Springfield out of School Care Club

Springfield Out of School Care Club

INFORMATION BOOKLET

The Community Wing

141 Springfield Road

Linlithgow EH49 7SN

Tel: 07788 943687 or

07767490020

Email:

Scottish Charity Number: SCO24476

Updated February 2015

1PURPOSE

The purpose of the Springfield Out of School Care Club is to contribute to the development of children aged from P1 up to 14 years, attending schools in Linlithgow, by providing quality out of school care and recreational activities, taking into consideration the needs of parents who work or are pursuing education and training.

2AIMS

The Club aims to provide:

A safe, happy, fun and stimulating environment for children with the emphasis on different types of play both indoors and out whilst in the care of the Club.

A varied programme which will broaden the range of experience of the children involved and offer a wide range of activities including arts and crafts, drama, sportand outings.

A reliable and professional service providing childcare before and after school hours and during In Service days and School Holidays.

The Club’s ethos is for the children to enjoy self-directed play which broadens their experiences whilst in the care of qualified and experienced staff.

3PROGRAMME

The emphasis of the Club is on fun, constructive play and enjoyment, so that children are happy attending the Club. The Club is not an extension of the school day, nor is it simply a 'baby-sitting' service,but will provide the children with choice and freedom to play and rest within a flexible range of activities.

Programmes are developed using a wide assortment of play materials and activities, catering for all the different ages of children using the service. Local resources like museums, parks and swimming pools are utilised within the planned programmes, particularly in the school holidays. By participating in a diverse programme of activities with other children, the child develops social, communicative, creative, emotional, physical and intellectual skills. Every activity stimulates a learning process.

4THE SERVICE

Accommodation

The Club uses Springfield Community Wing premises making use of the games hall, crèche room and on most days and the nearby outdoor play area.

Staff

The play staff are recruited by the Management Committee. They were selected because of their wide experience and keen interest in children.

The staff are:CLUB MANAGER - HELEN ANDERSON

DEPUTY MANAGER- SHONA SIMPSON

PLAYWORKERS- GILLIAN GEDDES

- LISA HILSON

- GEMMA DUNCAN

- CAITLIN HILSON

-AMANDA FALCONER

-LEANNE PENMAN

BANK STAFF - LIAM MACDONALD

A maximum adult to child ratio of 1:10 is operated (1:8 for trips and going outside).

Contact Telephone Numbers

Club Mobile:07788 943687

Springfield Community Wing:01506 847455

Manager’s Mobile:07767490020

Opening Times

Term Time / Monday - Friday / 7.45am-8.50am
Monday - Thursday / 3.15pm-6.00pm
Friday / 12.30pm-6.00pm
In Service Days and School Holidays / Monday - Friday / 7.45am-6.00pm

Holidays

The Club is closed on the following days:

• Christmas Day and Boxing Day
• New Year’s Day and 2ND January
• Good Friday and Easter Monday
• May Day Bank holiday Monday
• Marches Day
• Election days

Snacks

A range of healthy snacks are provided daily during term time after school with fruit and juice/water on offer throughout the session. On Fridays children should be given a packed lunch before arriving at the Club. On In Service Days and School Holidays children should bring their own packed lunch in a labelled plastic bag so that it can be stored in the cool box. We do provide snacks and water/ diluting juice throughout the day.

5ALLOCATION OF PLACES

When the Club has limited availability of places, the Club’s waiting list policy is put into operation. A Waiting List Form must be completed for every child who wishes to join the Club, or for any child already in the Club who wishes to change their current days. Places will be allocated in date order from entry on to the waiting list. Admissions will be dependent upon a fully completed Registration Form and payment of the registration fee. All admissions will be subject to the Club's agreed policies, e.g. Fees, Times and Consents.

Short term places may be available for registered children at short notice. This may be arranged by contacting the Club Manager.

6REGISTRATION

A Registration Form must be completed annually for all children attending the Club. The days and hours requested are agreed at the point of registration and any change to these may invoke the waiting list policy.

There is an annual registration payment of £25 per child. The payment will be collected in at the AGM held in April/May to secure the place(s) for the following August session.

