After receiving the guidance late August we can now confirm that Hill Park and Woodys After School Clubs will open on Monday 28^th September and Hawkins (Herons Dale) After school club will open on Tuesday 29^th September.

We can’t wait to welcome your child or young person back to Extratime and as always, we are carefully following the government guidance to make decisions and inform our risk assessments. Below is the necessary guidance along with the accompanying guidance for parents;

• Protective measures for out-of-school settings
• Safe Working in Education, Childcare and Children’s Social Care settings guidance
• Guidance for parents and carers of children attending out of school settings
• Meeting-with-others-safely-social-distancing (New ‘Rule of 6’ exemptions)

If your child or young person attended during summer or since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, most of these COVID-19 health and safety measures will be familiar to you as they are similar to the holiday scheme arrangements.

In making our decisions to re-open the after school clubs, we have also taken into consideration some other key factors relating to issues affecting the Extratime community in particular. These are;

• The local context in Brighton & Hove and West Sussex where confirmed cases of COVID-19 have remained low (currently 8.3 per 100,000 in B&H; 6 per 100,000 in Adur and Worthing)
• The growing scientific evidence around the lower risks of COVID to children.
• The potential impact of further closures of Extratime for children and young people who are missing their regular routine, fun and friends at Extratime.
• The vital short break and childcare role Extratime has for you as a parent carer.

If your child or young person has attended a recent Extratime holiday scheme, the following list of Extratime measures will also be familiar. If your child or young person is returning to Extratime for the first time since March, I hope these protective measures we have in place to reduce the risk of infection at the after school club help you to feel reassured.

• Asking that anyone who is displaying coronavirus symptoms, or who lives with someone who does, not to attend Extratime. That includes children and staff.
• As far as possible, keeping children, young people and staff in small and consistent groups of 15 or less.
• Adults to socially distance from other adults where possible.
• Reorganising how we use the space; by making use of outside areas, keeping open doors and windows for ventilation, creating space between areas / furniture, rethinking use of entrances, exists and corridors.
• Cleaning and hygiene protocols (enhanced regular and ‘high touch area’ cleaning schedules, handwashing, use of PPE by staff in certain circumstances)
• Asking parent carers to physically distance from each other and from staff when dropping off and collecting children or young people, and to limit drop off and collection to one parent carer per household.
• Asking children not to bring toys or other items from home, unless this is essential to their health and well-being.

We also have robust protocols in place to respond, manage and contain infection in the event of a confirmed case of COVID-19. These involve engaging with schools, the local authorities and the NHS Test and Trace system.

On a brighter note I can also reassure you that despite the COVID measures, over recent months the brilliant Venue Leads and Play and Youth workers have become experts at creating the same warm and happy atmosphere for the children and young people and are looking forward to welcoming everyone back to Extratime for more fabulous fun and friendship at the club.