After School Club Parent Handbook
What our parents say:
“My children come home every day happy about what they did at After School Club. I really appreciate that I can fully trust they are well cared for and offered a variety of meaningful activities.”
Cecile, parent of 6 and 9 year olds
Aims and Objectives
Our Commitment to Families
● Share children’s achievements, progress, and friendships.
● Listen and respond to parent/carer views or concerns.
● Keep families informed about policies, booking, and costs.
● Invite feedback on activities and snacks.
Our Commitment to Children
● Provide fun, stimulating, and varied activities.
● Support social, physical, emotional, and cognitive development.
● Ensure safe, supervised access to quality resources.
● Maintain a caring, inclusive, and bully-free environment.
● Employ experienced, well-trained staff.
What the Care Inspectorate said: “Children were nurtured and supported by kind and caring staff who knew them as individuals.”
Our Aims
● Create a safe, happy space to play, learn, and grow.
● Help children become confident, independent, and respectful.
● Promote children’s rights and responsibilities.
● Build strong, positive partnerships with families.
● Encourage children to be involved in daily planning.
● Regularly review and improve our service.
Our Philosophy
Welcome to Albyn After School Club. This handbook has been created to give families clear and helpful information about the club and to answer some of the questions you may have.
Our Care Inspectorate feedback highlighted the caring relationships, positive atmosphere and strong supervision within the club. Children were nurtured and supported by kind and caring staff who knew them as individuals. Children were having fun, were engaged in their play and enjoyed a happy, relaxed atmosphere. Staff worked well together and valued the positive working relationships they had formed.
Meet our Team
After School Club and Holiday Club Manager
After School Club and Holiday Club Practitioner
After School Club
After School Club and Holiday Club Supervisor
After School Club and Holiday Club Assistant
Monika Herchel
Mairi Anderson
Graham Clark
Assistant
Lesley Coumans
Martin Skinner
Daily Routine & Registration
At the end of the school day (3.35pm), children attending the After School Club are signed in by a staff member and offered a nutritious snack, available until approximately 4.30pm. After School Club registration is always shared with class teachers to ensure a smooth handover. For younger children in P1, an After School Club staff member collects them directly from their classroom and guides them to the designated sign-in point at the school cage. Once all children have arrived, staff provide a daily briefing to share the snack menu and activity options. Children are then encouraged to make independent choices by using the orange information board, where they place their photo beside the activity they wish to take part in.
Activities & Environment
Throughout the year, we run a variety of projects that actively involve parents, children, and staff, fostering a strong community spirit. The After School Club offers a diverse range of engaging activities daily, with both indoor and outdoor options to suit all interests. Children play a key role in planning the programme, ensuring it reflects their preferences and ideas. Located on the Yellow Floor, the club makes full use of the school’s excellent facilities, including the Wood Theatre, gym hall, and playing fields. Activities range from arts and crafts, science experiments, and group challenges to creative play. A wide selection of toys and games is available, and children are also supported in completing homework within a calm and nurturing environment.
Mandarin Club
Mandarin club gives After School Club children the opportunity to learn a new language while exploring a rich and fascinating culture. Through engaging, fun activities and creative arts and crafts, children build basic Mandarin skills in an enjoyable and interactive way, helping to boost their confidence, curiosity cultural awareness.
Snack
At After School Club, snack time is an important part of our daily routine, offering children a chance to relax and recharge. We encourage both children and parents to share their ideas for our snack menu, which is updated each term to keep things varied and exciting. Children are supported in being independent during snack time - helping themselves, tidying up, and making healthy choices. This not only promotes responsibility but also builds confidence in a calm and social setting.
