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Covid

After school clubs (hobbies)

35 replies

Treesandsky · 09/08/2020 10:16

We are starting to get invoices through for after school "hobbies" for September. These are clubs that we don't rely on for childcare but are things the children enjoy doing. Some of these are outside such as sports but some are indoor.
The indoor classes involve mixing with children from other schools in groups of about 15-20 two or three times a week e.g. gymnastics, dancing etc.
I know things need to return to normal at school and for wrap around childcare. I also feel fine about the outdoor sports. However, I'm feeling a bit unsure about the indoor clubs. Are we supposed to just be carrying on as normal in that regard? It all just feels a bit strange.

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Muchtoomuchtodo · 09/08/2020 10:34

Luckily we’ve not been asked for payment for anything yet.
We’re veering towards only doing the outside activities for now and music lessons continuing via Skype.
I don’t want schools to be closed again and think that lots of smaller changes will help to make this happen

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Keepdistance · 09/08/2020 10:42

Our swimming lessons are due to start 1st sept. Not sure yet. I cant see how that can go ahead safely as the kids are ckose together maybe 1m apart and drop offs etc.
They could do with at least halving the number going.
But some kids will still be at everything.
Brownies wants to do meet ups already.

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Watchingtv44 · 09/08/2020 10:46

I am wondering this too and have had an invoice and am unsure what to do. It very much feels like back to normal. I understand and want my children’s clubs to survive but it doesn’t feel right.
Yes all the children in bubbles will be mixing with all other schools in the area due to clubs so it’s a mess still too..

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BikeRunSki · 09/08/2020 10:49

The bodies that represent these clubs will have their own guidance. I’m a Cub leader and the Scout Association has been working very closely with the National Youth Association to issue guidance on what we can and can’t do. Similarly, DS’s swimming lessons restart soon under various constraints, and both DC have started cricket again. None of these activities are “as normal”.

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Aroundtheworldin80moves · 09/08/2020 10:53

For us... It looks likely cubs/scouts will be outside, small groups only, so may not have every child every week.
Swimming... Well at the last update they hadn't even started filling the pool, so they are unsure when lessons will restart.
Skiing... Currently private lessons only. Depending on other factors, we might book them a joint lesson every couple of weeks, in case race club can reopen later in winter (it's outdoor dry slope, not indoor snowdome)

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nancy75 · 09/08/2020 10:54

My job is running after school /sports coaching.
We have very strict rules put in to place by our governing body - your clubs should have the same.
We have been exceptionally busy over the summer & have more than usual early bookings for next term.
We have been straight with parents - we understand if you don’t want to come but we are not holding spaces open ( the numbers we are allowed in groups is far lower than in normal times) I know there will be quite a few kids that will have lost their space /we won’t be able to fit in if they decide to come back later than Sept.

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DebbieFiderer · 09/08/2020 10:54

I was going to say something along the lines of BikeRunSki. The clubs will be working under guidines issues by their parent organisations and will have strict rules to follow. My girls started back at gymnastics a couple of weeks ago, it is being run quite differently from before and seems as safe as it can be. Temperature checks, handwashing, small consistent groups of kids, each group staying in one area of the gym for each session and not sharing equipment between groups etc.

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Watchingtv44 · 09/08/2020 11:02

I will email to ask for the guidance then, they did say they were working with it but then haven’t told us what is different etc. It has a cafe there too where parents meet so It’s quite a social place which makes me wonder..

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independent98 · 09/08/2020 11:25

Personally I have deferred all after school clubs till Jan as I am unsure what will happen from Sept-dec..it all boils down to your personal circumstances

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BlackPuddingEggs · 09/08/2020 11:33

We had an email from school just after term ended suggesting that although they hope to fully open next term, they suggest that we think carefully about out of school clubs. The one thing my son does out of school isn’t very likely to run, but I am torn about it - it is something different but the children come from a large area and cover 10+ schools. Not children he would normally see apart from at the activity.

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Mintjulia · 09/08/2020 11:33

Our swimming lessons are returning in Sept, without changing rooms, and karate which is currently on zoom, will be back but with waiting areas outside for class changeover.
I’m happy with both those.

Parkrun is still closed but plans for reopening are forming so I’ll take a view when the details are clear.

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Treesandsky · 09/08/2020 11:55

Really interesting replies, thanks. I'll look in detail at what is being proposed on a club by club basis.
Dancing is the one that is concerning me most and I'm not sure what the parent organisation is for that. I know they follow certain boards for exams but not sure that this follows through into teaching as well.
I want to support the businesses and fantastic teachers and don't want my children to lose their place. It could be a case of paying but monitoring levels around the local area I suppose.
I posted on here because it doesn't seem to be talked about in real life - just assumed that everything is carrying on.

