Vale Play

Email Llanfair@valeplay.co.uk (Emails answered Monday-Friday 8am-6pm, term time)
Phone 01446 772089 Open 11.30am-5.45pm Monday – Friday term time.

Dear Parents/Carers/Guardians,
Welcome to Vale Play. We opened an after school club in Llanfair Primary School in April
2019 and during this time have had great pleasure in watching the club flourish. Our biggest
achievement is developing our childcare services. In November 2021 we opened an afternoon
provision for children aged from two years old from 12 noon until 3.30pm or until 5.45pm.
Monday to Friday, term time only.

We offer a relaxed, fun, happy environment where children can unwind after a day at school.
Wellbeing is our first priority, children will see children they recognise from school and an
environment that makes sense to them and their interests, helping them to feel secure. It is
important children feel safe, secure and valued. Children are listened to, appreciated and
recognised in their efforts and achievements. We promote security, self-esteem and to help
children develop confidence, warm and positive relationships. Children enjoy being with
other children and thrive in their company.
Importance of play

Play is an essential part of every child’s life and is vital for the enjoyment of childhood as
well as for social, physical, intellectual, creative, emotional development. Children also gain
flexibility, freedom and have fun. Through play children also develop resilience through
taking risks, dealing with new and novel situations and helps them develop skills which will
help them through life such as communication skills, problem solving, trail and error, social
rules, social skills, increases their self awareness, self esteem and self respect. It is through
play that children learn to engage and interact in the world around them and provides
opportunities to learn about their environment and the wider community. It also allows them
to increase in confidence through developing new skills, promotes their imagination and
independence. Play improves vocabulary, cognitive skills, organisational skills, helps to
regulate emotions and strengthens social skills.

Play provision has an important role in offering places where children can enjoy the kind of
challenging, self directed every day play experiences that previous generations took for
granted.

As adults/play workers we need to recognise the invention styles to allow children to freely
choose and develop their own play to allow children to get the most out of their play. Adults/
Play workers need to allow children to decide what is appropriate behaviour, decide why they
play the content/intent of play to allow children to lead their own play. Play workers should
not interrupt their play. Allow children to explore their own values and improve on their own
performance.
Play is a biological drive it has little to do with adults and adult intervention can damage the
process.

The Welsh Government recognises the importance of play and states ‘Play is so critically
important to all children in the development of their physical, social, mental, emotional and
creative skills that society should seek every opportunity to support it and create and
environment that fosters it.’

Internationally, the importance of play is also recognised by the United Nations Convention
of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) ‘Play and recreation are essential to the health and wee
being of children and promote
the development of creativity, imagination, self confidence, self efficacy, as well as physical, social,
cognitive, and emotional strength and skills.’

As children grow they develop and learn new skills as toddler start with parallel play, learning
through experiment, exploration, taking risks, communication development. Once they reach
school age they continue to develop their fine and gross motor skills. They foster
development for language and socialization. Play cycle, friendships, boundaries and
experimenting.

You can email us, phone or text. We are on facebook and Instagram which we update
regularly. Please search ‘Vale Play’ and ‘like’ our page.
We regularly send out questionnaires to our parents at Vale Play and below are some
comments we have received;
‘Excellent snack choices’
‘Staff are brilliant always friendly approachable and professional’
‘Well-resourced play area and activities’
‘Brilliant use of outdoor space and scooters’
‘Superb caring fun and friendly team’
‘Activities and things to take home’
‘Updates on social media’

All our staff go through vigorous checks, such as references, health, DBS and policy and
procedure training. Kara Oakley and Kirsty Clarke are the Directors and Managers of Vale
Play. Kara and Kirsty started Fairfield out of school club together in 2008 and Victoria out of
school club opened in September 2018. They have over 25 years experience each in childcare
ranging from private nurseries, private nannies, breakfast and after school clubs. They hold
the following qualifications and certificates; BTEC Nursery Nurses, CMI in management,
CACHE Play worker, paediatric first aid, food hygiene, DBS and child protection. They have
also achieved the Gold Standard award for healthy eating, Quality of Care Award and five
star food rating in all three clubs.

Our prices and sessions.
We accept payments via BACS, all childcare voucher companies or use the 30 hour childcare
offer or tax credits.
Nursery collection 12 noon until 3.30pm £25.00 per session, per child.
Nursery collection 12 noon until 5.45pm £40.00 per session, per child.
After school club session 3.30pm – 5.45pm at a cost of £15.00 per session, per child.

A typical session in afternoon club
Firstly we take the register. Children then wash their hands before lunch. Children are served a two course
lunch. A menu can be provided and is also available to view in the childcare building. After lunch children can play
with a sand, water, wide variety of games, construction, cars, trains, magnets, lego, dolls, action men, chill out on our bean bags, read books or take part in the arts and crafts activity and lots more. We used also have the use of the outside playing area and outdoor equipment.
We will ask you to provide a password on collection for your child for security purposes. This
is if a member of staff does not recognise the adult collecting the child.
A typical session in after school club (exclusively for Llanfair children)
Firstly we take the register. Children then wash their hands before tea. Children are offered a light tea which varies from chicken curry, vegetable pasta bake, sandwiches, crackers, bagels, wraps, fresh, dried or tinned fruit, breadsticks and dips. A menu can be provided and is also available to view in club. After tea children can play freely which consists of a wide variety of games, construction, cars, trains, magnets, lego, dolls, action men, chill out on our bean bags,
read books or take part in the arts and crafts activity and lots more. We also have the use of the outside playing area and outdoor equipment. We will ask you to provide a password on collection for your child for security purposes. This is used if a member of staff does not recognise the adult collecting the child.

If you have any questions regarding our service please don’t hesitate to contact us via email
us Llanfair@valeplay.co.uk phone or Phone 01446 772089 or text 07955527631
We can also arrange private viewing for you to view the setting exclusively.
We look forward to meeting you and your child.

Mrs. Kara Oakley & Mrs. Kirsty Clarke
Managing Directors of Vale Play Ltd