Otter’s Den
Otterhampton Primary School
School Lane
Combwich
Bridgwater
Somerset TA5 2QS
Tel: 01278 652487 (school)
01278 653052 (during sessions)
Dear Parent / Carer,
Thank you for your interest in our facility. Please find enclosed a registration pack containing the following:
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General information about the Otter’s Den
One copy of the fees policy
Two copies of the Parent’s Contract. Please sign and return both copies of the contract. Mr Benbow will
counter-sign and return one for your own records.
A registration form.
Two booking forms. These are available form the school office and from the Otter’s Den supervisor. Bookings
can also be made by email: please contact Mrs Pracownik or Mrs Hill at CPracownik@educ.somerset.gov.uk
or AHill@educ.somerset.co.uk
Please note – these emails will only be dealt with during office hours on Monday – Friday.
The documentation must be completed and returned before your child can attend the facility. I suggest that you
allow us a week to process the information and plan for your child’s first session at Otter;s Den with that timescale in
mind. If, for any reason, you would like to book with less than one week’s notice, please contact me and I will
expedite the registration if I can.
Please note that if you wish to register more than one child, a Parent Contract and Registration form must be
completed for each child.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours faithfully,
Sammi Touchin
Otter’s Den Supervisor
OTTERS DEN
Otterhampton Primary School Wrap Around Care Facility
General Information
Otters Den is the wrap around care facility of Otterhampton Primary School. The aim of our establishment
is to provide a safe, happy and stimulating environment where children can mix with others and play under
the supervision of adults before school and at the end of the school day.
OTTERS DEN SESSIONS
A breakfast Club runs daily from 7.45am to 8.45am and after school sessions are daily from 3.15pm to 6pm
during term times. Children in Reception Year and Years 1, 2, 3 & 4 are collected from their classrooms at
the end of the school day by Otters Den staff. Children in Years 5 & 6 are asked to self-register at the
facility.
Most of the session is devoted to free play where the children are offered a range of activities including
drawing, painting, craftwork, cooking, energetic play, simple computing, construction toys, games and
puzzles, imaginative play and books. They are also encouraged to participate in group activities such as
stories, music, games and discussions. There are a wide range of after school clubs which run at
Otterhampton Primary School which all children booked into Otters Den can access (subject to any age
qualifications placed on the club). Credit is given against Otters Den fees for club fees paid in advance.
The clubs can be subject to cancellation at short notice but Otters Den is guaranteed to run daily.
During the session the children are provided with a drink (water is offered) and light snack is offered to
those at Otters Den after 4.15pm (such as sandwich or beans on toast). If your child suffers any allergy
please make sure full details are included on the Registration Form.
POLICIES
Otters Den has adopted various policies and procedures covering all areas of its operation. These are kept
in a file on display at each session.
They include: Special Needs, Complaints, Admissions, Safety, Selecting Equipment/Toys, Confidentiality,
Equal Opportunities, Settling In, Health and Hygiene, Child Protection, Staffing and Employment, Behaviour
Management and Parental Involvement.
Should you wish to share any information, air any views or concerns or perhaps pay a compliment please
contact the Supervisor or any member of the committee or leave a note in the school office. We hope you
will not have cause to make any formal complaint but should you wish to the complaints procedure can be
found in the policies file.
FEES
The current charges are set out in the Fees Policy attached. Fees are reviewed on a regular basis and
whilst Otters Den is not a profit making organisation it has to be self-sustaining.
SETTLING IN
Most children adjust happily to Otters Den having been at School all day. However, parents are welcome
to attend with their child or children to settle them when they first start using the provision if they wish.
Indeed parent are welcome to join any sessions they wish.
OUR STAFF
Otters Den currently employs 5 members of staff. We also have staff who we can call upon on an
occasional basis to cover for sickness and training absence.
Sammi Touchin is the Supervisor. She is ably assisted by Carol Ring, Amy Hill, Bev Smith and Norah Darch,
all of whom hold other posts within the school. All have first aid training.
The breakfast club is run by Carol Ring who is supported by Sammi Touchin and Bev Smith.
OFSTED
Otters Den is registered with OFSTED as part of the registration of Otterhampton Primary School and that
registration requires us to meet the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. The detail
of those Standards and how we meet them is in our Operational File. That file is available to read at each
session.
Otters Den is regularly inspected by OFSTED. Its registration is relatively new and there is no current
report because the session times we run have until recently been less than 2 hours. In the future Otters
Den will be inspected in tandem with the school. Should advance notice of the next inspection be received
a notice will be placed on the door to the classroom where sessions are held.
