PROSPECTUS

Little Munchkins,

Scout Building,

Rear of 61 Stamford Drive,

Stalybridge,

Cheshire,

SK15 1QT

Telephone Number: - 07840 945572

www.littlemunchkins.org

OFSTED Registered: EY299288

Introduction

Welcome to Little Munchkins out of school and holiday club.  We provide before and after school care and we have a holiday club for children aged three to eleven years old.  We are OFSTED registered.

 Our home is in the Scout Building, situated with grounds for outdoor play and camping area for the Scouts / Guiding Association.

 We aim to provide a fun packed program where your child can use the workshop area or complete their homework in a quiet area of the room.  There is a variety of equipment and activities on offer as well as outdoor play.

 We offer a pick up and drop off service from the following schools – Gorse Hall, Arlies and Ridge Hill. (We may extend our service dependant on demand, if your school is not listed above we may be able to add to the list, this may depend on opening and closing times of your school)

The Staff

Management

Gillian Window	Kath Mossop
Manager / Owner	Manager

Gillian Window : NVQ Level 4 in Childcare & Education

                                    Currently doing Foundation Degree

Foundation Stages: - First Aid, Health & Safety, Food Hygiene, Safeguarding Children the Next Step (Child Protection), Induction for SENCOs & Paperwork & Procedures for SENCOs & writing IAP’s & IEP’s for SENCO.

Kath Mossop: NVQ Level 3 in Childcare & Education.

                               Currently doing NVQ Level 4 in Childcare & Education

First Aid, Health & Safety, Food Hygiene, Safeguarding Children, Induction for SENCOs & Paperwork & Procedures for SENCOs & writing IAP’s & IEP’s for SENCO.

Staff

Opening Times

Hours of Opening

We are open five days a week from 7.30am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday, and offer the following Times:

 Morning                                 7:30am – 9:00am     Before School         

 Midday Term Time Only      9.30am – 3.00pm     Pre - School

 Afternoons  Mon - Thurs    3.00pm – 6.00pm.    After School 

 Afternoon Friday                  3.00pm – 5.30pm     After School 

 Full Day                                7.30am – 6.00pm     Holiday Club

 There are places for 40 children at the before / after school per session.

 Places will be given on a first come, first served basis, although priority will be given to children with siblings already attending the before / after school, places can only be held if they are paid for. We will make it clear that our before / after school welcomes fathers, mothers, other relations and carers and people from all cultural, ethnic, religious and social groups with or without disabilities.

In the event of over-subscription the following sub criteria will apply:

Children who have siblings who have already attended.

Geographical location - preference will be given to children living within a 2½ mile radius.

Children already attending the pre - school.

Age - older children will be given preference.

Referrals from other professionals will be given consideration.

Fees

 The fees are as outlined later in this prospectus

 Fees will be Non-refundable.  Failure to pay fees as detailed may result in the loss of your child’s place.

 Absence due to holidays, fees still need to be paid.

Illness

1. Parents are asked not to bring into Little Munchkins any child who has been vomiting or had diarrhoea until at least 24 hours has elapsed since the last attack.
2. Please keep your child at home if they have any infectious illness and contact Little Munchkins to let them know.
3. In the event of a child becoming ill or injured, every attempt is made to contact a parent or substitute carer. Should the child's carer be unavailable, the Manager on Duty will decide on the best course of action.

Our Aims

 It is the aim of the before / after school, holiday cub is that all children should be given opportunities to:

• Grow in self-confidence, experience success and thus develop a good self image.
• Develop at their own rate through challenging, progressive play.
• Learn to play co-operatively and share with others.
• Communicate thoughts, ideas and feelings clearly to both adults and children.
• Deepen and lengthen concentration through their natural spontaneous curiosity and interests.
• Choose and explore a wide range of materials which allow them to express themselves appropriately and creatively.
• Share in the wonder and excitement created by books, stories, songs, rhymes, music and the natural environment.
• Appreciate and practise social skills and learning to care for others.
• Enjoy the satisfaction of work well done and share this with their parents.
• To provide a safe and simulating environment.

Benefits To The Children

 Children learn how to socialise and to share.  Social skills are developed and children become aware of others.  They learn how to be part of the group.  The children will make friends and will already know a lot of the children they will go to school with. 

Meals

 Breakfast is served between 7.30 and 8.15; this will be a selection of Cereals and Toast.

Information & Rules

1. We operate with an equal opportunities policy and an experienced, qualified Senior member of staff will be in at all times, with the assistance of play workers.

2. We have rules in our club, which have been put together with the input from our children, these encourage the children to take care of the property and environment, and to be considerate towards their friends.

3. The Kitchen area is “off-limits” at all times to children. 

4. Milk / Juice and snacks are provided during the sessions, cups will be provided and fresh drinking water will be available at all times.

5. Parents are asked to complete a medical form when registering their child.  Before / after school should be informed of any illness that might affect the child while in our care.

6. Please advise the Play Leader if someone else is going to collect your child from before / after school, you need to make sure this person knows the password.  Your child will not be sent home with anyone other then the Parent / Carer or person authorised by the Parent / Carer.

7. Please ring and let Before / after school know if your child will be absent on any particular morning or afternoon for collection.

8. Please do not bring your child to Before / after school if he / she feels unwell or has had sickness and diarrhoea in the last 24 hours.

9. Please mark clothes that will be taken off e.g. wellies, coats, shoes etc, with their names (lots of them are called St Michael!).  Please send a named sun hat with your child during the summer.

10. We will inform parents of any displays of unwanted behaviour, and we will discourage racism, bullying, swearing and unkindness.

