The Ark breakfast and after school club

At The Ark we strive to provide high quality childcare at reasonable cost. This includes a healthy breakfast/snack. We do this within a relaxed but stimulating environment that promotes belonging, friendship and creativity. Children at The Ark can be creative by drawing, painting, junk modelling, cutting and sticking etc. They also have free flow access to the outdoors and a quiet area for individual reading, homework or relaxation. There are also opportunities for imaginary play, dressing up, construction, board games and puzzles and most of all lots of fun! Our skilled Playworkers facilitate play and are always there to join in.

The Ark offers an inclusive service, accessible to all children attending St Bede Primary School.

OurEnquiries can be made to the administration manager, Imogen Taylor on: Telephone :01256 892640 or 07709 058744 Email: [mailto:enquiries@thearkafterschoolcllub.co.uk enquiries@thearkafterschoolclub.co.uk] More information and an online registration form can be found on: http://www.thearkafterschoolclub.co.uk

The Ark is located within St Bede C of E Primary School, Gordon Road, Winchester. It has an agreement with the school that it can use a two classrooms and one other on a rotational basis, also the disabled toilet, infant and junior toilets and the playground. The premises were Ofsted inspected on February 13th 2004 and approved.

Children can be booked into the club for 1 to 5 sessions a week and attendance can be either ‘regular’ or ‘occasional’. Active Ark Committee members of more than six months will have priority. Thereafter, The Ark will operate a policy of admitting children in the following order of preference: 1. Looked after children or children who were previously looked after, but immediately after being looked after became subject to adoption, residence, or special guardianship order. (As per LEA guidelines) 2. Committee member of more than 6 months. 3. Regular user (e.g. attends The Ark already). 4. Siblings of the above. 5. Existing users changing days. 6. New users. Chronological order of application (date registration form received at re-registration time/position on waiting list throughout the rest of the year.

At The Ark breakfast and after school club we value the families of our children and believe that good communication is essential to maintain a high quality provision. We hope to encourage their involvement in the Ark’s volunteer management committee and their feedback about our sessions with their children. The Admin manager; the play leader and breakfast supervisor endeavour to keep parents and carers well informed of how the Ark operates, so that they can be confident that we are providing a safe, secure and stimulating environment for the children. This means that The Ark will: • Provide parents with the necessary information about the Ark’s organisation, in the form of an easy to read handbook. • Offer parents the opportunity to settle their children into the club for a short period on their first day(s). • Provide a separate pack of the more detailed policy documents if requested. • Issue a newsletter on a termly basis, which will advise on activities and update parents/guardians on any issues. • Use the notice board to provide key information including Ofsted and insurance certificates, as well as session information. • Ensure all documentation is managed properly and securely. Personal details will only be used for staff administration. • Advise parents of the complaints procedure. • Set up a website for newsletters and general documents. • Provide a means for parents to make suggestions, such as a suggestion box.

The Ark recognises that some children have additional needs or physical disabilities that require particular support and assistance. We will assess the individual needs of each child in consultation with their parents prior to their attending The Ark, and will make reasonable adjustments to ensure that children can access our services and are made to feel welcome.

We currently have a staff member training to become our Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) The SENCO will: • Manage the provision for children with special educational needs or physical disabilities. • Be fully trained and experienced in the care and assessment of such children. All members of staff will assist the SENCO in caring for children with additional needs or physical disabilities.

At The Ark we are committed to providing a safe, secure and suitable environment for all. The school site manager has made a risk assessment of the premises, and we will track issues concerning the operation of the Ark. We follow a safe recruitment policy to ensure that all people working with the children in our care are safe and qualified to do so. We obtain enhanced DBS disclosures for all staff, students and volunteers who will work unsupervised with the children on a regular basis, or who have access to children’s information, including members of the management. New staff will only be allowed to work unsupervised with children when we have viewed a satisfactory DBS certificate. We will update the DBS checks for all staff every 3 years. The Ark is committed to building a ‘culture of safety’ in which the children are protected from abuse and harm. We will respond promptly and appropriately to all incidents or concerns that may occur. The club’s child protection procedures comply with all relevant legislation and with guidance issued by the Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB). We have a designated Safeguarding officer, who is a Lead Practitioner.

Enquiries to The Ark can be made by: Email: [mailto:enquiries@thearkafterschoolclub.co.uk enquiries@thearkafterschoolclub.co.uk] Tel: 01256 892640 / 07709 058744 - Imogen Taylor Further information can be found on our website: http://www.thearkafterschoolclub.co.uk