We operate to at least OFSTED requirements of one adult to every 8 children.
The school’s Early Years registration allows it to take children from 3 years. At present our policy is to take
children registered at Otterhampton School after school and while OFSTED registration concentrates on
children under 8 it is our policy to cater for children of the whole primary school age range and where
appropriate children of secondary school age. They are encouraged to play together as appropriate for
their mutual benefit regardless of their respective ages. The breakfast club which is run in partnership with
the pre-school takes children from age 3 years.
We have to report certain illnesses to OFSTED and accordingly you should inform a member of staff of the
nature of any illness when your child is absent due to ill health. We also ask you to keep your child at
home if he/she has any infection and not to bring your child to Otters Den if he/she has had diarrhoea or
has been vomiting until at least 48 hours have passed since the last attack.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
Otters Den works in accordance with all relevant legislation including: the Disabled Persons Acts 1958 and
1986; the Race Relations Act 1976; the Sex Discrimination Act 1986 and the Children Act 1989.
We aim to ensure that all who wish to work in or volunteer to help with our setting have an equal chance
to do so. Otters Den is open to every family in the Otterhampton Primary School and other families in the
local environs providing there are places available. The waiting list is operated on a first come first served
basis.
FURTHER INFORMATION
We like to take the children outside as much as possible during the sessions and would encourage your
child(ren) to bring to each session a named showerproof coat .
Otters Den hopes to develop its service in the future to offer INSET day and school holiday sessions.
IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS
During session times
01278 653052
Otterhampton County Primary School
01278 652487
Otter’s Den
Otterhampton Primary School Wrap Around Care Facility
Fees Policy
Otter’s Den is a non-profit making wrap around care provision. Should any surplus be made from time to time, it will be retained
in the setting’s bank account (which requires 2 signatories) and will be applied for the benefit of the wrap around care provision
at the discretion of the head teacher.
Current charges are as follows, and apply where sessions have been booked in advance.
Breakfast
7.45 – with Breakfast
£3.00
8.15 – no Breakfast
£1.50
After School
3.15 – 4.15
£3.00
4.15 – 5.15
£4.00
5.15 – 6.00
£4.50
 There is no discount for siblings.
 We would request that parents make bookings for the facility with as much notice as possible, and with a minimum of
one week’s advance warning. Whilst we will always endeavour to accommodate short notice bookings when they are
unavoidable, such bookings must always be dependent on space available in the setting. Priority will be given on a first
come first served basis.
 A booking may be cancelled up to 1 week before the session booked with no fee payable. Such cancellations must
please be made in writing.
 Where a child or children are collected later than the time for which they have been booked they will be charged at the
rate applicable to the next session.
 Where a child is collected later than 6pm with no advance warning to staff in the setting, a late collection fee £5 per
child for every 10 minutes or part thereof will be applied.
 Fees are payable in advance of the child attending the session or sessions they are booked in for. Payment can be made
by cheques made payable to Somerset County council or through the use of Accor Vouchers. If payment has not been
received before a child attends a session or it has not been possible to make a payment in advance due to the child
being booked in at short notice, this must be dome when the child is collected from that session.
 If a child continues to attend sessions despite sessions despite payment not being received in advance, this may result
in your child not being able to attend further sessions. We will always seek to establish an effective dialogue, and would
request that anyone who is having difficulties regarding making payments should please speak to the Otter’s Den
Supervisor.
 Fees can be paid weekly, monthly or termly in advance.
 If a child is unable to attend a session that they have been booked into and it has not been cancelled in writing within
24 hours, then the fee will still be payable. If cancelled with notice, you will be given a credit note.
 You will be charged for the time that your child is booked in for even if you turn up early.
 Where children are booked into the Otter’s Den and attend a club or after school activity at the school, a credit note
will be issued.
 Fees are payable at the rates and on the terms stated above should a child be booked into Otter’s Den at short notice
by a teacher at Otterhampton Primary School where a parent or carer is late collecting their child (ren) at the end of the
school day.
Otter’s Den
Otterhampton Primary School Wrap Around Care Facility
PARENT CONTRACT
I/We understand that parents are the first and most important educators of their young children but the
work of Otters Den cannot be fully effective unless Otters Den and parents work together in the child’s
interests. Parents/carers are asked to read and sign the statement below as an expression of this shared
commitment.
Policies
I/We have had an opportunity to read Otters Den policies and accept that Otters Den will be run in
accordance with these and any changes made to them from time to time. My/our names and telephone
numbers can be included on an emergency register.
First Aid
I/We give permission for Otters Den to initiate/administer emergency treatment to my/our child .