On first registering with the Club a Gift Aid declaration form will be provided. The signing of this will help the Club to maximise the income from annual registrations.

7FEESARE AS FOLLOWS:

Mon to Thu
pickup time / hours / charge
3.30 / n/a / £4.00
3.45 / n/a / £4.00
4.00 / n/a / £4.00
4.15 / n/a / £4.00
4.30 / 1.5 / £4.80
4.45 / 1.5 / £4.80
5.00 / 2 / £6.40
5.15 / 2 / £6.40
5.30 / 2.5 / £8.00
5.45 / 2.5 / £8.00
6.00 / 3 / £9.60

FRIDAYS

Friday
pickup time / Hours / charge
12.45 / n/a / £4.00
1.00 / n/a / £4.00
1.15 / n/a / £4.00
1.30 / n/a / £4.00
1.45 / 1.5 / £4.80
2.00 / 1.5 / £4.80
2.15 / 2 / £6.40
2.30 / 2 / £6.40
2.45 / 2.5 / £8.00
3.00 / 2.5 / £8.00
3.15 / 3 / £9.60
3.30 / 3 / £9.60
3.45 through to 6.00 / 3.5 to 5.5 / £10.00

Late pick up time (after time on Registration Form) will be charged at 80p per every 15 minutes late. A charge of £5.00 will be applied if child/children are picked up after 6pm unless there are extenuating circumstances.

A morning session is charged as a full hour.An afternoon session will be calculated in half hour intervals, based on the committed hours.There is a minimum charge of £4 for each afternoon session.

Daily Rate (for holidays/in service days)£25

Half day rates£17

Additional charges may be made for some trips and activities, especially during the school holidays. One week’s noticemust be given if you need to cancel a holiday booking as staffing and trips are organised in advance. Unless this is down to your child/children being off due to sickness. If notice is not given, the full booked rate will be charged.

The rates will be reviewed annually in August/September. Prices will be reviewed annually around April/ May time.

A bill will be provided on a monthly basis detailing fees incurred for each child at the Club. The bill will be provided in advance of the last day of the bill period and will state a payment date (typically two weeks after last day in bill period). Payment is expected by this date and the Club reserves the right to charge a late payment fee of £5 for the first late payment. For a second late payment a warning letter will be issued to the person responsible outlining the necessity for payments to be paid on time. If a third late payment is received, then the Club has the right to exclude the offender’s children from the Club.

In order to staff the Club appropriately no refunds are given for unused hours e.g. child off sick, child collected early, etc. All places requested at the start of the new term MUST be paid for unless changes have been agreed in advance with the Manager.

Payment MUST be by bank transfer or childcare vouchers.

Please quote the child's name on all payments to enable us to track payments against your child/children.

Bank details are Lloyds TSB Linlithgow Branch,

Account Number: 73682560

Sort Code: 87-79-15

8ABSENCE

In the event of your child being absent from school, or if you intend to collect your child directly from school yourself on a day when your child is expected at the Club, the Club Manager or Deputy Manager should be contacted by telephone or at Springfield Community Wing as soon as possible. If your child is taken ill during school time and leaves the school please also contact the Club. It is very important that the Club knows that your child/children won’t be attending Club or we could employ the missing child policy unnecessarily.

9COLLECTION

Staff Members will escort children from Springfield Primary P1 to P3 from school to the Club. All other children will walk to the Club from school on completion of the appropriate transfer procedure or by written permission from parents/carers. All staff, children, parents/carers must fully comply with the Transfer Procedure to/from the Club.

Parents/Carers must confirm collection arrangements for their children via the Transfer Form. Signatures are required daily to verify collection from the Club.

Parents arriving after 6pm due to unforeseen circumstances should contact the Club Manager on the mobile phone (Tel: 07788 943687) and special arrangements will be agreed as a one-off only.

SUPPORTING INFORMATION

10MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

The Club is managed by a committee of parent volunteers, who form a Management Committee. The Club is fully constituted and is recognised as having Charitable Status (Scottish Charity Number: SCO24476). Any profits made will be used to further develop the Club. The Club constitution is available on request and also available on our website.

