Important Information Regarding Elm Grove Kids Club

Our latest Ofsted Inspection report

11th February 2020

Published by aaran on 27th July 2020

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Many of you will be aware that Elm Grove Kids Club is an independent not for profit company which was established by a group of Didsbury CE parents way back in 2004.

The club has run successfully, in close collaboration with the school ever since. It has provided much needed high-quality wraparound care at our school since its inauguration. Over the years the EGKC board has changed to reflect the changing parental body of our school.

Due to the current crisis and some difficulties in recruiting parents to key roles on the company board, the current committee have made the decision to hand over the responsibilities of running the club to the school and the Trust Board that manage the school. The aim is that the club will run in a similar fashion, with the same staff and prices but be part of the St James and Emmanuel Academy Trust rather than a separate entity.

We are currently in the process of managing this legal process of changing the employer from the EGKC Board to the Trust Board and are aiming for a 1^st September date for the completion. Obviously, at this point, like in any legal process, this date cannot be guaranteed but we are very hopeful that this will be possible.

If you currently use EGKC, or were thinking of booking sessions next year, please do read through the frequently asked questions below which hopefully will answer any queries you may have.

We will keep everyone updated towards the end of August when the legal process should be nearing completion.

Yours,
EGKC Board and Trust Board

General FAQs

1Will my child/children still have a place in Kids' Club for September, or do I need to reapply?

I informed parents, by email, that their sessions were being kept the same as they were before the club had to close. I asked parents to contact me if they no longer needed any of the sessions they had due to changes with their work so that I had accurate numbers for our registers ready for our re-opening.

2Will they already be booked into the same sessions as before?

As above.

3Is the main point of contact still Lisa Burns?

Yes.

4Will it be the same staff working at Kids Club?

Yes.

5Will the timings of Kids Club be the same?

Yes: Before school - 07:30 until 08:45 After school - 15:00 until 18:15

6Will the cost of Kids Club be the same?

Yes.

7What will the ratio of adult to child be?

The club has always worked with a 1:8 ratio for under 8yrs and 1:10 for 8 years and over.

8As it will be run by school will I be able to book more sessions on an ad hoc basis as I have done previously?

No – the club can only accept ad-hoc bookings as long as the availability allows this. This is managed mainly by Jenni, Deputy Manager, as she manages the daily registers and ad hoc bookings and offers places if there are cancellations of any permanent bookings. The capacity of the club will be between 50 and 60 children as it has been for the last few years. The capacity of the club is dictated by our play spaces and staff to child ratios.

9Can I book more permanent sessions as I need more?

Yes – as long as there is the availability and we keep a waiting list for places on the busiest sessions. These are constantly reviewed by Lisa, Club Manager.

10What activities will they be doing? Will they be the same as previously run?

Yes – the children will have access to a variety of play opportunities, ICT, Outdoor play and arts and craft. (This may be a little different and on a reduced scale for re-opening in ‘bubbles’ initially in September until it is safe to adjust this).

11How will today’s independent, parent voice input be retained?

Through regular parent questionnaires and encouraging parents to speak to the club directly (to Lisa or Jenni) if they have any concerns.

Covid19-specific questions

1Will Kids’ Club be running in September?

Hopefully - yes

2If my child is in a class bubble how would this then work with Kids Club?

The children will be kept in class bubbles and have a zoned area marked out in the hall- which will be a kids’ club area only. We will also be using the ICT and the SEN resource room for 2 of the year group bubbles.

3What will the ratio of child to adult be if they are kept in their bubbles from the school day?

There will be a member of staff assigned to each bubble and the majority of the staff will be in the hall, in different zones, to support each other. There will be a Manager overseeing the operations and providing support as needed in a particular bubble.

4I have children in different classes, will they be able to see each other in Kids Club?

There will be 6 of the class bubbles in the hall so although siblings will be kept in their class groups they will still be able to see each other and we can facilitate the contact if there was a need for this due to a child being distressed, for example.

5Will my child still be provided with a snack at Kids’ Club or would I need to provide them with this?

I am hoping to provide simple snacks and need to check the current before and after school club guidance. I think children will use their own individual water bottles or we can provide carton drinks?

6Will drop off and pick up be at the same place and will this be staggered? I work and I would need this time to change on a daily basis.

Parents will collect and drop off at the main entrance of school and children will be collected from the entrance hall in the morning and escorted back to there in the evenings by a member of staff. Parents are will not be limited to when they can drop off or pick up apart from there will be no drop off after 8:30 am so that the main corridor is clear for children who are entering school when the staggered starts begin at 8:40 am.

aaran

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Important Information Regarding Elm Grove Kids Club

Our latest Ofsted Inspection report

General FAQs

Covid19-specific questions

aaran

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