Firstly, welcome to Roosters. We have written this guide to give you information about the club, it may be that you are thinking about using the club, or you have just joined us. It is meant as a reference guide and hopefully will answer any questions you may have thought of but didn’t ask when you were being shown around the club.
The purpose of the club is to contribute to the development of children attending either Bankton, St Ninians, Dedridge or Williamston Primary Schools, by providing quality after school childcare. However in the event of vacancies, membership will be open to families out with this area. This will enable parents to take up employment, further education or extend their work hours. Admission will be dependant on a fully completed application form with full time places having priority.
Places are only offered to children out with those mentioned above whose parents under take to deliver them to the club at their own risk and expense. Admission is subject to agreement to the clubs policies and parents will be given a copy of the clubs information booklet. The child will be invited to spend time getting to know all the play workers and meeting other children in the club. We sometimes have a ‘Buddy System’ where another child at the club who is the same age helps them settle. We are aware that it can be difficult for a new child to settle and we try to make this as smooth a transition as possible.
Roosters After School Club is managed by a volunteer parents committee. Each year at the AGM a full management committee will be formed and duly elected. The committee will be made up from parents using the club, although any outside interested party may be elected to sit on the committee in an advisory capacity i.e. Community Education worker/Youth Leader.
There is no additional funding from other sources for the club. The staff wages are paid by the fees collected. The equipment has all been purchased by grants and fundraising.
The club is fully constituted, and is recognised as having charity status. The income generated is used to pay the staff wages. Any profits made is used to further develop the club and subsidise times when bookings are low. Fund raising events are held in order to maintain a low cost to parents.
Close liaison is maintained with West Lothian Councils Education Department, The Care Commission and our local Community Education Worker. The Club is also affiliated to the Lothian Association of Youth Clubs (LAYC).
The staff is recruited by the Management Committee and are selected because of their varied experiences and qualifications and their keen interest in children’s welfare. All staff are subject to police and medical checks. Volunteers are subject to the same recruitment process/checks as paid staff. They work alongside paid staff and not instead of staff members. Volunteers are always supervised by a qualified member of staff. Those from the community are encouraged to become involved with the club and Roosters encourages parents who have skills or an interest to share to become involved with the club. An adult/child ratio of 1:8 is operated.
Care Commission
Roosters After School Care Club is registered by the Scottish Executive Care Commission Service under the provision of the 1989 Children’s Act. The clubs certificate of Registration is available in the club and is displayed on the information board. Copies of the Care Commission’s Report are available to parents on request.
The operation of the club follows Scottish Care Commission recommendations and standards on Quality in Caring, a copy of which is available in the club. Regular feedback is also sought from children and parents. We consider the training of staff, volunteers and committee members as being a major contributor to continually improving the club.
Should you need to raise a complaint about any aspect of the club, concerns will be taken seriously and investigated by a member of the committee. Appropriate action will be taken and the complainant informed of the outcome. If you are unhappy with the result of the investigation then you will be entitled to attend a committee meeting in order to pursue the issue. Any unresolved matter can be referred to the regional office:
The Care Commission,
Stuart House,
Eskmills,
Mussleburgh.
EH21 7PB
Tel: 0845 6030890
Fax: 01382 207236
Web: www.carecommission.com
The club aims to create a warm, welcoming, caring atmosphere where play can take place and children feel secure. Staff are aware of each child’s individual needs but have a constant attitude to all children in matters of praise, equal opportunities and discipline. All children are encourage to participate. Older children are encourage to share, help and relate to younger ones. Staff help and encourage timid, shy children to join in activities. Staff aim to foster a close personal relationship with parents. Your comments and criticisms are encouraged. Time and place are made available for parents to discuss with the Co-ordinator or other staff member any problems/difficulties your child may be experiencing.
All children are treated equally and able to participate fully in activities. Children are made aware of and taught to value different cultures and races. Gender stereotyping is discouraged.
The certificate for this can be found displayed on the main notice board.
It is our main objective to provide a safe and healthy environment for the children and staff of our club. Regular fire drills, maintenance and accident reports are in place.
Holidays, traditions and celebrations from other cultures are recognised and respected. Your views and wishes towards your own child’s inclusion, or non participation will be respected and recognised.
