1. Do I need to provide drinks and snacks for my child and any other items to bring?
No, when your child arrives at the club we will provide them with a snack. A selection of healthy and nutritious food will be made available, including toast and a variety of fruit. Drinking water will always be available. This service is optional, and if you would prefer to pack your own snacks, we recommend a second lunchbox and to consider healthy foods that will not require refrigeration.
Please ensure that your child brings appropriate clothing for indoor and outdoor activities. This should include sun cream and a sun hat during warmer days, or warm clothing and a waterproof when the weather is cooler and more variable.
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2. How will my child get to the after school club?
For venue specific transfer arrangements (MPV, Pegasus Bus, Walking Bus, On Foot) please see the relevant venue page. However the following outlines the general procedure for each transfer type -
MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle) - If your child is to be collected by our MPV pick up service, your child's school will be made aware of this requirement in advance. The school will organise for your child to meet in a pre selected location within the school (usually the school reception) and our driver (usually a member of staff who also works with the children) will meet the children at this location. Both the school and the KOOSA Kids employee cross reference registers to ensure all children are accounted for and the vehicle will then go direct to the after school club. The vehicles themselves are seven seaters (6 children seats) and are always less than 3 years old. They are full insured for their purpose and children are required to use booster seats to meet relevant legislation.
Walking Bus - Walking bus is only relevant for those after school clubs whereby we escort the children from a different school to that which the after school club is actually located. If you child is to link in with one of our walking buses your child's school will be made aware of this requirement in advance. The school will organise for your child to meet in a pre selected location within the school (usually the school reception) and two member of the KOOSA Kids team will meet the children. At this point we will cross reference expected attendees with the school and will then safely walk the children to the relevant after school club. Please note all staff and children wear high visibility bibs to ensure they are visible at all times.
On Foot - If your child attends the school that the after school club is located within, your child's school will be made aware in advance that they are due to attend the after school club on a given afternoon. For children aged 4 to 7, the class teacher or classroom assistant will escort the children direct to the after school club. For those children aged 8 and above, they can make their own way direct to the after school club.
AMK Minibus - (Please see St Mary's Church, Guildford)
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3. Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) - For parents with children aged 4 and 5 only
On 1st September 2008, a new Government framework (EYFS) was introduced for all children aged from birth to 5, with the purpose on ensuring consistency of care and development, wherever a child may be - with a childminder, a day nursery, holiday or after school club or at school. In line with this new framework, KOOSA Kids are required by law to request further information on your child to ensure we are meeting the new standards and providing the best level of care for your child.
If your child is in Reception Class, or has not yet started school, we now require you to complete a 'KOOSA Kids EYFS Pack'. The EYFS pack will be handed to you directly the first time your visit your child's after school club and should be completed fully and returned back to the club when the child next attends.
If for any reason you do not receive your EYFS pack from us, please email info@koosakids.co.uk and a pack will be sent to you by return. Please note, a separate pack is required for each sibling in Reception class.
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4. When and how do I collect my child?
All KOOSA Kids after school clubs run from school finish until 6.00pm. You can pick up your child anytime between school finish and 6.00pm, however registration will close promptly at 6.00pm. Please note, we do levy late fees for late pick ups. (See terms and conditions for further information).
We operate a strict and secure collection procedure and it is necessary therefore for a parent/guardian to sign all children out each day. On your first collection at the start of each new school half term, you will be asked to check the contact details we have on record and sign an emergency medical/operative treatment consent statement. At this point you will also be issued with a unique security number for your child (this will be the same code as your unique booking reference number, found at the top of your booking confirmation). You will need to quote this number whenever you collect your child. If for any reason you are not collecting on a particular evening, please ensure that you pass this unique number on to whoever is collecting. KOOSA Kids will not be able to release your child unless the unique number is quoted accurately by the person collecting.
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5. Are KOOSA Kids after school clubs registered with Ofsted?
All KOOSA Kids after school clubs are registered with Ofsted. This means each of our after school clubs adhere to the standards and guidelines set out to safeguard the welfare of your child during their time with us. In September 2008, the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) was introduced, providing a new set of standards for children aged 0-5. For more information on how KOOSA Kids work with Ofsted, please click on KOOSA Kids and Ofsted
Please also visit individual venue pages for copies of Ofsted inspection reports for each of our clubs.
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6. What are the adult to child ratios?
KOOSA Kids ratio of staff to children is fully in line with all statutory requirements. We operate a strict 1:8 ratio of adults to children for children aged 4 to 7 and group activity sizes never exceed 26 children. For our eights and over we aim for a 1:10 ratio, with 1 or 2 members of staff depending on the activity.
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7. Who will be looking after my child?
All After School Clubs are managed by experienced, qualified members of the KOOSA Kids team. Managers will usually have a Level 3 or above in Playwork (or equivalent) and the majority of the rest of the team will be at least Level 2 qualified in Playwork (or equivalent). After school club staff receive ongoing training in various aspects of child supervision and care, including behaviour management, child protection and activity delivery.
All staff are cleared with the Criminal Records Bureau and for added assurance there is always a Paediatric First Aid trained member of staff on site at all times.