11. If you bring your child to Before / after school by car, in the interest of safety, please drive slowly when entering the Before / after school grounds. THE SPEED LIMIT IS 5 M.P.H. 

12. In the interests of safety the main gates to the playground are closed when the children are playing outside.
13. All medication must be brought to the attention of staff and a medical consent form will need to be signed.

Policy Statements

Policies and Procedures

Are available to be viewed by parents / carers at any time.  A supervisor will be pleased to show these to you.

Equal Opportunities

The Before / after school believes that no child, individual or family should be excluded from the group’s activities on the grounds of age, gender, sexuality, class, family status, means, disability, colour, ethnic origin, culture or belief.  We aim to ensure that all who wish to work in, or volunteer to help with Little Munchkins Before / after school have an equal chance to do so.

Safeguarding Children

We are obliged to follow The Tameside Area Child Protection – Safeguarding Children Procedure. A copy of which is available from the Play Leader on request.

Special Educational Needs

All children are welcome in our Before / after school. We will endeavour to accommodate special educational needs wherever possible and work with children, parent/carers and any external agencies to help with the child’s development.

Confidentiality

A full policy is available on request from the Play Leader.

Snacks

Children are encouraged not to bring sweets and snacks. These will be set aside until the child is going home. Milk and a healthy snack are provided free of charge in morning before school and in the afternoon after school.  Juice / milk 7 water will be provided for children.  If it is your child’s birthday you may provide a cake for snack or healthy snack to take home.

Medical, Cultural and dietary needs will be meet.

Circulars

Circulars are given to parents during the year to keep them informed of general information and holidays. Curriculum plans are displayed in the Group and a parents letter is distributed each term to children.

Collecting Children

Before / after school Staff must be informed of who will normally be collecting children and of any changes from routine.

Outings

An outing will be organised each year e.g. Gullivers World, whereby parents will be asked to sign a consent form.           

Visitors

Various visitors e.g. Dentist, Community Police, Librarian, Photographer, maybe invited to the Before / after school throughout the year.

Parties

Christmas parties are planned to take place each year when entertainment will be provided and of course not forgetting a visit from Santa Claus. 

Families

The Before / after school recognises that many different types of family successfully love and care for children.

The Before / after school offers a flexible payment system for families with differing means.

The Curriculum

All children will be respected and their individuality and potential recognised, valued and nurtured.  Activities and the use of play equipment offer children opportunities to develop in an environment free from prejudice and discrimination. Appropriate opportunities will be given to children to explore, acknowledge and value similarities and differences between themselves and others.

Resources

These will be chosen to give children a balanced view of the world and an appreciation of the rich diversity of our multi-cultural society.

Material will be selected to help children to develop their self-respect and the respect of other people avoiding stereotypes and derogatory pictures or messages about any group of people.

Complaints Procedure

All complaints should be discussed with the Play Leader. If this does not have a satisfactory outcome or the problem re-occurs the carer should put the complaint in writing and request a meeting with the Little Munchkins. For a full complaints procedure please see the Play Leader.

Early Years,

Ofsted,

3^rd Floor,

Royal Exchange Buildings,

St Ann’s Square,

Manchester,

M2 7LA

Complaints: 0845 601 4772  /  www.ofsted.gov.uk

Terms & Conditions before - after School Club

The out of school club is open all year round, Monday to Friday expect for Bank Holidays and the week in between Christmas and New Year.  Places can never be guaranteed and are offered on a first come served basis.

Fees are payable in advance weekly or monthly, preferably by cheque or direct debit.  Any unpaid cheques will incur a charge of £4.50.

Little Munchkins should be notified of any absences as soon as possible.  If a child does not attend for a two week period without prior notice, we will terminate their place.

Little Munchkins reserves the right to increase the fees with one month’s written notice.

Where applicable and agreed, school pick ups & drop offs are included in fees walking escort.

Collecting your child late will incur a charge of £7.50 per 15 minutes.

Non payment of fees or breach of terms and conditions will result in termination of your place.

Holidays places must be pre – booked by completing our booking forms.  These forms will be given to you in advance of the holiday period and must be handed in by the deadline as stated on the booking form which will be at least 2 weeks prior to commencement of holiday period.

Once holiday places are booked these days will be charged for regardless of whether your child attends unless we are given 1 weeks notice of absence.

TERMS & CONDITIONS AGREEMENT

I have read and understood the Terms & Conditions enclosed in the Out of School Club Prospectus.

I hereby agree to follow the terms & conditions of my child’s out of school place.

Parent’s Signature        

Child’s Name  

Signed  

On behalf of Little Munchkins

Date  

There is no registration fee and late bookings are accepted.

SCHOOL'S KIDS CLUB

Before and After School Club

Holiday Club

 All sessions Include a Snack and a Drink.

2010 

 Spring Term  

 School Opens                                            School Closes

Monday 22^nd February 2010                            Thursday 1^st April 2010

Open 7.30am – 6.00pm   Tuesday 6^th April -  Friday 16^th April

Summer Term           

School Opens                                            School Closes      

Monday 19^th April 2010                                     Monday 3^rd May 2010 (Bank Holiday)

                                                                   Thursday 6^th May 2 (Voting)

Friday 28^th May 2010

Open 7.30am – 6.00pm   Tuesday 1^st June -  Friday 11^th June

Monday 14^th June 2010                          Thursday 22^nd July 2010

Open 7.30am – 6.00pm   Friday 23^rd July -  Tuesday 31^th August

Closed    Monday 30^th August 2010   (Bank Holiday)

Little Munchkins,

Scout Building,

Rear of 61 Stamford Drive,

Stalybridge,

SK15 1QT

Telephone Number: - 07840 945572