OOS Information, support and resources
Resources and information specific to individuals and organisations setting up and running Out of School clubs, including breakfast clubs, after school clubs, holiday clubs and playschemes.
Policy guidance and support
Support and resources
You are able to access advice and guidance from the Childcare Improvement Sufficiency Officers (CISO team). Please contact the helpline 0116 305 7136 or email childcare@leics.gov.uk to request a member of the team to contact you.
Out of School start up and best practice support
Early years and childcare register requirements
Ofsted online guidance for childminders and childcare providersHow do we self-evaluate our practice?
Those OOS Clubs and childminders who are on the Early Years register need to be able to evaluate the care and activities their setting provides and how well they are meeting the learning needs of children.
Childcare providers do not need to produce any self-evaluation documentation, but managers and staff should be able to discuss the setting with the Inspector. Inspectors will ask staff about the quality of care and activities they provide, and how well the setting is meeting the learning needs of all children.
Person:Ofsted's Early Years Mythbusting guidance - 4 April 2018
What changes need to be made due to GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations)?
GDPR came into effect on the 25 May 2018 and you must ensure you are compliant with the requirements.
Amongst others, the following organisations provide details of the requirements and guidance:
School food standards and after school clubs
School food standards apply to all food and drink provided in schools between the hours of 8am and 6pm during term time.
More information about the School Food Standards can be found on the Children’s Food Trust.
How do the changes in the Childcare Voucher scheme and Tax Free Childcare scheme affect us?
The childcare Voucher Scheme closed to new applicants in October 2018, but some parents will continue to be eligible for Tax Free childcare. Parents that were in the Childcare Voucher scheme could remain in the scheme as long as their employer continued to offer it.
Childcare providers will find it useful to:
- sign up to Tax-Free Childcare and get a childcare provider account to receive payments from parents using the scheme, and
- advise parents that they can check themselves if they're eligible for Tax-Free Childcare, and get guidance on how they can apply and how to pay their childcare provider, by following the step by step guide.
Also see
Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY)
Inclusion funding
Out of School funding is currently available for children with additional needs who attend, or who would like to attend, an Out of School setting in Leicestershire.
Keeping Children Safe
Please find links to gov.uk pages which contain essential information and documents for you to download:
- Safeguarding Competency Framework
- Keeping children safe in out-of-school settings
- Staying safe on the internet - undressing
- Keeping your children safe online and beyond
- Child Exploitation East Midlands
- Guidance for parents and carers on safeguarding children in out-of-school settings
- Keeping children safe in out-of-school settings: code of practice
- Out-of-school settings: voluntary safeguarding code of practice
- Seven steps checklist towards running a safe club, activity or tuition class for children
- Safeguarding for providers of extra-curricular clubs, youth organisations and study groups
- Information for parents choosing an after school club, community activity or tuition
- Information for self-employed providers or volunteers running out-of-school settings
- Information for providers on keeping children safe in sports clubs and other extra-curricular activities
- Information on safeguarding for providers of tuition and faith groups
- Keeping safe online
SEND support and resources
Information and support to help with the inclusion of children with SEND into Out of School and Holiday care provision.
GOV.UK guidance: Positive environments where children can flourish
Sensory processing support
Toilet training and dressing skills
Toilet training for children with disabilities
Dressing skills: backwards chaining - information for parents and carers
Activity Ideas
Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)
Visual aid support pack
Visual aid pictures
Playwork
Playwork perspective for working with children and young people.
How to conduct a risk benefit assessment
Partnership working
Information and supporting documents to strengthen partnership working.
Training and events
Training opportunities to support Out of School Provision.
Early Years Inclusion and Childcare Service Eventbrite training
Positive Behaviour Support Chat
An informal on-line small group session to share experiences and gain tips and strategies from others to support you in your practice. Two bookable sessions each half term.
Contact Alison Birkin for details and to make a booking by emailing alison.birkin@leics.gov.uk.