Close liaison is maintained with the West Lothian out of School Care Network and Scottish out of School Care Network.

The Management Committee is elected at the Club’s AGM each year. Minutes of the Management Committee meetings are available for all members on request. And is also available to read on our website. A current list of committee members is available on the website.

11REGISTRATION AND INSPECTION

Springfield out of School Care Club is registered and inspected by the Care Commission under the provisions of the 1989 Children Act. The Club's Certificate of Registration and a copy of the Care Standards are available in the Club. Copies of the latest Registration and Inspection Report are available to parents.

12HEALTH AND SAFETY

Springfield out of School Care Club aims to provide safe and healthy working conditions, equipment and work practices for all employees, children and volunteers of the club. In pursuit of this the Club provides information, training and supervision for staff to enable them to operate with due regard to the health and safety of all persons at the Club.

13QUALITY OF SERVICE

The operation of the Club follows Care Commission recommendations. Regular feedback is also sought from the children and parents.

The Management Committee consider the training of staff as being a major contributor to continually improving the Club and training will be given priority to meet this objective. All staff are required to be registered with the SSSC and meet the guidelines set by this governing body yearly. All staff will have a full pvg/ disclosure done before commencing employment with the Club.

Should anyone need to raise a complaint about any aspect of the Club, their concern will be taken seriously and be investigated by a member of the Management Committee. Appropriate action will be taken, and the complainant informed of the outcome. For full details, please refer to the Complaints Procedure available on request in the Club.

14DISCIPLINE

The Club operates a policy on discipline and behaviour. Our aim is to have a caring and friendly environment. Children, however, need to be encouraged to develop a sense of right and wrong behaviour. In providing such encouragement, play workers always praise acceptable behaviour. Where unacceptable behaviour occurs children are informed of this and it is explained why his/her behaviour is unacceptable and the reason for any action taken. Parents will be informed of unacceptable behaviour that affects other children's enjoyment and safety in the Club or where staff members feel behaviour has been inappropriate. Action might include being withdrawn from a favourite activity or missing an outing.

Where a child is in danger either to themselves or others, measures will be taken to deal with this responsibly, in the manner in which a reasonable adult would act. However, bullying, verbal abuse and persistent outbursts of unacceptable behaviour on the part of a child may result in the committee reviewing places at the Club and might lead to child being excluded. Parents will always be involved if their child is experiencing difficulties at the Club.

15CONFIDENTIALITY AND OPEN ACCESS

Any information or issues discussed between either the staff team or the Management Committee and parent/carers will be held in confidence unless it is deemed appropriate by the Management Committee for third parties to know.

All parents/carers have the right to access information and records held on their child/ children.

16CARE AND PROTECTION

All Club staff will have an understanding of the Child Protection Guidelines for Voluntary Organisations issued by Lothian Regional Council in September 1995. As part of the Recruitment Policy all staff undergo disclosure checks. Should staff receive disclosures, observe verbal abuse or be informed of an allegation by third parties they will follow the guidelines in a confidential and non-judgemental manner. Certain information may not be covered by the Club's Confidentiality and Open Access Policy.

17INSURANCE

The Club fully conforms to the statutory requirement regarding insurance cover.

18EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES

The Club supports its policy of equal opportunities. The play setting services within the Club promotes equal opportunities for all and does not discriminate against any child, family, carer, member of staff or Management Committee or visitor to the Club. The Club welcomes all children from P1 up to 14 years and their families irrespective of gender, racial origin or disability.

Further information in respect of the Club’s policies and procedures can be found on the Club's website.

Committee Members Details May 2013

Name / Position
Donna Grose / Chair
Gillian Arthur / Vice Chair / HR Adviser
Nicola Mason / Treasurer
Elaine Crighton / Secretary
Deborah Demick / Committee member
Claire Sexton / Committee member
Sean Pottinger / Committee member
Anne Thomson / Committee member
Luisa Burgess / Committee member

For general queries please e-mail

SOoSCC Info BookletFeb 2014Page 1