Aims

At Pippins Out of School Provision we aim to provide a safe, secure and relaxed environment, offering a range of activities to reflect the interests of the children in our care.

About Pippins

Pippins Out of School Provision is based at Freegrounds Junior School and is registered under the school with Ofsted (Registration No: 116000). Pippins is open from 7:30 am to 8:50 am and 3:10 pm to 6:00 pm weekdays during term time, excluding Junior School Inset days when Pippins is closed.

We are based at Freegrounds Junior School every day. The school has large external play areas and extensive grounds in which to play.

What we offer

Pippins follows the ‘Playwork Principles’, so the children are free to choose activities and resources as they wish. During the week there will always be a selection of activities and resources available, including dressing up, home corner, crafts, board games, construction, physical play, reading and homework club. In addition, other resources are available for the children to select from our equipment library.

What we provide

The food we provide at the club is not intended as a substitute for a main evening meal. We provide healthy snacks including fresh fruit and vegetables and ingredients which follow statutory guidelines, whilst also taking into account any specific dietary needs due to medical conditions.

We promote independence, by encouraging the children to prepare their own snacks, and to clear away after themselves. Fresh drinking water is available at all times. We recognise the importance of healthy nutrition for children delivered in a calm, friendly setting and allow children to decide when they are ready to eat (within an agreed time slot), but request that food be consumed whilst sitting at a table.

Staffing

Our club is staffed by a Play Leader, Deputy Play Leader and a number of playworkers, and we also have a part-time Admin Assistant. There are also a number of extra school staff that can be called upon to cater for increased numbers of children in the club or staff sickness. We aim to provide a smooth transition between school and Pippins, and your child will be collected/delivered to their school by Pippins staff at the end of the breakfast session and beginning of the after school session. In the event of your child attending a school based club or activity prior to attending Pippins, they will be collected from the activity by a member of Pippins staff.

All of our staff have significant experience of working with children and undertake professional development training. All staff members are DBS checked and are subject to Safeguarding and Prevent training in line with Ofsted requirements. We maintain staff ratios in line with current Ofsted requirements.

Pippins Out of School Provision is run as part of Freegrounds Junior School and all staff are employed by the school in order to ensure continuity of care and to maintain good communication links.