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8. What if my child requires medication whilst at the club?
KOOSA Kids are only able to administer prescribed medication. If your child is likely to require prescribed medication of any sort whilst attending the after school club, you must ensure it is handed over to KOOSA Kids prior to your child's first attendance. Please hand the medication to the club manager in its original packaging with the prescription label, and they will complete the necessary paperwork and request your signature.
Due to a recent tightening up of the regulations that govern the administration of emergency medication (epipens, hypodermic injections etc), we can no longer accept children into any KOOSA Kids club without specific consent from the child's general practitioner or consultant. This is an insurance requirement and without this consent we would be considered to be in breach of the terms and conditions of our insurance, and therefore uninsured.
Please contact KOOSA Kids head office on 0845 094 2322 so that you can be sent the documents that will need to be signed by your doctor and returned to KOOSA Kids head office prior to your child's first visit.
Please note, if your child carries an epipen, you will need to provide KOOSA Kids with two epipens. KOOSA Kids reserve the right to refuse admission if you do not supply two epipens, or if the epipens supplied are not in suitable working order (e.g. cloudy or discoloured liquid).
For children attending after school clubs or breakfast clubs on a regular ongoing basis, we recommend asking your GP for extra medication so we can store it directly at the after school/breakfast premises. This will avoid daily transfer of medication and potential risk of being misplaced, which would result in us being unable to look after your child.
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9. My child is already attending a school run after school club. Can they then attend your after school club?
If your child attends the school the club is located at, then the short answer is yes. However, KOOSA Kids will not be able to collect your child from the school run club so it will be your responsibility to arrange drop off at the after school club with the class tutor/teacher/coach.
If you are able to arrange this, you must notify inform KOOSA Kids in advance that this will be happening.
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10. Can KOOSA Kids help me with the cost of my childcare?
As KOOSA Kids are an Ofsted Registered childcare provider, if you are eligible, you may be able to subsidise the cost of childcare through the following -
Working Tax Credit - Nine out of ten families could save up to 80% of childcare costs through Working Tax Credit. For more information call 0845 300 3900 or visit www.payingforchildcare.org.uk. Martin Lewis of Money Saving Expert fame has also produced a very user friendly section on paying for childcare on his website, which includes a tax credit eligibility calculator http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/health/childcare-costs
Childcare Vouchers - Childcare Vouchers allow employers to help their employees with the cost of childcare. Childcare Vouchers are exempt from National Insurance Contributions (NICs) and Income Tax for employees up to the value of £55 per week, which can mean savings of over £2000 a year for a couple who are both working. All employers are able to run a childcare voucher scheme and employers do make considerable savings too. Why not ask your employer if they currently run or would be prepared to run a childcare voucher scheme. Remember KOOSA Kids also offer first visit free, third child goes free and 5% weekly booking discounts
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11. What happens if I need to cancel any sessions?
If you do need to cancel any pre booked sessions with us, please contact us as soon as possible so we can amend registers and notify relevant staff.
Please note that we do not offer cash refunds for any booking cancellations. Credit notes will not be issued unless the cancellation request is due to child sickness/injury, which keeps the child away from the club for three consecutive sessions. Sickness/Injury would need to be validated by a doctor's note. If your cancellation request does not satisfy this criteria, you will lose your session.
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12. My child is going to be absent, what should I do?
Please inform our office either by phone on 0845 094 2322 or email us at info@koosakids.co.uk by 11.00am on the morning of the absence.
We are an Ofsted registered provider and therefore have a legal requirement to manage this process in the correct fashion. If you child is absent and we are not made aware it is also a great inconvenience for all the other children that are attending as we cannot start the after school club until all children that are booked in to attend are accounted for.
Please note, notice of absence must come through our main office and cannot be passed through our on site after school club staff or the child's school.
Please do not forget to notify us of absence!
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13. What is the booking deadline for after school club sessions?
We can take after school club bookings up until 6pm the working day before the childcare is required, subject to availability.Back to top
14. How do I pay with childcare vouchers?
As we are Ofsted registered, we can accept all types of childcare voucher as full or part payment towards your bookings. Speak to your employer to find out which childcare voucher company they are registered with.
Most childcare voucher companies provide access through their websites to an online account for parents, and we recommend this as the easiest way to make your voucher payments to us. Please click on the link Childcare Vouchers for more information on how to pay using childcare vouchers, including a list of all the childcare voucher companies that we are registered with and our unique reference number required to make your payment directly to us. If the voucher provider that your company uses is not on our list, please contact our office on 0845 094 2322 so we can register ourselves with them.
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15. Can KOOSA Kids guarantee my places on an ongoing basis?
Yes we can! Our after school clubs and breakfast clubs can be booked both on a ‘permanent/guaranteed’ or ‘casual/as and when’ basis.
If your childcare requirements are permanent, ongoing and for the same days of the week, we strongly recommend signing up to our ‘Permanent Places Agreement’. This allows us to pre book (and therefore guarantee) your child’s places within our breakfast or after school clubs, giving you the reassurance that the places you need will always be available to you.
Please call our bookings team on 0845 094 2322 to find out more.
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