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Original poster

I need advice about setting up a before and after school club.

47 replies

Xena · 03/07/2005 19:08

I am a childminder and so far could fill all my vacancies for before and after school at least 3 times over.
I pride myself on being a good c/minder, providing good healthy meals and lots of thought out activitys and also free play.
A governer of the school suggested that I propose to the head about setting up a before and after school club on the premises?
I'm going to send a letter to the head teacher and phone the CIS tomorrow and find out as much information as I can.
As I am providing a service to the school it seems that I don't have to pay rent??
What sort of insurance do I need to have??
Obiously I will need to register with the LA and Ofsted but what else?
Any Ideas or thoughts would be great.
Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 19:48

Bump

OP posts:
Fran1 · 03/07/2005 19:49

I guess you may want to approach the school with a business school plan.

Work out the costs will be, and a suggested fee to cover those costs. If you know what the setting you have in mind is like, write a report on how it will work e.g how many children will be in groups in different areas, how food and drinks will work in terms of access to kitchen and safety. Write a draft routine how you'd imagine the sessions will go. How you will advertise and manage a waiting list. How you will take payments and orgnise staffing.

Just put all your ideas down, so they know you are serious, and capable of doing it.

Get hold of Ofsted's sessional daycare guidelines - i think they are different to childminding ones? or maybe not. They are all on their website anyway.

You will need public liability insurance.

You'll probably find the LA will be very supportive.

Good luck!

KatyMac · 03/07/2005 19:52

You can get the national standards from OFSTED

There are basic differences to C/Ming the main one being that there has to be two people working at all times (even if you only have one child)

You would be able to join an association (like NCMS - but different) which does the insurance - 3rd party & public liability

Child protection is much more stringent (IIRC)

In our school there were issues wih the caretaker locking up at 6 exactly (not 2 mins past cos a child needed the loo, or 5 past cos there was a crash on the M'way etc)

Also when it closes if a child hadn't been picked up SS had to be rung (I think) - you couldn't just wait with them or take them to your house......

I'll add anything else I remember.....

bambi06 · 03/07/2005 19:55

staffing levels. child adult ratio of 1-8 so how many staff would you have to pay and at what rate..here in london its around £7 ph is your first aid up to date? think about your policies, very similar to childminding as i`m sure you must know already.. would you provide a walking bus from other schools? insurance for minibus could be very expensive and basically eat up all your profits. what qualifications do you hold as they might need you to update on any training

Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 20:03

I have just downloaded the standards for after school care, but I can't find the guidence booklet that accompanies it? Which would tell me more.
Do you think that they would allow a provision for 0-4's during those times? If I was to show how I would manage it?
Katiemac Do you know what the equivalent ncma would be?
Could I be potentially doing a bad thing? Some parents don't want there child at school 8-6?

I think that I could offer a walking bus service but at least one of the other local schools has there own one. Which is rubbish though, they reguarly arrive at our school half an hour late, which is why the school needs it own provision.

OP posts:
Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 20:06

bambi06 do you know if that ratio is for 5-11 years? I already have a 9 seater bus so could use that and the training can be set out to what has to be done and over what timescale occording to the standards.

Great thoughts guys keep them coming its very usefull

OP posts:
bambi06 · 03/07/2005 20:15

the staff ratio are up to 8 yr olds.you also ned the person in charge to have a level 3 qualification..i`m checking to see if i can find any more info fo ryou..by the way nursery world do out of school info when you suscribe you get monthly ideas plus any hrlp with legislation etc

Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 20:22

I didn't know nursery world covered anything like that! Staff ratio isn't bad less cover than childminding, I'm working towards a level 3 and as long as you complete in the amt of time you specify that seems to be ok? from what I can decifer from the standards.

OP posts:
Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 20:26

I've found the guidance

OP posts:
Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 20:36

I still can't find the ratio list though either adult to child or space.
Looks like even more red tape than the childminding and more policies!!

OP posts:
KatyMac · 03/07/2005 20:38

Xena - in an after school provision you wouldn't be able to have under 5's and (I think) in a day care provision you couldn't have 8+'s

That's what we hit - which is why we do it as C/Ming

bambi06 · 03/07/2005 20:46

i dont think there is a ratio for over 8`s as such

KatyMac · 03/07/2005 20:47

There is for an Out of school club....that's why we can't run one.

KatyMac · 03/07/2005 20:48

At a reg. OOSC there has to be at least 2 people there all the time and officially they can't go to the loo (leaving the other one behind)

bambi06 · 03/07/2005 20:48

so what is the ratio?

Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 20:50

Katy can you not run the 2 side by side?
Yes that is the advantage of c/m come christmas of the 12 children I will be minding (including my own) only 6 will be under 8 so technically I could look after them on my own as long as I was to show that it wasn't to the detriment of the under 8's.

OP posts:
KatyMac · 03/07/2005 20:51

All the info we were given (we were looking at a very small OOSC) was that we couldn't have 1 person working....even if there was one only over 8, ythis made it unviable for us (staff costing £5 phr) so we looked no further

Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 20:51

Yes it said in the standards that the cleaning etc shouldn't be done by childcarers if the ratios went to low.

OP posts:
KatyMac · 03/07/2005 20:53

Found a site saying 1 to 10 for 8-14 yo's

Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 20:54

where are you looking km?

OP posts:
bambi06 · 03/07/2005 20:55

what are the costs per session inyour area, one locally to me runs one and charges £9 per session so if you have 20 kids thats £180 plus staff costs at £7ph how can it not be viable

KatyMac · 03/07/2005 20:56

It wasn't for us cos we could only have 6-8 children cos of space/size of school

But it has to run even if no children book on that day

Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 20:57

Yes that the sort of figures I was looking at. You'd obviously have to take out abit for food and expendables like craft

OP posts:
KatyMac · 03/07/2005 20:57

Xena

can't do links...
www.handbag.com/family/workingmums/childcare_afterschool/

bambi06 · 03/07/2005 20:57

couldnt you ask the parents to pay up front as my friend has to book hers otherwise she doesnt get a place

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