Dear Parents and Carers,

We hope you are all keeping safe and well.

This newsletter contains important information regarding our service for the 2020-21 school year. (Download as printable PDF)

School Days

As I am sure you are aware, children will only attend school on a Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday from August onwards, with the school being closed on a Wednesday for cleaning.

We are therefore keeping two registers (and waiting lists): our normal register for when children go back to school five days a week, and a temporary register for August onwards until physical distancing measures are lifted.

Registration

If you have not already re-registered with us for the 2020-21 school year, please do so on or before Friday 19th June at the very latest.

Re-registering will secure your current days and make you eligible (depending on availability) for places from August. If you do not re-register in time you risk losing your child’s place. Please note several reminders have already been sent out asking you to re-register – regret we cannot extend this date again.

After School arrangements for August 2020 (Temporary Register)

The school will inform you which days your child will attend shortly – either Monday/Tuesday or Thursday/Friday.

• Please let us know as soon as possible (by email) what you will require from August and we will do our best to accommodate you.

• Please note – any new days you are given will be on a temporary basis until we return to school full-time.

“Normal” Register arrangements

We will be in touch separately to let you know what places we can provide to you when school returns to the 5 day a week provision, in accordance with your current registration requirements.

Our ability to provide a “normal” service will depend on guidance from Glasgow City Council and the Scottish Government.

Guidance

At present, Scottish Government and Care Inspectorate guidance for the safe reopening of out of school care settings during Phase 3 has not been confirmed.

There is key information we are waiting on that will affect our service and planning. We are primarily waiting to find out if our capacity will be reduced to allow for physical distancing, if we are allowed to take children on days they are not attending school, and if we are able to offer an all-day service on a Wednesday. Also, once we know our numbers, we need to liaise with the schools (particularly Notre Dame and Thornwood) to agree what spaces may be available for us to use. We will keep you updated on any developments.

Information for Parents & Children

Before we re-open in August, we will provide a guide for parents and carers, and a separate guide for children, to inform you of any new procedures. We anticipate we will have to make a few changes to the way we operate. Please be assured that we will adhere to the latest guidance to ensure that your child will be coming to a safe, caring and nurturing environment.

Fees

Many of you will have continued to pay your Afty fees – thank you! These credits will be set against any new charges from August. If you have any outstanding fees, please settle-up before the end of June (our financial year-end). Once your days are confirmed, you will receive invoices monthly. Prompt payment will be appreciated.

Summer Holidays 2020

As you are probably aware, we are not allowed to open during this phase of the Coronavirus lockdown. This means (for the first time in 27 years!), we will not be operating our usual summer holiday programme. I know many children will be disappointed but hopefully we will get the chance to make it up to them next time.

Our Staff

The Afty staff teams cannot wait to get back to looking after your children and providing them with a supportive and secure environment with plenty of the exciting and quality activities you have come to expect.

We look forward to hearing from you. Please be advised we will confirm the days you have asked for as soon as we can. However, please be patient as already mentioned we are still awaiting some essential guidance.

Best Wishes

Fiona and the Afty Staff teams.

0141 339 9526

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