After-School

The after school programme caters for children of all primary school ages, it is a plan with flexible possibilities and not a rigid schedule which every child has to follow. The programme provides a planned range of safe, creative, positive opportunities, which provide ownership by children and young people for many elements of the programme. The Leaders build up a positive relationship with each child in the group. They  encourage each child to make choices and decisions, to express their own needs and to take responsibility for their own actions.                             

Crèche Cois Laoi provides an atmosphere that is conducive to learning, a space for work and with relevant materials to support their study. Children engage in fun arts and craft activities, cooking, outdoor play and organised outings, drama and role play, individual and group board games, computers, music and dance, group projects and so on. The after school children have a dedicated out door play area which is suitable for use in all weather, outdoor play is strongly encouraged for children in the after school room after their day in school.

Homework is only one of the many activities, which is carried on within the school age childcare programme.  The ethos of the setting is to provide children with recreational activities that allow for relaxation after their day at school.  However we do appreciate that some parents would wish to have a certain amount of homework completed by their child and this request will be facilitated where possible. 

Homework is facilitated within a quiet area of the setting away from regular activities. The children who are in early will do their homework in the after school room before they come upstairs for lunch, the children who arrive from 2.30 onwards will have their lunch and will do their homework in a quiet setting under staff supervision and encouragement while the younger children return to the after school room. Support will be given if a child requests it but individual attention can not be accommodated. A maximum of 45 minutes is allocated to homework completion with the emphasis being put on written homework, reading and learning should be completed at home with the parents / guardians. Staff will not sign the children’s homework journal this is to be checked by the child’s parent / guardian.