Specialist activity workshops launched in schools nationwide

Wednesday, 25 October 2006 – Schoolfriend etc, the UK’s largest charitable childcare provider, today announces the launch of Schoolfriend extra; a team of specialist instructors who will work with children across the country to provide them with unforgettable experiences.

Schoolfriend etc, which runs after-school, breakfast and holiday clubs throughout the UK, has taken on experienced staff with proven track records of high teaching standards and qualifications in a wide range of activities. Not only will they run sessions including art, drama, music, sport, gardening and cookery, but they will also train the permanent staff in every Schoolfriend Club to enhance all their activities.

The workshops will be run in all the Schoolfriend Clubs across the UK, for no additional charge to the cost of attending the club itself. Workshops are also being offered directly to schools and local authorities. All workshops are linked to the National Curriculum and can be adapted to suit children aged between four and eleven.

Commenting on the launch of the new service, Schoolfriend etc Founder, Amanda Argent, said:

“We’ve gathered a cracking team of experts to make sure that children have truly memorable experiences at the Schoolfriend extra workshops. Extended schools should not be an extension of school, and we’re so excited to be able to offer children the chance to participate in activities that they are unlikely to be involved in either at school or home. The workshops are designed to help children develop their imagination, improve their communication skills and build their confidence.”

The Schoolfriend extra workshops are split into the following categories:
i) Drama: Role-play, acting out stories, creating original plots or adapting fairy tales and real-life events including mime, improvisation, song and dance.
ii) Arts and Crafts: Drawing, painting, sculpting, designing and crafting; responding to the world around and getting a taste of the work of other artists.
iii) Sport: Fun activities based on team sports such as rugby, Unihoc, basketball, tennis, football and exercise to music.
iv) Additional extras: Specialist activities such as gardening, cookery, music, design and technology.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

· Schoolfriend etc provides high quality, affordable childcare in schools across the UK. It has been running after-school, breakfast and holiday clubs since 2003 and is now the largest charitable provider of childcare in the country.

· It currently runs 500 clubs reaching over 80,000 children, operating in 72 of the 150 local authorities.

· Children improve their Numeracy and Literacy on web-based software that’s provided by the Club, as well as participating in Schoolfriend Extra activities.

· Schoolfriend etc was founded in 2002 by Amanda and Stephen Argent. Their vision was to utilise school facilities after 3.30pm by opening up schools to working parents and their children. From the outset, Schoolfriend etc was designed to make a positive impact on both children’s lives and the local community.

· Schoolfriend Clubs assist schools in fulfilling the Government’s Extended Schools Agenda – by 2010 every school needs to provide care from 8am to 6pm – and the Every Child Matters programme by offering out of school provision on school premises without the burden of the schools having any additional cost or administration.

·Schoolfriend Clubs are fully approved by Ofsted and have a high adult to child ratio that allows staff to spend a lot of individual time with each child.