Many primary schools run after school and breakfast clubs and, as well as being handy for parents who need to drop children off early on their way to and from work, they also have other educational and learning benefits too.
Breakfast Clubs
Schools have run various after school clubs for sometime, but it’s in the last decade or so that breakfast clubs have taken off. The idea behind breakfast clubs is that it offers the chance for children to go into school a bit earlier than the actual school starting time, have a healthy breakfast with other children and take part in some fun activities too. They’re particularly useful for parents who have a need to drop their children off at school a bit earlier, particularly if they’re on their way to work, and ensures children are in a safe place being looked after by responsible adults.
Parents and children can choose to go to breakfast clubs every day, certain days of the week or just on the odd occasion. A small fee is payable, but this includes a good breakfast for your child (such as orange juice, cereal and toast) and on the whole it can work out as a good alternative to other childcare options.
Being part of a breakfast club can be good for children in several ways. Firstly, it gives them something to belong to (their very own club) and, as they’re normally open to children of any age and in any school year, it also gives the chance for your child to interact with others of a variety of age groups. A selection of activities are usually on offer at breakfast clubs – included within the one overall fee – and your child may, for example, be able to play games, do jigsaws, use a computer, read a book, do arts and crafts or get the opportunity to do their homework.
After School Clubs
The idea of after school clubs has existed for a long time and is essentially a way for children to take part in extra curricular learning after the end of the proper school day. It’s also now been extended in many areas to a more ‘club-like’ format, a bit like breakfast clubs, where children are able to stay and be looked after in a safe environment before being picked up later by parents on the way home from work.
After school clubs may include some more rigorous activities than at the start of the day, such as football, netball or cricket (there’s often not time for this at the beginning of the day, or schools don’t want to wear children out before the start of lessons), plus a range of other activities such as computer use, reading, playing games, arts or building models. Like breakfast clubs, there may be a chance for children to catch up on any school work or homework too and it may include a drink and a light snack, such as fresh fruit, crackers or a biscuit.
As in the case of breakfast clubs, after school clubs are likely to attract all ages too, so there’s the chance for your child to play and interact with other age groups. It’s a good chance in general for them to be involved in a group and gain key social interaction experiences and contact too. Plus, in the case of homework, there may be extra help available from teachers that they’d not normally have access to.
All in all, if your children are interested in attending after school or breakfast clubs, or for any reason you need them to, you can rest assured that they are likely to gain educational and learning benefits from the experience and could grow, mature and develop as a result of it.
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