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Westgate Wonders Autumn Newsletter

Newsletter Autumn 2015

Childcare Vouchers/Child Tax Credits

Are you considering going to college, applying for a job or increasing your hours at work?
You will probably be wondering if it is worth it due to all the childcare costs etc. DON’T WORRY! Childcare Vouchers and Childcare Tax Credits are there to help you. If you are unable to claim Childcare Tax Credits you are more than likely be entitled to Childcare Vouchers. It is a really easy process to set up and it saves you money. If you would like to talk to somebody in regards to the Childcare Tax Credits or Childcare Vouchers, please pop in to speak to Sharon.

Volunteers

Welcome back!

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Westgate
Wonders
Care Club
is a member of

We would like to welcome two volunteers to the club, Jake Cleasby and Angela Stuttard. Both Jake and Angela may look familiar to some parents / carers. Some years ago Jake attend the club and as a student of Westgate School and Angela currently volunteers in the Reception class. Both volunteers will be gaining a wealth of experience working with our children in the club and we hope this may lead to something within the education sector in the future.

All the staff of Westgate Wonders would like to welcome back the children of the club. We would also like to say a big ’HELLO’ to all those new children who will be joining us in the next few weeks. The club offers a safe and secure place for children to enjoy new and exciting activities and equipment. If there is something in particular your child enjoys and we don’t have it please mention it to a member of staff. It isn’t guaranteed we would purchase this particular equipment, however depending on our budget we may consider purchasing at a later date.

Inside this issue:

Asthma / Inhalers	2 / 2
Holiday Club	2
Online Safety	2
Children at clubs	3
Up-to-date information	3
Term date	4

Asthma and Inhalers

We are aware circumstances may change and the club would like to issue a reminder to those parents / carers who children have been diagnosed with Asthma or any other allergies. It is paramount that children have a named inhaler in the club if Asthmatic. Unfortunately, if your child were to have an attack and the inhaler was stored in their classroom we would not know where to look in that classroom. This would seriously

stored in their classroom we may be unable to locate it. This would seriously delay issues and as we all know, time is of the essence when dealing with an
Asthma Attack. Please request an additional inhaler for the club to hold in emergency. Thank you.

Holiday Club

Westgate School and Westgate Wonders would like to thank all those parents who completed and returned the Holiday Club Questionnaire. The Questionnaire was distributed to parents / carers along with the Friday Letter and we are currently processing these as you read this Newsletter. We will keep you informed on this matter...watch this space!

Westgate Wonders Drop-in sessions

Please note that if parents/carers book drop-in sessions, these sessions must be paid for, whether these sessions are used or not.
Drop-in sessions must be paid for before the child attends. Parents/carers are also asked to check availability with staff to ensure places are available for those sessions, as staff-child ratios must be maintained.
If you do require a drop-in session, please telephone 07834 556617 or contact the school office on 01524 832747. If we are unavailable, please leave a text message. Please give the club as much notice as possible.

Online Safety

Westgate Wonders promotes online safety and would like to share this good practice with parents/carers. Below are a few tips along with a website address for more reading.
Talk to your child about their online activities.
Keep internet equipment in a family space (allowing you to oversee their activities)

Use parental controls, limiting their access.
Set boundaries and rules.
www.thinkuknow.co.uk
The internet has a wealth of information for children to access and allowing them to explore may encourage them to find education more fun.

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Westgate Wonders Autumn Newsletter

Children at clubs

Westgate Wonders appeals to parents/carers to keep the club informed of change of details, whether it be telephone numbers, addresses, allergies and /or medication.
Please also note, any other person collecting your child must have your password. If this person is unable to provide the password, the club would need to contact parents/carers before allowing the child to leave. It would be very helpful if parents/carers could also notify the club on 07834 556617 of any other person picking up beforehand.
Thank you

Please may we re-assure parents / carers, children who attend clubs after school (Football, Netball, Zumba etc) are still welcome into Westgate Wonders after their club has ended. All we ask from parents / carers is to inform the club their child will not be signed in at their normal time. Unfortunately, we have a high number of children who are absent at registration time due to attending clubs and staff are unaware of them attending clubs. This results in staff having to implement the ‘Missing Child’ policy and this is very time consuming and takes a

member of staff away from the group to look for that child. If we are unable to locate the child it may result in the club contacting the parent / carer and Police. PLEASE, PLEASE ensure we are notified of children attending clubs.
Parents / carers may call 07834 556617 and leave a message on voicemail or text. Please do not assume the school will inform the club as we are a separate organisation.

Up-to-date
information

We are currently ensuring all parents / carers details are up-to-date. Over the next few weeks staff will be distributing a short form for you to complete. If you are aware of any changes since you last updated your particulars (address, telephone number, names of pick-ups, allergies etc) please make staff aware and we will be able to modify your details. If you are in any doubt whether you have informed us please double-check to be on the safe side.

Westgate Wonders Autumn Newsletter

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Westgate Wonders Website
www.westgatesch.com/westgate-wonders/westgate-wonders-clu/
Westgate Wonders Website now has the Enrolment Form online. If you would like to update your information or introduce other parents to the club please print out the form, complete and return to Sharon. Please contact 07834 556617 if you would like support completing this form.

PLEASE CONTACT US AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF YOUR CHILD IS NOT ATTENDING THE CLUB DUE TO SICKNESS OR AFTER SCHOOL
ACTIVITIES.

School Term and Holiday Pattern 2015/16

AutumnTerm 2015
School Re-opens Tuesday 8th September 2015
Mid Term Closure Monday 26th to Friday 30th October 2015 (inclusive)
Closure After School Friday 18th December 2015 (2pm finish) (After School Club closed Thursday 18th)
Spring Term 2016
School Re-opens Monday 4th January 2016
Mid Term Closure Monday 15th to Friday 19th February 2016 (inclusive)
Easter Bank Holiday Friday 25th & Monday 28th March 2016
Closure After School Friday 8th April 2016 (2pm finish) (After School Club closed Friday 8th)
Summer Term 2016
School Re-opens on Monday 25th April 2016
May Day Holiday Monday 2nd May 2016
Teacher Training Day Thursday 5th May 2016
Mid Term Closure Monday 30th May to Friday 3rd June 2016 (inclusive)
Closure after School on Friday 22nd July 2016 (2pm Finish) (After School Club closed Friday 22nd)
Teacher Training Days Monday 25th and Tuesday 26th July 2016