Dear Families,
SUMMER HOLIDAY CLUB
257 children, 115 activities and 40 playworkers later and the summer holidays have finished for another year! We hope you had a lovely break whatever you did, and everyone is settling back into the routines of a new school year. We had a fantastic time at Holiday Club, and enjoyed meeting all our new children, as well as welcoming back lots of familiar faces. We asked the children what they enjoyed the most about Holiday Club and here are their answers:
"Everything!" (Susie 7)
"I like making cookies. And eating them!" (Nancy, 7)
"There are lots of fun activities and the playworkers are really nice." (Ed, 9)
"I liked everything". (Bea, 8)
"I liked the trampolines at the farm!" (Sam, 7)
"The playworkers are the best!" (Emilia, 12)
" Just catching up with friends and I like the craft table for some ‘you’ time." (Megan, 9)
"Feeding the lambs!" (Grace, 11)
"It is fun, and you get lots of things to play with. It is really, really fun!" (Bella, 5)
"I like playing outside with my friends." (Ethan, 10)
"I love Holiday Club!" (Tom, 9)
"Everybody is so kind to me." (Poppy, 12)
"I like stories." (Ruby, 5)
"I love Liam the most." (Issy, 9)
"You can choose what you do." (Tom, 6)
"You can play all day!" (Grace, 5)
There were many highlights from the summer- from feeding the lambs at court farm, to watching our caterpillars turn into butterflies and fly away to playing outside in the sunshine. As a staff team, our highlight is always the children - watching them make new friends, trying new things and seeing how incredibly imaginative they are when given the freedom!
OCTOBER HOLIDAY CLUB
The October Holiday Club is now open for bookings! We have lots of exciting activities planned, from making Halloween cupcakes, to playing capture the flag and going on a treasure hunt. The children will also be working in groups to carve pumpkins, as well as making fresh lemonade. We also have use of the large outdoor areas, as well as our exciting range of toys and equipment, and our lovely playworkers! We will be in the Infant School, and will be open on the in service day on November 4th. As usual we expect to be busy so please do book early.
KEEPING ACTIVE
Did you know children need to do these types of physical activity each week?
Aerobic Exercise
e.g. activities like brisk walking, swimming, running, or cycling.
Exercises to strengthen their bones and their muscles
e.g. activities such as swinging, hopping and skipping, and sports such as gymnastics or tennis.
Children should undertake at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Being active for at least 60 minutes a day is linked to better general health, stronger bones and muscles, and higher levels of self-esteem.
AFTER SCHOOL CLUB
We have had a lovely start back at After School Club this term. The children have been busy making several new displays for us. Please do have a look next time you are in. Playing outside has been popular, and we are encouraging the children to make the most of the nice weather. We are enjoying getting to know our new reception children, and the new children who have started with us from other year groups. It always makes us proud seeing how friendly and welcoming our children are, and seeing our new children settle in so quickly. A child who started After School Club this week excitedly told us "This is the best place ever!" which really does make all the hard work worth it! There are still some spaces available on Fridays for After School Club. If you are interested please let Roberta know. A waiting system operates on other days - if you would like your child added to the waiting list please sign up on our website: www.schoolsouthenleaze.co.uk/join-the-waiting-list.
We have had a few questions about waiting lists and why we don’t increase our
capacity. Unfortunately, as much as we would like to increase our capacity neither school can offer us anymore space, and we have reached the capacity for the space we are currently using.
MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE NEWS
As many of you are aware, we are run by a group of volunteers who make up our Management Committee. We are always looking out for new members, particularly anyone with an accounting background who could assist our current treasurer. Management Committee members get priority for After School Club places. We meet on a termly basis - biscuits provided! If you are interested in joining please contact Roberta for further information.
LIBACURA
Sadly, we have been informed that Libacura is closing down next year. We are currently looking into alternative booking platforms. If anyone knows of any good options please let us know. It is likely we will change over in January - more details to follow.
DATE FOR THE DIARY
Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on the 11th November. All parents and carers are welcome, and we would love to see as many of you as possible. It is an excellent opportunity to find out what goes on behind the scenes. Please put the date in your diary. Further details to follow.
If you don’t already, please follow us on Facebook. We post lots of useful information, such as when we open for bookings, any last minute places that are available in holiday club, as well as lots of photos of the children playing.
ABSENCE AND CLUBS
Please let us know on 07847479626 if your child won’t be attending After School Club, or if they will be attending an extra-curricular club before coming to us. Where possible please leave day to day messages on the phone number, rather than by emailing Jenny or Roberta who may not pick up your message in time. (Or maybe on holiday!) There is a 48 hour exclusion period for children (and staff) after the LAST episode of sickness or diarrhea. We have your children and our staff’s best interests at heart by enforcing these exclusion periods. By bringing your poorly child in you are putting other children (and our staff) at risk. Thank you for your support.
WHO’S WHO
Hollie joined our team in 2018 as a playworker. Over the summer she
completed her Level 2 qualification in Playwork. Hollie is one of our Early Years Keyworkers, looking after our reception children as they settle into After School Club. Hollie’s favourite part of the job is playing outside with the children, and teaching them the games she played as a child at After School Club . Outside of work Hollie enjoys concerts and is working towards A Levels in sociology, psychology and business studies. She is hoping to go on to study child psychology/development in the future. Next time you are in, please stop and say hello!
YOU SAID, WE DID
Each newsletter we will share with you how we have responded to feedback from either an adult or a child. Your feedback is very important to us, and we welcome your comments.
YOU SAID: Can you get us some Play Walkie Talkies and more "office" toys?
WE DID: Rotary phone, toy walkie talkies and a typewriter is on its way!
We are always keen to hear your views. There is a suggestions box at the back of the dining hall or pop in for a chat. THANK YOU for your continued support.