The Little Kids Club – Parent Information

What Your Child Will Need

  • Please make sure we have the up to date registration form, with your current contact details on. Please inform us if there are any changes. It is essential that we have our details correct for each child.
  • The children will need to bring with them a morning snack and a packed lunch. We will provide water and fruit throughout the day and an afternoon snack.
  • Sensible clothing and shoes is advisable. If your child is going on a trip we would strongly recommend that your child brings with them a water proof coat, trainers and a change of clothes. In the warmer months of the year it is vital that your child brings with them a sun hat and sun cream. We suggest you bring the above, clearly named, to the Club at the start of the holidays, to be used when needed.
  • We have no control over the weather (unfortunately), so it may be necessary to cancel a trip or change the venue. We strongly advise a change of clothes to be brought in at the start of the week.
  • We accept no responsibility for any loss or damage to any property of the children and we strongly advise not to bring in electronic devices or phones. However, we will do our utmost to ensure they are stored correctly and looked after. The children know where the designated place is for the storage of such items when they are not playing with them. We encourage them to take responsibility for their own items. Please see the Management for our new policy on the use of electronic devices.
  • Please make sure we are made aware of any allergies your child may have and that this information is recorded on your registration form.
  • If your child needs an inhaler, or may need one if they are doing a lot of physical activities, please make sure your child has one, clearly named please, failure to bring one may mean your child does not participate in certain activities. No inhaler no trip!
  • If your child needs an Epipen please ensure we have two held at Club, clearly named please.  No Epipen no trip!
 

Drop-Off and Collection

During the holidays your child/ren will be signed in on arrival to The Little Kids’ Club daily by our Club staff, in the form of attendance signing in-out sheets. When dropping your children off in the morning, please park in the St Mary’s Community Centre car park and bring your child/ren through the front doors of the Centre, where you will then be directed to The Little Kids’ Club setting.

It is the same procedure when collecting your child/ren at the end of the day. When collecting your child/ren, the Club staff will sign them out on your behalf.

If for some reason, an adult other than yourself or the person identified on your registration form is collecting your child/ren, it is essential that you inform the Club prior to collection.  Please note that if you have not informed us of a change in arrangements we have the right to not allow your child/ren to leave the premises.

Staffing

The ratio of staff is minimum 1:8 for under five year olds and a minimum 1:10 for five years old and over.  All staff are trained to the highest standards and are continually developing their training with the benefit of courses ran from CEYS Childcare and Early Years Service, The Jersey Child Care Trust, Education and Highlands College.  All staff attend relevant courses and seminars on a regular basis.

Although we do have designated Key Workers for a variety of cases at The Kids’ Club and The Little Kids’ Club, our team of staff are always on hand at the start of the day and also at pick up time to discuss your child’s day and any queries you may have.  We encourage the staff and children to form natural relationships with each other.  If your child has formed a close relationship with a particular member of staff, they will be introduced to you in order to give you first hand what kind of day your child has had.

We have two main members of staff who run The Little Kids’ Club who have varied and extensive experience, from early years training through to specialist school aged training, we also have staff who are management and playwork trained who work within the setting.   We have also built excellent relations with good, reliable and qualified temporary staff who are able to work during the holiday periods, encouraging the continuity of care.

Snack

Snack is provided daily for the children by the Club in the afternoon, included in the service, for the children who are staying until 3.30pm. We always ensure that the food provided is healthy yet appealing! Children with specific dietary needs can be catered for.

During holiday club the children are required to bring in something for their morning snack, a drink’s bottle and a packed lunch.

Water is provided all day by the Club as and when the children need it.

We also provide fresh fruit and yoghurts on a daily basis.

We are a ‘nut free zone’ due to a number of children having severe allergies to nuts, we appreciate your understanding and acceptance of this.

Outings and Activities

For The Kids’ Club, the week before the holidays start, parents will receive an itinerary sheet which will have all the details of the outings and activities on offer (except in the Summer Holidays when we will send the itinerary on  request).  These are for your guidance and may change on the day due to bad weather or lack of response!! The children within The Little Kids’ Club have the opportunity to be part of these activities if they wish, the themes run through both clubs.  We like to be more spontaneous with the younger children ensuring all the opportunities are there, yet follow their lead in the taking of them!  You will be kept fully informed on a daily basis and given notice of any outings planned for that holiday.

