Children’s days at school are often highly structured, and there is a natural desire from both children and staff to let them relax and unwind in their clubs. However, if children are left to their own devices for the entire session, this can lead to behavioural issues both in the club and at school.
So, how do you achieve a good balance?
The value of time to play
If we put aside, for a moment, the accepted benefits of play for children, there is an inherent logic in not providing fully structured time in breakfast and after-school clubs. The last thing we want when providing wraparound care is to negatively affect children’s performance during the school day because their time at the club has left them mentally tired.
Providing purely structured activities could be detrimental in the long term. After all, we all need time to rest and the freedom to choose how we spend our leisure time. Children are no different.
However, many commercial providers have gone to the other extreme and chosen to provide no structured activities, instead advocating completely child-led free play, with predictably mixed results.
This can be such a significant departure from what children are accustomed to at school that they become unsettled as a result, creating the conditions for poor behaviour. When this is combined with a hands-off approach in which providers struggle to maintain appropriate boundaries and discipline, it is easy to see how problems can begin to develop.
A happy medium – look to Early Years
Years of teaching and running wraparound childcare have led me to conclude that, if you want to know how to structure your wraparound club, you should look no further than a high-quality Reception class in a primary school.
Children excel in this environment because it combines self-initiated play with activities planned by teachers and support staff. Even the opportunities available when children choose their own activities will have been carefully considered by staff to ensure a broad range of learning experiences.
Staff are available to question, support and model activities for children, discreetly covering everything from maths and literacy to holding pens and developing cutting skills.
A great wraparound club is run by experienced staff who provide children with a balance of free play and structured activities. Staff remain engaged and look for opportunities to help children develop, whether through play or through well-planned sessions.
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