1. March 2015 Dear parent /guardian / carer It is a while since our last newsletter and there have been various changes which we hope you’ll agree are for the better! We’ve recently invested in some new uniforms which we think present a more professionals image. As Prince Harry demonstrates they are a striking purple (just in case this is printed in black & white) and we think the staff look very smart. Fleeces for all the staff will follow soon. With spring approaching the children will be spending more time outside and using the outside equipment. Due to normal wear and tear some of the equipment needs renewing. Along with school we’re planning to do a stock take in March and replace accordingly. The dark days of winter mean that children in Rafters spend most of their time in the school hall. All the creative activities that take place require a supplies, these have recently been refreshed. We do however realise that unused and unwanted craft items may be cluttering up your cupboards, if you’d like to donate them to Rafters they’d be much appreciated and put to good used. Thank you It was recognised by the committee that it was sometimes difficult for families to keep track payments due verses sessions used especially if there had been some variations. Consequently our treasurer (and fellow working parent) Roger Alexander has been producing regular statements for each family to improve clarity. They appear to have been well received and assisted people in managing their payments better. So thank you to Roger for his hard work in setting it up and thanks to all parents for prompt payments.

2. Feed back from summer 2014 surveys. Children’s survey 17 responses. Like a lot Ok Don’t like 1.Do you enjoy art & craft activities at the club? 15 2 0 2.Do you like the drinks & snacks? 14 3 0 3.Do you like the Toys & board games? 13 4 0 4.Do you like playing games outside? 15 1 1 5.What do you think about the staff? 10 7 0 6.What do you think about the place where the club is held (inside, outside, toilets)? 15 2 0 7. What do you think about the computer games? 12 5 0 8.Do you like doing homework at the club? 1 1 10 9.Best thing about the club? playing games/outside/with friends Scooters, toys, computers, eating, Atmosphere, kindness, smiles, Mrs. Heslop 10.What do you like the least? Outside games, homework, loud at times Selection of food, performing shows, Nothing 11.If we could change 1 thing to make it more enjoyable what would it be? More scooters, craft activities, competitions, trips Go to swimming pool Use school P.E. equipment Mrs. Heslops dog to visit Nothing Understandably we were quite pleased with the children's responses. Some things we just can’t accommodate like a trip to the swimming pool or use of the school P.E. equipment others like more craft activities and scooters we can. We will repeat the survey later this year and it will again be presented in a child friendly format with smiley faces, perhaps they would like to fill it in with your help this year?

3. Parents survey 22 responses Parents could tick all that applied 1 child using child care provision = 18 Number using Breakers = 6 2 children using child care provision = 6 Number using Rafters = 22 1.How would you describe Rafters/Breakers? Safe = 20 Flexible = 21 Affordable = 18 Good quality = 19 Welcoming = 20 2.How would you describe the staff? Professional = 16 Friendly to children = 22 good communicators with parents = 20 3.How would you describe the activities at the club? Varied = 20 Age appropriate = 20 Challenging = 7 Fun & enjoyable = 18 4.How do you like to be contacted by Rafters/Breakers? Email/text = 16 letter = 15 face to face = 16 posters/notice board = 0 website = 1 5.How has your child benefitted from attending Rafters/Breakers? Developed confidence = 14 Made new friends = 16 learned new skills = 9 6. How have you benefitted from using Rafters/Breakers? Go to/look for work = 21 participate in training = 2 time to myself = 3 7. What do you like most about he childcare on offer? Flexible, friendly staff, child happy doesn’t want to come home Affordable, wrap around care, good times, safe environment, Atmosphere, compassionate, relaxed like home not school Child happy so I don’t worry, engagement with supervisors, 8. How can we improve the service at Rafters/breakers? Open until 6pm, available at weekends, ability to book online List on notice board of last fire drill, 1 st aider etc. New scooters, pass on issues from Rafters to school Milk to drink, bigger snacks Everything fine, don’t change anything.

4. Committee changes. At the last AGM Carol Farrar moved from the position of vice chair to chair. Roger Alexander remains as treasurer. Clare Williamson remains as secretary Andy Charlesworth is the Governor representative and has now joined as a parent committee member. The position of vice chair is now vacant. After our last appeal for help a few parents expressed some interest. I’d like to invite them and all of you to come along to one of our meetings and find out what we do. Once our children leave the school we will leave the committee and the club simply cannot run without a committee of parents. It seems wise that other parents gain an understanding of how the club is managed whilst there is an experienced committee of parents in post. The dates for the next meetings are set out below. Dates for Rafters meetings Wednesday 11 th March 7pm Tuesday 5 th May 7.15pm Wednesday 24 th June 7.15pm If you have any thoughts, suggestions or just want more information we can be contacted on raftersclub@gmail.comraftersclub@gmail.com The Rafters Club Management Committee Our best wishes to Mrs. Holding who is away from Rafters at the moment due to illness. We hope she will back with us very soon. Our best wishes to Mrs. Holding who is away from Rafters at the moment due to illness. We hope she will back with us very soon.