Hoyland Common Fun Club Holiday Club

The Fun Club is part of Hoyland Common Primary School. The age range of children attending the club is three years to fourteen years. The children are cared for by qualified, experienced and trained staff who will provide a variety of play opportunities and experiences for the children. We provide an environment for play; we believe that by playing children can work out ways of getting on together and develop moments in which for the time of playing they can feel better. However, we also realise that sometimes things don’t quite work out and this is an important part of play also. As such, it will be a space in which children will laugh and cry, create and destroy, make friends and fall-out, achieve and fail, be excited and sometimes bored, be independent and interdependent, respectful and cheeky and so on. The staff in the Fun Club are responsive to these moments and work to maintain the playful feel of the space for everybody. The sessions are child led and all children are free to enjoy their favourite pastimes. The children have the opportunity to play outside as we offer a free flow system for inside and outside play. We have access to the school playground, field and MUGAs (Multi Use Games Area) and the school hall during the school holidays. We use the Cyber Cafe as a Chill Out Zone, Homework Club or just a quiet area for children to relax in. Activities provided include: • Board games • Computers (use of the Cyber Cafe / computer suite in the school holidays) • Arts and crafts • Role play • Small world • Construction • Outdoor activities • Reading • DVDs • Loose parts The holiday club is also child led and the children will be asked what activities they would like to do during the break. During school holiday children can bring games from home including their DS or other hand held games consoles. They can also bring their scooters and bike but they must bring a helmet if they are bringing their bike. We usually go on a trip during the summer holidays but you would be informed of this during the summer and your permission would be asked. The children’s views are very important to us and we value their opinions. We consult with the children in a very informal, relaxed way that encourages the children to voice their opinions and ideas. We have a mixture of ages in the Fun Club and they engage very well together. The older children help and encourage the younger children and are good role models. We have a Fun Club Council that consists of four girls and four boys in Key Stage Two and they speak to the children in the setting and ask their opinions on activities. We also encourage parents and carers to let us know what they think of the Fun Club and what we can do to improve the service. At the Fun Club we understand that children need time to adapt to a new setting and adjust to new faces and routines. The settling in period is vital and it is given a high priority. We invite parents/carers to visit the Fun Club with their child before they attend and when their child begins attending the Fun Club to stay as long as they wish helping their child to settle so that everyone feels comfortable and happy in their new environment.