Parent Participation*
I/We will join in the life of Otters Den for as long as my/our child attends. I/We would be particularly
interested in:
Helping during the session
Y/N
Making/mending equipment Y/N
working on the Committee
Y/N
taking part on outings
Y/N
other (please specify)
*
There is no obligation to volunteer to help in any of these ways or at all (indeed it is appreciated
that you may not be in a position to because of other after school commitments) but if you would
like to you are more than welcome to.
Fees
I/We will pay fees in the amounts and at the time specified by Otters Den, in accordance with the Fees
Policy agreed from time to time.
Rules
I/We agree to abide by the Rules of Otters Den and any changes thereto agreed by the management
committee from time to time.
Behaviour
We understand that there is a required standard of behaviour on the part of Otters Den staff, children
attending the facility and me/us as parent/s(carer/s) of my child when at the facility, which standard of
behaviour is set out in the Behaviour Management Policy agreed from time to time.
Outings
I/We are willing for our child to go on brief local outings from Otters Den and understand that specific
consent will be sought for any major excursions.
Illness
I/We understand that Otters Den has to report certain illnesses to OFSTED and accordingly I/we agree to
inform the Otters Den Supervisor of the nature of any illness when my/our child is absent due to ill health.
I/We also agree to keep my/our child at home if he/she has any infection and not to bring my/our child to
Otters Den if he/she has had diarrhoea or has been vomiting until at least 48 hours have passed since the
last attack.
Photographs
I/We consent to my/our child being photographed for occasional press and publicity purposes.*
I/We consent to my/our child being photographed for open evening displays and for use on the
Otterhampton County Primary School website. I/We understand that my/our child will not be personally
identified on that site.*
*
Please delete if you have objection to all or any of the above. If you have any questions please
speak to a member of staff or of the Committee.
Punctuality
I/We will be prompt in collecting our child from sessions. We will warn Otters Den staff and our child on
any occasion when we might be late.
I/We understand that if I/we fail to collect/make appropriate arrangements for my/our child to be
collected within 30 minutes of the end of a session and neither I/we nor any of the people authorised on
my/ our child’s registration form to collect my/our child can be contacted for alternate childcare
arrangements to be made then social services will be informed.
Changes to Parent Contract
I/we understand that it may be necessary to make reasonable changes to the terms of this contract from
time to time and agree to sign an amended copy if so requested.
Signed……………………………………………………………………… Print Name ……………………………….…………………….
Dated ……………………………….…………..
Signed……………………………………………………………………… Print Name ……………………………….…………………….
Dated ……………………………….…………..
Signed on behalf of Otters Den by
………………………………………….……………………………
Headteacher, Otterhampton Primary School
Dated
…………………………
Otter’s Den
Otterhampton Primary School Wrap Around Care Facility
PARENT CONTRACT
I/We understand that parents are the first and most important educators of their young children but the
work of Otters Den cannot be fully effective unless Otters Den and parents work together in the child’s
interests. Parents/carers are asked to read and sign the statement below as an expression of this shared
commitment.
Policies
I/We have had an opportunity to read Otters Den policies and accept that Otters Den will be run in
accordance with these and any changes made to them from time to time. My/our names and telephone
numbers can be included on an emergency register.
First Aid
I/We give permission for Otters Den to initiate/administer emergency treatment to my/our child .
Parent Participation*
I/We will join in the life of Otters Den for as long as my/our child attends. I/We would be particularly
interested in:
Helping during the session
Y/N
Making/mending equipment Y/N
working on the Committee
Y/N
taking part on outings
Y/N
other (please specify)
*
There is no obligation to volunteer to help in any of these ways or at all (indeed it is appreciated
that you may not be in a position to because of other after school commitments) but if you would
like to you are more than welcome to.
Fees
I/We will pay fees in the amounts and at the time specified by Otters Den, in accordance with the Fees
Policy agreed from time to time.
Rules
I/We agree to abide by the Rules of Otters Den and any changes thereto agreed by the management
committee from time to time.
Behaviour
We understand that there is a required standard of behaviour on the part of Otters Den staff, children
attending the facility and me/us as parent/s(carer/s) of my child when at the facility, which standard of
behaviour is set out in the Behaviour Management Policy agreed from time to time.
Outings
I/We are willing for our child to go on brief local outings from Otters Den and understand that specific
consent will be sought for any major excursions.
Illness
I/We understand that Otters Den has to report certain illnesses to OFSTED and accordingly I/we agree to
inform the Otters Den Supervisor of the nature of any illness when my/our child is absent due to ill health.
