubble from our table in the entrance and pop it up on our suggestions board in our entrance area.

On behalf of all the staff at Holystone Out of School Club, we look forward to seeing you soon!

 

 

Reminder: we are still looking for parents to join our Voluntary Management Committee please see Joanne if you are interested.

 

 

Thanks Again!

Joanne