Sample Snack Menu
Day Main Snack Accompaniment Drinks
Monday
Tuesday
Pasta Salad with Ham, Cheese and Vegetable and Homemade Soup with Bread. Fruit/Veg Platter Milk / Water
Sugar Free Vegetarian Jelly and Homemade Soup with Bread. Fruit/Veg Platter Milk / Water
Wednesday Rich tea/Digestive biscuits with Cheese and Homemade Soup with Bread. Fruit/Veg Platter Milk / Water
Thursday Chicken Goujons with Dip and Homemade Soup with Bread. Fruit/Veg Platter Milk / Water
Friday Pain au Chocolat and Homemade Soup with Bread. Fruit/Veg Platter Milk / Water
Newsletter
Our After School Club newsletter is shared every three weeks and is a great way to stay up to date with what’s happening in the club. Each edition includes:
● Insights into daily routines and afternoon activities
● Updates on current and upcoming themed projects
● A gallery of photos capturing special moments
● Reminders about important dates and events
● A lost property section to reunite items
● Occasional shout-outs celebrating kindness and effort
We encourage all parents to take a few minutes to read each issue - it’s a fun and informative way to stay involved!
Child Protection
At Albyn After School and Holiday Club, your child’s safety and wellbeing are our top priority. Safeguarding means protecting children under 18 from harmwhether physical, emotional, sexual, or through neglect. All staff and volunteers are trained in child protection and receive regular updates. If there’s ever a concern, we handle it seriously and confidentially, working with families and, when needed, with outside agencies like social services or the police. We have dedicated Child Protection Coordinators - Nichola Crawford and Lynda Strachan. We also work closely with local and national safeguarding organisations to make sure every child gets the support they need. You can speak to any of our staff if you ever have a concern. Your child’s safety, happiness, and care come first in everything we do.
What the Care Inspectorate said:
“Children experienced nurturing and respectful interactions with the adults caring for them.”
Aims and Objectives
Opening Hours and Costs
Albyn After School Club runs from 3.35pm to 6pm during term time. Sessions can be booked through the Pembee system. An annual £10 registration fee applies at the startofregistration.Paymentcanbemade usingchildcarevouchers.
Please note that the club closes promptly at 6 pm, and late collections will incur a charge of £10 for every 10 minutes after closing. For more information please see ourTermsandConditions.
Accidents/First Aid
All staff within the After School Club are fully trained in first aid and regularly attend refresher courses to ensure their knowledge remains up to date. In the event of an accident or injury, a detailed incident form will be completed by a staff member and sent home with your child for your information. Additionally, a qualified nurse is available on site, should further medical assistance be required. Your child’s safety and wellbeing are alwaysourtoppriority.
Security
For security purposes, all doors around the Lower School are locked after 3.35pm. To collect your child from the After School Club, please send a text messagetotheclub’smobilenumberat 07827 921871 uponarrivalatthe Forest Avenue entrance.Amemberofstaffwill accompany your child to the door and complete the sign-out process on your behalf. This procedure helps us ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children inourcare.
Holiday Club
Our Holiday Club offers an exciting and engaging programme during the February mid-term, Easter, summer, and October holidays. It is open to all children, including current Albyn School pupils as well as those from other schools across Aberdeen and the Shire. We consistently receive excellent feedback from families and take great pride in creating memorable experiences that children truly enjoy. Participants engage in a wide variety of activities such as ice-skating, high rope courses, visits to the Deer Centre and Husky Haven, trips to local castles, pizza making, beachcombing, den-building, and much more, both on-site and off-site. We provide two snacks daily and kindly ask that children bring a packed lunch each day. Here you can find more information, or contact us at holiday.club@albynschool.org.
Contact Details
If you have any questions, need to make changes to your child’s schedule - such as a day they won’t be attending - or if someone different will be collecting your child, please don’t hesitate to contact management.
To make communication as convenient as possible, you can reach us via email at afterschool@albynschool.org by calling the school office at 01224 322408 or by texting or WhatsApp on 07827 921871.
Term Dates
Autumn Term
19 August 2026 - Term Begins
18 and 21 September- Local Holiday (School & Holiday Club closed)
12-23 October- October Holiday Club
17 December - Term ends at 12 noon and No ASC Spring Term
5 January - Term Begins
15 February - Staff In - Service
8-12 February - February Holiday Club
30 March - 9 April - Easter Holiday Club (26 and 29 March No Holiday Club) Summer Term
3 May - Local Holiday (School & Holiday Club closed)
5 May - Staff In - Service
25 June - No ASC
28 June -2 July- No Holiday Club
5 July to 20 August - Summer Holiday Club
