At our Lady of Lourdes our Breakfast and Afterschool Club provides valuable wraparound care for our families. However, attendance at the clubs is not an automatic right and is dependent on your child being ready and able to cope with the longer day.

What does ‘school ready’ mean in terms of our extended school provision?

Before your child can be considered for a place at the Breakfast or Afterschool Club, we need to ensure that they can manage the longer day successfully and safely. Your child should be able to:

• Separate confidently from their carer at drop-off time.
• Use the toilet independently without adult assistance.
• Consistently follow instructions from adults in the club setting.
• Stay alert and engaged throughout the school day without becoming overtired or falling asleep.
• Mix confidently with peers from different year groups.
• Demonstrate growing confidence in the school environment.

Why is school readiness important?

The extended school day can be tiring for young children, and we want to ensure that attending wraparound care supports rather than hinders your child's wellbeing and development. Children who are not yet ready may find the long day overwhelming, which can affect their ability to learn and enjoy school.

How we assess readiness

Before your child starts attending our clubs, we will:

• Discuss your child's individual needs and development with you and their classteacher.
• Observe how your child is settling into school.
• Consider whether the extended day is appropriate at this stage.
• Review readiness regularly as your child develops.

Building readiness together

If your child is not yet ready for wraparound care, we'll work with you to:

• Identify specific areas to develop.
• Suggest ways to build independence at home.
• Plan a gradual introduction when appropriate.
• Review progress regularly.
• If appropriate, work with the Pastoral Leader or SENDCo to discuss how we can support a child to be ready for wrap-around provision.