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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Guiders Staff Room Part 2

993 replies

Groovee · 30/09/2015 12:56

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/extracurricularr_activities/715087-Guiders-39-staff-room-tea-wine-chat-and-optional-dancing

Part one above, new thread for when required x

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13
InFlagranteDelicto · 03/05/2016 07:06

Wow, 10 years AP! I received my LQ badge last week.

Fab news Lucysmam

I think maybe talk to your DC about the closing unit Rue. These things always go in cycles, and you may find in two years time there's a lot of demand.

We're having a quiet night tonight after left weeks tea party for parents. I hope to do lots of adventure book signing off while Wise owl runs some bird/planting activities. Hoping its nice enough to do planting outside! When will summer arrive properly?

Original poster
Groovee · 03/05/2016 07:22

My LiTs are running this week. Trip to Frankie and Benny's for pizza making. Looking forward to chilling and letting them organise everything.

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AlbusPercival · 03/05/2016 08:33

Wow that sounds liek an awesome evening Groovee, do you mind me asking how much they charge?

lucysmam · 03/05/2016 10:26

Ooh, yes tell us more about it Groovee!

I'm just about to sit down and make our new mascot a Rainbows top...watch this space, it could go very wrong (I'm not good at sleeves)

lucysmam · 04/05/2016 08:17

Fab night last night with the man from the ambulance service. He taught the girls DRABC & how to put a grown up (me) in the recovery position. They were amazed they could shift me Grin. And they asked mainly sensible questions.

Bluebell went home for the first time fully kitted out in Build a Bear sized uniform. The Rainbow who took her's mum text last night to say she's so excited to have her for the week!

Found out one of the girls daddys is a policeman too so asked if he could do us a half hour session & he said let him know when so he can bring a car! Going to post on fb to see if anyone else has anything to offer...

I'm off to the fire station with the Brownies too in a couple of weeks so they can do their Fire Safety badge as one needs a 1-2-1 when out and about so it makes numbers right for the rest of them.

All go, go, go here Grin

Guiders Staff Room Part 2
Original poster
Groovee · 04/05/2016 08:58

F&B is £7.75 per child. Not sure what it includes but will update after tonight.

Sounds fab Lucysmam.

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RueDeWakening · 04/05/2016 15:35

If you don't mind doing a separate trip during a school holiday, I took my Rainbows to Pizza Express last February half term - it was completely free :o they all made a pizza, only difference to a Pizza Express party (for those that have suffered attended them) was that they didn't get toppings to put on their pizzas, just cheese tomato and oregano. Most restaurants only offer a couple of sessions a month though, I used a "schools" link via their website to book.

I like Frankie & Benny's better though, hope you have a good time Groovee!

Original poster
Groovee · 04/05/2016 15:53

Pizza Express isn't local which is a pain. F&B's is local. Quite a few come right from after school for travelling on rush hour.

Toby Carvery used to do a free meal and discussions of where food was sourced etc.

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lucysmam · 04/05/2016 16:11

I have no idea if we have a Pizza Express - shall have a google and see.

Anyone any idea how long Tesco take to ring back about F2F visits? I used their online thingy last week but haven't heard yet.

Wilko never got back to me about their Helping Hands scheme but I'm not sure the woman I handed it to had a clue what it was so am going to fill in a second one and post it - see if that gets a response.

Lloyds welcome pack finally arrived today, just need my paying in book/cheque book now.

Original poster
Groovee · 04/05/2016 20:23

Tesco was best to go in store for us as the online thingy took us months.

Frankie and Benny's was fab. We got seated, unlimited squash and water. Then they brought the pizza bases out with tomato on them and they put the cheese, pineapple, pepperoni, ham chicken, sweetcorn, red pepper and tomatoes. Then took them away to cook. They ate them and any leftovers they got to take home. The guy tried to put us through as a school group so it was free but his manager vetoed it. Happy to pay as the guy was fab but mortified that one of the brownies grabbed his hand and did a palm reading and told him he would have 5 kids all at once much to his horror. £7.75 was. Fair price.

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lucysmam · 04/05/2016 21:33

Aah, I'm miles from the local ish Tesco that does F2F. Annoyingly, the one that's 5 mins down the road have been super un-helpful.

Imfinehowareyou · 05/05/2016 08:33

F&B's sounds awesome. I will earmark that for the future. We planned the Pot of Gold party last night and they want to stay in the hall Confused It's quite sweet really to think our little old skool parties are what they really like but I want pizza.

What do you do about non payment of subs? I sent a text to say overdue subs were to be paid that night (yesterday) and ALL the girls who owed money didn't turn up. It really irritates me as you can't get away with this at say, swimming or gymnastics. Somehow the parents see Rainbows as a given right. I want to say that if subs aren't paid next week then their place is given to the next girl on the waiting list. Can I do this? Seems a bit harsh.

lucysmam · 05/05/2016 11:20

I think I'd use every form of communication going (so fb, text, email for now) telling them that any missed weeks MUST be paid for as you still have rent/activities to pay for and that subs MUST be brought up to date next week for those who owe as you have paid for their activities regardless of whether they pay or not(unless exceptional circs). Then next week a note home saying any missed weeks MUST BE PAID FOR and subs must be kept up to date for you to be able to continue to provide a variety of activities for the Rainbows.

