Rainbow
Before and After School Club
& Holiday Club
For Primary School Age Children
My name is Miss Stephanie Elcock and I am the Junior Club Manager here at Rainbow Nursery.
At Junior Club we operate 52 weeks of the year (except bank holidays) providing before, after school and Holiday Club care for children aged between 4-12 years. We open every school holiday and teacher training days ( North Yorkshire school holidays and set training days). Click here to meet the Junior Club team.
The before and after school service is available for six of our local schools, Athelston, Saxton, Church Fenton, Monk Fryston, Barkston Ash and South Milford. We operate on a set weekly booking pattern basis, for term time weeks only (i.e. no charges over school holidays). There is no minimum booking requirement, and before and after school sessions do not have to be taken together. In a morning drop off is 8am (or 7.30am with an Early Bird) and a light breakfast is available. We then take the children to school on one of our own minibuses which are fitted with child friendly seat belts, are safety checked by our maintenance staff every morning before use, and quarterly by an approved garage, and are fully business insured. In the afternoon we collect the children on the minibuses, a light tea is provided and collection can be either 5pm or 6pm to suit your needs.
As Junior Club is outside of school hours the main focus is on play and having fun. The aim being to provide a safe, secure and supportive atmosphere where children can interact with peers in a relaxed environment. We work with the Playwork Principles and have an ethos of enabling self directed and freely chosen activities and encourage children to have their say and help plan what we do at Junior Club.
We aim to provide a wide range of activities and themes to suit the range of ages and abilities. An example of this being we have an “8 and over zone” where the older children can have time with others of a similar age. We have tried to create a Youth Club feel to the area, which has a football table, Dart Board, sofa and bean bags for relaxing after a busy day at school. There's also a computer and a table for homework or board games.
Evidence shows that when children play out they are three times more likely to be physically active. (Play England, Staffed Play Provision) We are extremely fortunate here at Rainbow Nursery to have extensive outdoor facilities, including an adventure play area, large field which is perfect for playing football and other games.
Before each school holiday a schedule is sent out to parents with what we have planned for that particular holiday. You do not need a set booking pattern for the holiday club and can book onto any days you choose. In the holiday club we run with the same aims and principles, the main aim being play and having fun.
Miss Stephanie Elcock
BA Hons in Playwork
Miss Stephanie Elcock
Junior Club Manager
The Junior Club Golden Rules
Children's safety and happiness is the main priority and in order to keep everyone safe, happy and in a secure environment we have some Golden Rules. We have seperate golden rules for when children are travelling on our minibuses. Both sets of rules are referred to on a regular basis as they are here to help promote a positive atmosphere and are displayed around Junior Club.
We will always use good manners and remember to say please and thank you
We will always listen to and respect grown ups
When we are inside we must remember to use our inside voices
We will treat the other children and grown ups, as we would like to be treated
We will understand that certain words or actions may hurt others feelings
We will keep our hands and feet to ourselves
Golden Rules when travelling on the minibuses
We must listen to instructions given by grown ups
Once our seatbelts are fastened, we must not take our seatbelts off until we are told to do so. We must sit still in our seats
We must use inside voices when on the minibus. We must not distract the grown up who is driving unless we really need to.
The mini bus doors must only be opened and closed by a grown up
The Playwork Principles
The Playwork Principles were drawn up in 2004 and these establish the professional and ethical framework for Playwork. They describe what is unique about play and provide the playwork perspective for working with children.
All children and young people need to play. The impulse to play is innate. Play is biological, psychological and social necessity, and is fundamental to the healthy development and wellbeing of individuals and communities.
Play is a process that is freely chosen, personally directed and intrinsically motivated. That is, children and young people determine and control the content and intent of their play,by following their own instincts, ideas and interests, in their own way for their own reasons.
The prime focus and essence of playwork is to support and facilitate the play process and this should inform the development of play policy, strategy, training and education.
For playworkers, the play process takes precedence and playworkers act as advocates for play when engaging with adult-led agendas.
The role of the playworker is to support all children and young people in the creation of a space in which they can play.
The playworker’s response to children and young people playing is based on a sound up to date knowledge of the play process, and reflective practice.
Playworkers recognise their own impact on the play space and also the impact of children and young people’s play on the playworker.
Playworkers choose an intervention style that enables children and young people to extend their play. All playworker intervention must balance risk with the developmental benefit and well-being of children.