We work with the charity School Food Matters to ensure our wrap-around care menus are exemplary in terms of the School Food Standards.

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The Earlybirds session price includes a choice of healthy breakfast foods, including porridge, toast, cereal and fresh fruit.

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During Owls a nutritious tea is served. Example dishes included jacket potatoes with toppings, beans on toast and soup with crusty bread.

We provide a range of indoor and outdoor activities and games, in a relaxed environment.

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Children are able to join in with activities as they please, and are free to sit and read or complete home learning quietly if they wish.

Earlybirds and Owls are services for pupils enrolled at The Belham. We will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments to accommodate pupils who may need extra support during wrap-around care.

Bookings for Earlybirds and Owls are made one term in advance via our online booking platform, SchoolsBuddy.

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50% of the balance for a term is due at the point of booking, with the remainder to be paid by the first day back after each half term holiday.

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Full details on how to book via SchoolsBuddy can be found at the back of this guide.

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We are also able to offer ad-hoc bookings if there is space. These must be booked by emailing our Earlybirds and Owls administrator, at

info@thebelhamprimaryschool.org.uk

Payment for wrap-around care can be made by credit or debit card, childcare vouchers or Tax-Free Childcare. Payments are collected via SchoolsBuddy.

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Payment of your balance for the term must be received no later than the first day back after each half term holiday.

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Children will not be able to access wrap-around care until payment has been received.

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Parents in financial difficulty should contact the school as soon as possible.

A certain number of places are reserved for families whose children are in receipt of Pupil Premium funding. These places are charged at a reduced rate of 50%.

In the event that you do not secure the required places for your child, you can request to join our waiting list. To do this, please email the school office at

info@thebelhamprimaryschool.org.uk.

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Priority will be given to siblings of children already attending wrap-around care.

Please always let us know by phone or email if your child will not be attending, so that we are able to re-allocate the place to a parent from the waiting list or provide a place for a child where there is a last-minute need. Because we operate a waiting list, it is not possible for parents to ‘swap’ their children’s places.

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If you have booked a term in advance and subsequently make other childcare arrangements, you may cancel your booking no later than the first week of term, as long as your child has not yet attended any sessions.

We will return any fees paid if you have booked a term in advance and cancel your booking before your child has attended any sessions.

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We are unable to offer refunds if your child is absent from school due to illness. This is because we cannot absorb the loss of income if a place cannot be re-allocated.

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Refunds will be offered in these exceptional circumstances: your child leaves the school; is absent long-term due to serious illness or injury; is excluded from school or from wrap- around care.

It is important that any change to the person collecting your child from Owls is communicated in advance.  Should an adult arrive to collect a child without prior notification, parents will be called to confirm the arrangement before the child can be released.

During the school day all Earlybirds and Owls booking requests, queries and changes to pick-up arrangements should be directed to the school office, which is staffed from 8.00am to 4.30pm.

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Outside school office hours the Earlybirds and Owls mobile number should be used to inform staff of any changes to pick-up arrangements.

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Earlybirds & Owls after hours number: 07985 181 722

Earlybirds Coordinator: Shellie Lucas

Owls Coordinators: Savina Anderson and Lara Kolawole

Children must be collected from Owls no later than 5.55pm. If you are running late to collect your child, we ask that you first try to arrange for an emergency contact to collect your child. If it is not possible to make alternative arrangements, you must notify the Owls Coordinator that you will be late and give an estimate of your arrival time. If no contact is made between home and school after a reasonable length of time, the school will act on local authority safeguarding advice and contact social services.

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Any late pick-ups will be recorded and a £10 fine will be charged to cover staffing costs.

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Persistent lateness could lead to the loss of a child’s place in Owls.

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We understand that in exceptional circumstances, for example severe transport network issues or a major incident, late collection may be unavoidable. In these circumstances we will always ensure your child is looked after and comfortable, and a fine will not be charged.

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Please make sure that the school has up to date emergency contacts for these scenarios.

Children are expected to demonstrate our Belhamite values at wrap-around care just as they would during the core school day. Positive and caring behaviour is expected at all times in line with the Belham’s Behaviour and Anti-Bullying Policy. When behaviour falls below our expectations, this will be recorded and shared with parents. If a pupil behaves in a way that puts their safety or the safety of others at risk, their place at Earlybirds or Owls may be withdrawn.

Children will be signed in and out of Earlybirds and Owls by a member of staff, using an electronic register.

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The Belham’s Safeguarding Policy applies to children before, during and after the core school day and can be viewed here.

There will always be at least one member of staff in wrap-around care who is trained in paediatric first aid. The Belham’s First Aid Policy applies to wrap-around care. All accidents are recorded and added to pupil records. Parents will be informed of all injuries to the face or head, however minor.

Materials, equipment and areas used by wrap-around care are risk assessed in line with the Belham’s Health and Safety Policy.

The Belham’s Complaints Policy applies to wrap-around care. Any complaints should be raised with the Earlybirds and Owls Coordinators in the first instance.