Absence and Illness

It is important that you inform us via telephone, 07797 832771, if your child/ren will not be attending either for the after-school or holiday clubs. Please don’t email as we may not see our emails after a certain time.

If your child has any contagious illness or infection, please let the Management know so that all parents/carers and staff can be informed.

If your child shows signs of diarrhoea and/or vomiting he/she will be sent home and they must not return until their stools are normal for at least 48 hours and all other symptoms are cleared.

Bad Weather

In the event of school closure due to bad weather, our after-school club will also be closed. If we have to close during the holidays due to bad weather, before opening time, we will announce on our Facebook page, The Kids’ Club. If we are forced to close during our session times we will contact parents/carers to arrange collection of the children.

Accidents

Although we do everything to prevent accidents from happening they do still occur.  

Should your child injure themselves, a qualified first aider will deal with the incident and the staff member who witnessed the incident will record it in the accident book, if necessary, which is then counter signed by the management.  If we feel your child needs to be taken to accident and emergency we shall contact you immediately.  

Due to this it is essential that you keep us up to date with your contact details ie change of address, contact numbers, medication etc.

Medication

If your child/ren require any medication whilst at The Little Kids’ Club, staff must be informed and you must fill in our medication form.

Any medication administered on the premises can only be those prescribed by a doctor and be clearly labelled with the child/ren’s name and correct dosage.  Prescribed medication will be stored in the fridge and are to be taken home each day and not left at Club.

In the case of inhalers and epi-pens, they will be stored in our medical drawers in the kitchen, away from the children but still accessible. These medicines need to be checked regularly. Please ensure that your children’s medication is in date and they need to be replaced by the parents/carers as and when they expire.

You must complete the medication authorisation form.  This routine will be followed for each new course of medication.

Behaviour

Children have the right to relax, play and enjoy their time at Club, without fear of intimidation, harassment, physical or verbal abuse.

We want the children to enjoy themselves during their time with The Little Kids’ Club and have as much fun as possible.  However, we do have a few strong guidelines which will be discussed with the children, which are also displayed around the Club. The Little Kids’ Club recognises the importance of positive and effective behaviour management strategies in promoting all children and young people’s welfare and enjoyment. (Please see our Behaviour Management Policy)

The aims of our Behaviour Management Policy are to help all children and young people to:

  • Develop a sense of caring and respect for one another
  • Build caring and co-operative relationships with other children, young people and adults
  • Develop a range of social skills and help them learn what constitutes as acceptable behaviour
  • Develop confidence, self-discipline and self-esteem in an atmosphere of mutual respect and encouragement

 

Please do not hesitate to speak with the Management if you ever have concerns about your child/rens behaviour.  Always remember we are here to support you and your child.

Policies

The Club’s have various policies that outline our practice and procedures.  We strongly advise our parents/carers to read them. Some of our policies can be found on our website. Copies of all our policies are available on request and our Play Policy is included in the Parent Handbook. If you wish for copies to retain yourself, please do ask.

Child Protection

The welfare of the children is paramount. Through ongoing training, we have appropriate procedures in place at The Little Kids’ Club. The staff retain the right to protect any child from any form of danger they may perceive. (Please see our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy).

Grievance Procedure

We strive to build a partnership between parents/carers and ourselves. If you have any grievances please speak with the management, who will endeavour to resolve it as quickly as possible, in order to maintain a positive relationship between those involved.

If however, you do not consider the problem to be resolved, please write a letter to the Club Co-ordinator, St Mary’s Youth and Community Centre, Rue du Pont, St Mary, JE3 3AS.

Alternatively you can contact CEYS, Childcare and Early Years’ Service, who are our regulatory body, on 01534 449387, or email at: ceys@gov.je

If you have any questions or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact Stephanie Ferey, Manager, on 01534 485897 or alternatively 07797 832771.