I/We also agree to keep my/our child at home if he/she has any infection and not to bring my/our child to
Otters Den if he/she has had diarrhoea or has been vomiting until at least 48 hours have passed since the
last attack.
Photographs
I/We consent to my/our child being photographed for occasional press and publicity purposes.*
I/We consent to my/our child being photographed for open evening displays and for use on the
Otterhampton County Primary School website. I/We understand that my/our child will not be personally
identified on that site.*
*
Please delete if you have objection to all or any of the above. If you have any questions please
speak to a member of staff or of the Committee.
Punctuality
I/We will be prompt in collecting our child from sessions. We will warn Otters Den staff and our child on
any occasion when we might be late.
I/We understand that if I/we fail to collect/make appropriate arrangements for my/our child to be
collected within 30 minutes of the end of a session and neither I/we nor any of the people authorised on
my/ our child’s registration form to collect my/our child can be contacted for alternate childcare
arrangements to be made then social services will be informed.
Changes to Parent Contract
I/we understand that it may be necessary to make reasonable changes to the terms of this contract from
time to time and agree to sign an amended copy if so requested.
Signed……………………………………………………………………… Print Name ……………………………….…………………….
Dated ……………………………….…………..
Signed……………………………………………………………………… Print Name ……………………………….…………………….
Dated ……………………………….…………..
Signed on behalf of Otters Den by
………………………………………….……………………………
Headteacher, Otterhampton Primary School
Dated
…………………………
Otter’s Den
Otterhampton Primary School Wrap Around Care Facility
REGISTRATION FORM
Child’s full name
………………………………………………………
Date of Birth
…………………………
School Year* Rec
*
Parents/Carers
Name(s)
……………………………………………………
…………………………………………………….
Parents/Carers
M/F
……………………………………………………….
Address(es)
……………………………………………………..
………………………………………………………..
Telephone numbers (please specific who to ask for)
Home
………………………………………..
Work
………………………………………….
Mobile (1)
…………………………………………
Mobile (2)
…………………………………………
1
2
3
4
circle as appropriate
5
6
EMERGENCY CONTACT DETAILS
In the event that you cannot be contacted on any of the numbers above please give contact details of at
least 2 other people who we may contact in an emergency and who are routinely authorised to collect
your child. Please note that they may be asked to provide proof of identity when collecting your child. It is
suggested that the people you nominate live reasonably local to the facility.
Emergency Contact 1
Name
………………………………………………
Telephone
………………………………………………
………………………………………………
Emergency Contact 2
Name
………………………………………………
Telephone
………………………………………………
………………………………………………
Emergency Contact 3
Name
………………………………………………
Telephone
………………………………………………
………………………………………………
PASSWORD
Your child will only be released to an adult other than yourselves or any of those listed above if they are
able to provide the PASSWORD you note on this form to the Otters Den staff. They may be asked to write
the PASSWORD in the presence of a staff member, it should not be spoken out loud in the presence of
others or communicated to you child.
PASSWORD
…………………………………………..
You will be given an opportunity to change this PASSWORD annually at the start of the autumn term when
you will be asked to complete a Registration Update Form. If you wish to change it or any of your or your
emergency contact details in the intervening time please ask for a Registration Update Form.
Does your child have special requirements about religious observance, food,
clothing, health or other matters which we should observe in Otters Den? If so,
please give details below.
Is there any background information on your child which may help us to understand
him or her, for example, special fears, pets, any recent family events, which may
have affected them. If so please give details below
MEDICAL INFORMATION
Name of child’s GP
…………………………………………………
GP’s address
…………………………………………………
……………………………………………..
GP’s telephone number
………………………………………………
Has your child been immunised against the following (Y/N)
Diptheria
Tetanus
Measles
Whooping Cough
Polio
HIBS
Y/N
Is your child allergic to anything?
Has your child had any major illness/operation?
Has your child been in hospital recently?
Has your child any on-going health problems?
Has your child any special need, which you would like to
discuss with the Otters Den Supervisor?
If you have answered yes to any of the above please give details overleaf.
Al the information contained in this form will be kept confidential. When completing the form please
remember that Otters Den, whilst linked to Otterhampton Primary School, is a separate organisation from
the school, therefore, you should not assume that information the School has about your child will be
available to Otters Den.
Accordingly, you should complete this form as fully as possible. Further, it would be useful if you could
make time to go through this form with the Otters Den Supervisor when your child first uses the facility.
Signed
………………………………….………
Signed
………………………………….………
Print Name
………………………………….………
Print Name
………………………………….………
Dated
………………………………….………
Dated
………………………………….………