Welcome to Flax Bourton Out of School Scheme (FOSS).
FOSS gives children a warm welcome at the end of their school day and provides opportunities for play and relaxation in a friendly environment. For parents, FOSS provides a safe, familiar & caring place for our children to relax after school. Cher King (play leader) & Sandie Powell & Siobhan Thomas (play workers) plan the Club’s weekly activities. There’s plenty to do for the lively ones & play is encouraged outside in the school grounds too, weather permitting – our young volunteer Zac is great at organising our outdoor activities! There are also quieter activities for children who want to relax after a busy day at school. A healthy snack is also provided. Take a look at the FOSS noticeboard in the school hall for news & activities & a copy of our FOSS policies.
We hope that many of the general questions you may have about FOSS will be answered here. If you have any further questions or suggestions, please do not hesitate to speak to the Play Leader or Play Workers, or any parents who are members of the FOSS Committee.
Who can join FOSS?
FOSS offers 16 places per day - adult to child ratios are 1:8. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis. In the event that there are parents who are unable to secure a place for their child(ren) because FOSS is oversubscribed, a waiting list will be established.
When and where does FOSS operate?
FOSS operates between 3.15pm and 6.00pm Monday to Friday in the school hall. Occasionally the school will require the Hall (for productions etc) & therefore FOSS opening will be dictated by use.
Who runs FOSS? FOSS is open to Flax Bourton C of E Primary School children and is held in the School Hall.
FOSS was set up in 2000 by parent volunteers who saw a need for an after school provision at
New committee members are always welcome, especially parents whose children attend FOSS, giving them an opportunity to contribute to future planning & fundraising ideas.
The Committee employs trained Play Leaders and Play Workers who care for the children and run FOSS on a day-to-day basis. The Play Leader can be contacted during FOSS hours on Tel: 07789 480066
What happens at FOSS?
FOSS has a planned weekly programme put together by the Play Leader & staff team. There will be a choice of organised activities each day, which children may choose to participate in. We recognise, however, that many children are tired at the end of the school day, and they will therefore be encouraged to choose their activities, whether this be joining in with a group activity, playing freely with other children, doing their own thing with the toys and materials available, or simply reading a book or a quiet activity. FOSS has use of the school playground and, when the weather is fine, there will be ample opportunity for outside play, team games and other sports.
At the end of each session, children will be expected to help clear away, ready to be collected promptly by 6pm at the latest.
How is FOSS funded?
Through the investigation & dedication of the Committee, FOSS has been awarded a number of local grants namely The New Opportunities Fund (money from the Wednesday Lottery), the Greater Bristol Foundation & most recently Quartet Foundation. This money funded a deficit during the first year that the Club was open and later funds have been used wisely to purchase new equipment.
Parents will pay FOSS fees as detailed in the FOSS Fees section & as set out in the termly FOSS booking form issued to parents. Fees are used to pay the Play Leaders and Play Workers wages and the ongoing costs of materials and equipment.
The FOSS Committee is always seeking ways to provide additional funding for materials & play equipment – your ideas will be most welcome. In addition, the more FOSS is used, the more financial resources are available to grow & develop. So please support us!
FOSS Fees FOSS provides an affordable childcare provision and is a non profit-making organisation, so aims to keep fees as low as possible. We must, however, ensure that our costs are covered.
Term time fees per session (3.15pm - 6.00pm) Payment is to be made termly in advance and fees are strictly not refundable. Cancellations of less than 24hrs notice will not be re-bookable under any circumstances. Alternative and/or additional days may be booked subject to availability via the Play Leader and the extra fees are to be paid at the time of booking. Booking of full sessions will be given priority over one hour sessions.
The FOSS booking form, together with a cheque made payable to Flax Bourton Out of School Scheme/Cash for the sessions requested should be sent to The Treasurer, Flax Bourton Out of School Scheme, Flax Bourton School Office before the new term starts.
There is absolutely no provision for paying fees in arrears.
For booking enquiries please text the Play Leader on 07789 480066 (Club mobile) or phone between 3 and 6pm. There will be NO voicemail messaged service. Text messages will be received and replied with a confirmation of the booking once the phone is switched on at 3pm.
Please do not call the School Office unless urgent.
Important notes:
(i) No child can attend the club without a FOSS Registration Form being completed.
(ii) Children coming into FOSS after attending school run activities will pay the full sessional rate to ensure their place is kept for them.
FOSS is an approved childcare provider and users may be entitled to financial help with fees. If you would like more information about this the web links below are a good place to start:
Inland Revenue Tel: 0845 300 3900
What are the FOSS policies?
FOSS has written policy statements on Health and Safety, Accidents, Hygiene, Children’s Behaviour, Complaints etc, a copy is available on the FOSS noticeboard in the School Hall. Children’s Behaviour It is important that children feel the club is a friendly place, where children learn good values and show respect for others. Staff will encourage positive behaviour through being good role models. Positive behaviour may be rewarded with star charts, stickers or extra time with favourite toy.
A non-authoritarian, non-violent approach will be used, encouraging a learning process through discussion. The club will not accept behaviour such as bullying, swearing, aggression, theft or damage of property. Unacceptable behaviour may result in a pupil being excluded from FOSS.
Children are asked to help clear away toys, equipment etc at the end of the session. Sickness, Accidents and Emergencies In cases of minor accidents, basic First Aid will be administered. In cases of an accident requiring more than basic First Aid, every attempt will be made to contact the parent to advise or discuss the course of action to be taken. If the parent cannot be contacted in time, the Play Leader will invoke the authority given on the FOSS Registration Form to provide or obtain emergency medical treatment as appropriate. Collection of Children
Children are to be collected promptly no later than 6.00pm. If the parent / carer has telephoned to inform the Play Leader of any delay, the child will be looked after on the premises by two members of staff until the parent/ carer arrives, unless the parent has made provision for someone else to collect him/ her. The Play Leader must be sure that the child leaves with a suitable person. Only people listed on the registration form and those personally notified to the Play Leader by letter or phone will be allowed to sign the child out. There may be a financial penalty to the parent for this additional time, in order to discourage such lateness. If a parent has not arrived or notified the Play Leader of a delay and cannot be contacted by 6.30pm, a member of the Management Committee will be contacted and the local Police advised.
FOSS Registration Form
No child will be accepted as a member of the club unless the Registration Form is completed in full. The Registration Form contains a mandate giving the Play Leader authority to provide or obtain emergency medical treatment for a child, should it not be possible to contact a parent or other authorised person in time, and no child will be accepted unless this authorisation is given.
Children will be offered a drink and a light snack during the afternoon.
1st child £7.50
Reduced fee for second and subsequent child/unemployed parents/carers £6.50
Special one hour
For further information please contact any of the following FOSS Committee members:
Jo Darlington (Acting Chair), Lisa Hall (Treasurer), Helen Harris (Secretary), Claire Merrick, Sally Bale & Stewart Fraser (School Governor Representative)
All accidents and emergencies are entered in the Accident Book - parents will be asked to sign the book when you collect their child.