Out of School Childcare Clubs
Out of school childcare clubs help parents or carers who work or attend training. They provide breakfast clubs, after school clubs, holiday clubs and wrap around play-care for school age Children.
Registration:
Many schools have out of school childcare clubs, while other clubs are based in village halls, community centres and day nurseries. Children’s attendance is registered and they are given a snack and a drink. Where appropriate, clubs are registered and inspected by CSSIW and qualified or trained play staff supervise activities (one member of staff to every 8 children under 8 years of age). The play environment should be stimulating and varied with a range of activities such as arts/crafts, games and physical play for children to choose from. A quiet area for reading and homework may also be available. Children are supervised until a parent or carer arrives to collect them. Sometimes a collection service may be available to take children to school from the club and take them home at the end of their day.
Breakfast Clubs
PONTYGWAITH PRIMARY SCHOOL
AREA: Pontygwaith
TIMES OF OPENING: Monday-Friday 8am-9am
COST: Free
CONTACT: Tel: 01443 730471
EMAIL:
Creche
Crèches
Crèches provide occasional care for children while their parents are shopping, playing sport or on a course for example. Parents are expected to remain on the same premises, although not necessarily in the same room. A crèche must be registered if it takes children under 8 years, runs for 2 hours or more a day and for 6 or more days a year on the same premises (even if the child attends for shorter periods).
Childminders
Registered Childminders
Registered childminders are day care providers who work in their own homes caring for children.
They are based in the community, which means that children can go to local playgroups / cylchoedd meithrin, parent & toddler groups, clubs or visit friends. Responsibilities & Registration. Childminders are responsible for your child’s safety as well as their emotional and physical development. They should provide a mix of play and learning experiences inside and outside the home. All childminders must be registered and inspected by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW), who will check on their suitability, their home and everyone over the age of 16 living in the house.
Childminders must have:
a registration certificate issued by CSSIW
a public liability insurance certificate
Fees and Flexibility
Childminders are self-employed and set their fee. They can offer flexible childcare, year round, full-time or part-time and outside school hours. They can look after up to 6 children of varying ages at the same time and can therefore care for brothers and sisters together.
KATRINA'S CHILDMINDING SERVICE
AREA: Pontygwaith, Ferndale
TIMES OF OPENING: Monday to Friday 7am - 6pm
COST: £4 per hour
CONTACT: Katrina Easley tel: 07725 220232
INFORMATION:
Day Nurseries
Day Nurseries
Day nurseries provide registered early education and childcare for young children from birth to age 5. They usually open from early morning to early evening, Monday to Friday, all year round. They offer a caring, safe, stimulating environment either as full day care or part-time care for babies and pre-school children. Some may also provide care before and after school and in
the holidays for children aged 4 to 7 and sometimes older children too.
Day Nurseries must:
be registered and inspected by the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW)
hold a registration certificate issued by CSSIW
have a public liability insurance certificate
have the appropriate food hygiene certificate
Fees
Most nurseries are run by private or voluntary organisations and fees will vary across the country. Support with costs is available from tax credits, childcare vouchers and free part-time places for all 3 year olds.
Food and snacks
Most day nurseries have facilities to prepare food and snacks for the children in their care. They should produce at least a 3 week menu of quality food and provide snacks appropriate to the length of day the child attends
TWINKLE TOES DAY NURSERY
AREA: Blaenllechau, Ferndale
TIMES OF OPENING: Monday to Friday, 7.30am - 6pm
COST: £3.50 per hour, £28 per day, £130 per week
CONTACT: Jenna Davies tel: 01443 755426
INFORMATION:
Holiday Clubs
Parent and Toddler Groups
Parent and Toddler Groups / Cylchoedd Ti a Fi
Parent and Toddler Groups cater mainly for children under 2 years. Parents/carers stay with their children, so groups do not have to register with CSSIW. The sessions allow parents and children to mix with others and enjoy a variety of different activities. Cylchoedd Ti a Fi enable parents and carers to play alongside their children and socialise in an informal Welsh setting. Non-Welsh speaking parents can learn Welsh with their children, enjoying basic stories, songs and nursery rhymes as well as simple phrases to use at home.
ARTS FACTORY - LEARNING THROUGH PLAY
AREA: Ferndale
TIMES OF OPENING: Tuesday and Thursday 9.30am-11.30am
COST: £1 per session
CONTACT: Tel: 01443 730111
INFORMATION: We provide places for disabled and additional needs children but they have to be accompanied by an adult. We offer structured play sessions which enable the children to be ready to access the link-up system.
QUALIFICATIONS: NNEB qualified worker
PONTYGWAITH PLAYSCHOOL
AREA: Pontygwaith
TIMES OF OPENING: Monday to Thursday 9am-11.30am
COST: £3 per session
CONTACT: Tel: 01443 730526
Playgroups
Playgroups / Cylchoedd Meithrin
Playgroups cater for children age 2 to 5, usually for 2 to 3 hours in the morning or afternoon and mainly during term-time. They offer a safe and stimulating environment where children play, learn and socialise with each other. Playgroups are developed and supported by Wales Pre-school Playgroups Association, a registered charity. Many Playgroups offer young children an introduction to the Welsh language. Staff and volunteers are actively encouraged to develop and share their welsh language skills. Parents and carers are active in running playgroups and often join their management committees.
Cylchoedd Meithrin are Welsh language playgroups which give children an opportunity
to become bilingual (in English and Welsh). They are supported by Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin (MYM), a national voluntary organisation. Parents do not have to speak Welsh for their children to attend Cylchoedd Meithrin. Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The Wales Pre-school Playgroups Association (Wales PPA) and Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin (MYM) offer information, support and training as well as referral schemes to integrate children with special educational needs and disabilities into local playgroups.
Registered Education Providers
Registered Education for children aged 3 & 4years
All children have the right to a free, part-time, good quality early education place the term after their third birthday. Part-time means a minimum of 10 hours a week, for around the same number of weeks as the normal school year.
Costs:
You are not expected to contribute towards the cost of these places. If your child already attends an early education setting when she/he becomes 3, the fee will be reduced. However, you may have to pay for any services or childcare on top of the free education part-time place.
Registration:
Settings outside schools must be registered with CSSIW. Places are available in reception and nursery classes in schools, day nurseries, playgroups, Cylchoedd Meithrin and childminders linked to an accredited Children Come First Network. For more information on registered facilities offering free part-time places, contact your local Family Information Service.