The club has a duty and a responsibility to the welfare of the children attending the club and to this end the staff will implement the Procedures and Practice Guidelines of West Lothian Council in relation to Child Protection matters. All staff receive training on this subject. A copy of these guidelines can be made available to parents and guardians on request.
You have the right to view your child’s records. The Co-ordinator will make your child’s records available on written request. You are asked to ensure that information provided is up to date. West Lothian Councils Child Protection Policy means that certain information may not be covered by the Open Access Policy.
The club uses the Dedridge Community Wing which incorporates the large games hall, 3 sectioned room, kitchen and toilets. There is also access to the playground from Dedridge Primary School for use as an outdoor play area on dry days. Sometimes the community wing is not available due to Parent’s afternoon or elections at the school. We try to make alternative arrangements when this happens and when possible we will use the Lanthorn Community Complex. We are limited to locations due to the legal distance allowed to be walked by the Children to get the after school club.
Children walk to the club from their primary school, escorted by club staff via footpaths. Only authorised persons are admitted in to the club. Children are only allowed to leave the club by an individual named by the parent on the registration form. If there is any change to the persons permitted to collect the child you must inform a member of staff, otherwise we will not permit the child to leave the club for safety reasons.
Please remember to inform the club if for any reason your permitted persons are not collecting the child and someone else with your consent is going to do so.
The club closes promptly at 18:00 if you are delayed in collecting your child, please contact the club as soon as possible and we will inform your emergency contact to arrange collection of your child.
The club has produced a policy on discipline and behaviour, we call this our Care and Control Policy. This policy is regularly reviewed to incorporate a more flexible approach to problem solving for children that are having issues interacting in the club. Meetings with the parents of guardians will be offered at a more convenient time including evenings or weekends. It is the hope that a more personalised action plan can be agreed that will suit the parent or guardian, the staff and the child.
We have “Golden Rules” that a new child is familiarised with, when they start. Staff responses to indiscipline and misbehaviour will be consistent. Good behaviour will be praised. Staff will never smack, slap. Shake physically or verbally abuse the child as a result of misbehaviour or indiscipline, nor will they deprive the child of food or play opportunities.
Persistent outbursts of unacceptable behaviour may result in the child being excluded from the club. Parents will be involved at an early stage if their child is experiencing difficulties. An incident log is kept by the staff and if any incident occurs, a report is written. The parents or guardian will be advised and asked to sign the report.
At enrolment, you will be asked to inform the club of any medical needs of your child. We also need to know as soon as possible if there are any changes to this. Staff will administer medication to children only on receipt of written consent and specific instructions to do so. Unused medication will be returned to you. You will be asked to advise the club if your child’s condition restricts participation in any of the clubs play activities. Staff will advise you if there are any concerns relating to your child’s health.
We require written consent for trips. outings & special events. We only go to places we consider safe and suitable. For transportation we use West Lothian Councils Guidelines for the transport of school children. Procedures for runaway or lost children are in place and can be viewed by you on request. Staff/children ratios will be reviewed before any outing, trip or special event and increased if necessary. A full risk assessment is carried out prior to any trip, outing or special event.
A nutritious snack is provided at each session. Healthy eating habits is encouraged and fresh food is used whenever possible. Special dietary needs are respected and catered for. As the Friday session begins at 12 noon, you are requested to provide a suitable packed lunch for your child. A snack menu is displayed on the notice board on a weekly basis.
The registration fee is £25.00 per family, per year. Payable at the AGM each year. The fee is reviewed regularly to ensure that the club remains economically viable.
There is a bell system to allow entering into the club. This will be answered by a member of staff, who will allow entry for you to collect your child.
The cost of using the club are currently as follows:
Payments are accepted via Bank Transfer or Standing Order. Please click here for more information about the booking process.
A booking form must be completed for the forthcoming month (indicating which sessions you require for your child) and then submitted to Roosters before the new month commences. The booking form can be obtained from Roosters and available online. All payments must be received and cleared in Roosters account by 15th of the current month and should be visible in the account prior to collection of your child. If this is not the case we may not collect your child and may result in the complete withdrawal of the service.
Only in extreme circumstances will we accept a late booking and this can only be accepted if there is space available for the day requested. It should be noted that it is not the clubs responsibility to inform the School of a last minute booking.
An extra charge will be levied for children collected after 6pm or when the club closes. The charge will be £10.00 for each occasion this occurs as well as all costs for time until the club is made safe. Our procedures are as follows: