27.04.2018
Dear Parents and Carers,
As you are aware, Kids.com is closing and because of this I have been looking into the possibility of providing this service at St. Andrew’s. Our extensive, but highly necessary research has taken considerable time because there were many issues to consider. We have needed to consult with external providers, headteachers, school business managers and the Early Years department at Wigan Council. We have investigated funding streams (including currently available grants) and franchises. We also consulted parents and carers to ascertain whether potential take-up of places would be sufficient to support a viable, sustainable business plan. In addition, we looked in at records of current uptake of places at Kids.com, and potential users in the future.
Yesterday afternoon, Finance Committee considered two proposals:
- the financial viability of a Breakfast Club at St. Andrew’s CE Primary School
- the financial viability of an After School Club at St. Andrew’s CE Primary School
- The financial viability of a Breakfast Club at St. Andrew’s CE Primary School
Finance Committee have decided that a Breakfast Club is possibly financially viable. Therefore, St. Andrew’s will trial this provision for one academic term beginning September 2018. This start-date is entirely reliant on the appointment of appropriate staff in good time to receive the necessary briefing and training. If the club is successful it will carry on for as long as it is financially viable to do so. Initial indications are that it should be a successful project, but there are many aspects to consider and we are in the early stages so we ask for your patience – be assured we will update you on a regular basis with news about our exciting new breakfast club!
It is only fair that current clients of Kids.com take precedence over places, but so far there are enough places available for everyone who has indicated an interest (providing the conditions of the contracts between parents and school are satisfied).
2. The financial viability of an After School Club at St. Andrew’s CE Primary School
It is with regret that Finance Committee has decided that it is not financially viable for St. Andrew’s to provide an After School Club at this time. We will of course continue to review the situation in the future, and inform you if this provision becomes a possibility. I know that there will be some very disappointed parents and I assure you that if there was any way for us to have made this project viable at this time we would have found it. I am awaiting details of the most updated Wigan Council Register of local childminders, and I will share it with you as soon as I am in receipt of it.
This issue has created a large volume of work and I have been grateful over the past two weeks for parents’ appreciation of this fact, and their resultant patience and understanding.
Yours Sincerely,
Mrs Massey