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nancy75 · 09/08/2020 12:04

If you are keen to keep their spaces for the future you probably will have to pay for this term. We are a big sports provider in the chosen sport (700 ish kids a week) even at that level there’s not much money in it once everything’s paid - small dancing schools Won’t be able to afford to keep spaces open. I’m not saying this to make you book, it’s just a lot of people seem to think these kind of clubs make millions, it’s really not the case😃

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nancy75 · 09/08/2020 12:06

Also meant to add, if they are any good they will be happy for you to ask questions about safety measures being put in place. I do my job as a job but also see it how a mum would - if I’m sending dd somewhere I want to know it’s safe & would expect them to be happy talking it through with me

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underneaththeash · 09/08/2020 12:07

The guidance for out of school clubs is pretty clear. Group sizes for 15 max, with social distancing.

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Bbq1 · 09/08/2020 12:09

Ds is 14. Judo has been training in the Park through the summer. They are returning to the indoor club next week but we're waiting to hear how it will work. I think they're planning 30 min pre bookable time slots. Might just be general fitness training as judo is one of the closest contact sports you can have. Guitar lessons were via Skype but started back in person last week.

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Bbq1 · 09/08/2020 12:13

I'm happy with that. Children, especially teenagers have lost enough for this year. Im glad for the return of some normality and for them to enjoy hobbies again. Yes, activities especially Judo are all following advice from their governing bodies.

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megletthesecond · 09/08/2020 12:16

I never stopped paying for DS's karate lessons as they've managed zoom classes.
They're using the Do-Jo again, with extra classes so they can have reduced numbers per class, but he probably won't go every week.

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Treesandsky · 09/08/2020 12:36

@underneaththeash thanks - that's really helpful.

I think I'll ask the clubs about contact tracing too because obviously you wouldnt want to risk taking it into school from a club. It's all so new that it's quite tricky to stay across all of the guidance I'm finding!

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nancy75 · 09/08/2020 13:04

Contact tracing shouldn’t be a problem, surely everyone is booked in so they’ll have all details

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gigglingHyena · 09/08/2020 14:56

The groups my children are involved in are starting to get plans together for Sept, so far it looks like most families are keen to be back, so with numbers limited well have have the group split for alternate weeks or something.

I think one of the biggest difficulties is going to be that the guidance for groups (national youth agency) is to keep to social distancing, but the younger children at least are not expected to do that at school.

Given we have medical/consent forms for everyone attending and already have to keep detailed registers of each weeks contract tracing should be manageable, although as a group leader I'm still not 100% clear what the guidance is for us in terms of passing details to track and trace or do we have to make the calls ourselves. Hope not!

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rumpleteaserspaws · 09/08/2020 16:17

My DS's cricket will switch from outdoors to indoors in the autumn, and I'm pretty sure that we'll allow him to continue with it. It's in a huge hall where they can open doors for ventilation, and they will follow the guidance. He was so pleased to return to playing cricket and football that I feel the benefits outweigh the risks at the moment.

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MrsJonesAndMe · 09/08/2020 17:57

One child will be doing one hour a week of indoor sports club. I feel the risk (at the moment) is low enough, but we will be keeping a close eye and give notice if we feel it is not enjoyable any more or unsafe to continue. Unfortunately our resources are not such that we can afford to pay for things we're not using - much as we'd like to see them survive and flourish Sad

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ScoobySnacker · 09/08/2020 18:06

DD has been back at gymnastics a couple of weeks now. It's been fine. Very small groups, temperature taken on arrival, hand sanitizer on arrival and after each piece of apparatus. The club is in a big warehouse so distancing is not an issue.

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DominaShantotto · 09/08/2020 18:30

I'm not comfortable sending mine back to anywhere doing temperature checks - the guidance for schools etc does not recommend them and back at the start of keyworker provision when they were doing them - the bloody thermometer always gave really random readings anyway - to the point where DD1's was so low the teacher remarked she must be a zombie (which spurred her on to a whole bloody week of zombie impressions at home)!

Cubs and Beavers are hoping to do something outside (so it'll piss down from September onwards) - but even if we're back to the hell of Zoom meetings I'll still pay to keep them going on that as I think they do get a lot out of the structure of the badges etc (and we used them a lot to work towards when school was shut)... dancing I know is in discussions with the hall to see if they're prepared to let her hire it again - if the church she hires from comes back with something like face masks required for the kids they won't go back temporarily as they're both below the age and DD2 has communication needs and I don't think would cope with it. I want them to keep going though because the lady who runs it is absolutely lovely - and if she's allowed to run classes (she's already looked into rearranging and reducing group sizes right down which is going to cut right into her income) without ridiculous measures - then yes mine will be going.

I may sound over-cautious in terms of not wanting the kids exposed to excessive measures - DD2 was very badly affected by mental health and anxiety and fear of not doing the required rules at the start of the pandemic and it's taken a lot of work to bring her stress levels down and give her strategies to control them.

Swimming - haven't heard a word yet - if some of their mooted suggestions are put in place - no way are they going back and we'll just have to wait it out and go back on the waiting list whenever things calm down somewhat. I'm also not particularly keen on the fact they've increased the chlorination in the pool when DD2's developed really nasty stress- aggravated eczema so that one's 50/50.

I'm not concerned about them mixing with kids - round here it tends to be the same kids at all the different groups anyway - more concerned over mental health and social damage.

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