Lookout Club is run by Meldreth Primary School and exists to provide high quality out-of-school hours childcare for our parents. It provides a range of stimulating and creative activities in a safe environment. The club operates from 7.40 — 8.40am and from 3.10 - 6.00pm term time only.
Arriving for Breakfast club
Morning drop off is available from 7.40am each morning. Children should arrive at the School House, pressing the bell for a Playleader. During the morning session children are well cared for and provided with a breakfast and a drink where requested. The children have the opportunity to play games and enjoy social activities before being escorted to class bases at 8.40am.
At the end of the school day
Children from Puffin, Swift and Wren classes will be collected from their classrooms and brought to the club by our playleaders. All children meet in the school hall before walking to the School House where children have plenty of open space to play in outside too.
Collection from After School Club
Children can be collected at the School House gate at 4:30pm, 5:15pm and 6pm. We expect that your child will normally be collected by the people you have named on your MCAS account. If you need a different person to collect your child on a particular day, please notify us in advance. We will not release your child into the care of a person unknown to us without your authorisation.
The club finishes at 6pm. If you are delayed for any reason please telephone the Club mobile to let us know. A late payment fee of £15 (per 30 minutes or part of) will be charged if you collect your child after the Club has closed. This will make a contribution towards any additional staff wages and site staff costs incurred.
Child Protection
We are committed to building a 'culture of safety' in which the children in our care are protected from abuse and harm. Any suspicion of abuse is promptly and appropriately responded to. We comply with local and national child protection procedures and ensure that all staff are appropriately trained. For more details see our school Safeguarding Policy on our website.
If your child remains uncollected after 6:15pm (15 minutes after your club closes) and you have not warned us that you will be delayed, and we have been unable to reach you or any of your emergency contacts, we will follow our Uncollected Children Policy and contact the Social Care team in order to safeguard your child.
Equal opportunities
Our Club provides a safe and caring environment, free from discrimination, for everyone in our community including children with additional needs.
- We respect the different racial origins, religions, cultures and languages in a multi-ethnic society so that each child is valued as an individual without racial or gender stereotyping.
- We will challenge inappropriate attitudes and practices
- We will not tolerate any form of racial harassment.
Children with additional needs
We make every effort to accommodate and welcome any child with additional needs. We will work in liaison with parents or carers and relevant professionals to fully understand your child's specific requirements. We will endeavour to accommodate all children, whilst working within the Club's limitations. Each case will be considered individually and risk-assessed to ensure everyone's safety.
Our staff training programme includes specific elements relating to children with specific needs.
Our Positive Behaviour Policy
Our Club promotes an atmosphere of care, consideration and respect for everyone attending, children, staff and visitors. We encourage appropriate behaviour through praise for good behaviour; emphasis on cooperative play and sharing; talking to children with the courtesy that we expect from them and engaging children in activities
The Club follows school procedures for dealing with unacceptable behaviour. We recognise that poor behaviour can occur from time to time for reasons that are not always evident, or as a result of special needs. We will try to be flexible in order to accommodate such cases.
However, if your child is violent, or if their behaviour poses an immediate danger to themselves or others, we will require you to collect them from the Club immediately. In exceptional circumstances, and only when all other attempts at behaviour management have failed, we reserve the right to permanently exclude a child from the Club. Illness
We are unable to care for children who are unwell. If your child becomes unwell whilst at the Club we will contact you and ask you to make arrangements for them to be collected.
Please inform our Play leaders of any infectious illness your child contracts. If your child has had sickness or diarrhoea please do not send them to the Club for 48 hours after the illness has ceased.
Accidents and First Aid
Every precaution is taken to ensure the safety of the children at all times, and the Club is fully insured. Our staff are trained in paediatric first aid and a first aid kit is kept in each group area. If your child has an accident whilst in our care, you will be informed when you collect your child.
Medication
Please let Playleaders know if your child is taking prescribed medicine. If your child needs to take medicine whilst at the Club you will need to complete a Permission to administer medication form in advance.
Complaints Procedure
If you have any queries, comments or need to discuss any matters concerning your child, please feel free to speak to a Playleader, or the Headteacher.
Our Pledge to Parents
We value our relationship with parents/carers and are committed to working in partnership with you to provide top quality play and care for your children. We will:
- Welcome you at all times to discuss our work, have a chat or take part in our activities. Keep you informed of opening times, fees and charges, programmes of activities, menus, and procedures.
- Be consistent and reliable to enable you to plan with confidence and peace of mind. Share and discuss your child's achievements, experiences, progress, and friendships.
- Be available to discuss decisions about running the club.
- Ask your permission for outings and special events.
- Listen to your views and concerns to ensure that we continue to meet your needs.