Having said that about exceptional circs, the Rainbow whose mum lost the baby has still paid up to date (well, last week as she didn't come this week). The message I got told me that nana had subs up to then as she was expecting to pay even though the Rainbow hasn't returned yet.

I'm in a bit of a pickle about that one - I can't hold the place forever & know the Rainbow has been sent home from school several times the past few weeks as one of her classmates is in our unit, but it's been 5 weeks & she shows no sign of returning to us and I have a waiting list. I'm just not sure whether to let her be and see after half term (we're having two weeks off from 17th) so that'll have been near on 3 months she hasn't come to a meeting. TELL ME WHAT TO DOOOOOOOOOO!

Original poster
Groovee · 05/05/2016 11:22

I speak face to face to parents and normally get subs that night.

Lucysmam, in the circumstance of the rainbow not coming after what happened... I would keep her place especially if mum is paying, she's a girl who needs girl guiding and in the circumstances I would allow her flexibility as its still very early days?

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Original poster
Groovee · 05/05/2016 11:24

Wanted to ask about outings. Do you charge for them? Or do you incorporate in the subs? A leader was saying she charges £2 a week and charges the extra, so last night would be £5.75 for the outing. I've charged for some outings and not others.

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lucysmam · 05/05/2016 11:38

Thanks Groovee, I wasn't sure I was doing the right (or wrong) thing keeping the place open for her when there's a list of girls waiting. I wonder if we asked if nana might want to come for the last couple of sessions this half term she might feel more comfortable coming maybe.

I've only done one outing & that was free so am no help there I'm afraid. I would be asking for the balance though at the moment as there was very little left from the leader who I have just taken over from.

AlbusPercival · 05/05/2016 13:26

We havent done many outings with a cost associated in brownie time.

Those we have I think a pound or so the unit should cover, anything more than that would have to ask for help from the parents, unless we were having a very frugal term otherwise

Imfinehowareyou · 05/05/2016 16:16

Thank you. I would have asked them face to face but they didn't come. Luckily we don't have to pay rent but they don't know that! If they gave me a reason or said it will be paid soon I would be totally understanding, it's just the radio silence. It does grate when I have turned girls away or stuck them on an increasing waiting list.

This role has really taught me that I need to toughen up!!

lucysmam · 05/05/2016 17:21

We don't pay rent either. I make it clear from the start that missed weeks need to be paid - doubt many think of it but I mention in my 'info for parents' sheet that it covers their child's insurance to do GG activities as well as the activities themselves.

And any form printing or printed activities. Refreshments if you do them...

The total lack of anything from some of them does my head in.

But I have a good bunch at the mo...fingers crossed it stays that way!

Imfinehowareyou · 06/05/2016 09:16

They pay their subs in one block so I don't have a problem with making them pay for missed weeks - it's just a general term payment. The majority are awesome and I need to keep that at the forefront of my mind. A couple of the non payers usually pay up so I don't know what's up there. The other two are always a challenge.

I'm going to see what happens next week. Then I will ring/text/email. In future I will make it clear on our newsletter that non-payment equals a lost space (unless exceptional circumstances).

My mentor showed me a newsletter for her group back when I was training and it had a really stern section about non attendance/non parental help which I thought was very over the top. Oh, little did I know!!!

On the plus side I have had some really lovely feedback from parents I see at school pick up.

momb · 06/05/2016 11:05

I don't charge for outings during meeting times, but for residentials and weekend activities.
So if we did F+Bs as a meeting I wouldn't charge, but when I book the swimming pool for an hour on a Saturday I do charge. Which is why, I guess, we'd have to plan a term of penny hikes and agility (ie free)to offset the cost of F+Bs if we decided to do it.

Off the back of your Frankie and Benny's meeting, I contacted our local Indian restaurant to see if we could visit, as I'd heard that the local primary does go in one lunchtime for a taster platter. I've been asked to go in this evening to talk to the manager, so there's hope!

Original poster
Groovee · 06/05/2016 11:13

That sounds fab Momb.

Our subs are a termly payment too. We charge £30 at August, January and April.

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Imfinehowareyou · 06/05/2016 11:51

Ooh, £30 - do you have to pay rent?

I like the idea of a free term so you can have a paid for trip. I never considered that.

lucysmam · 06/05/2016 12:51

Popped into Wilko while I was in town to ask about their Helping Hands scheme since I've not heard back & it's been 4 weeks...they have a monthly meeting and I just missed the last one so have to wait for this one to come around before I hear anything. At least I know it's not lost!

Original poster
Groovee · 06/05/2016 17:45

Don't pay rent but because we're in Scotland our census is usually over £30 as we have to contribute to SHQ as well as CHQ. Normally 1/3 is put aside towards census.

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