How do I pay with Childcare Vouchers/ Tax Credit ?
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Frequently Asked Questions
After School Clubs - where do they run, how do I book, what activities are on offer?
Read all about our After School Clubs.
Clubs run directly after school, usually on school premises or sometimes in a close-by green space usually for 1 hour (check the individual school details as times differ by school). Park clubs start a bit later to allow travel time from school to the meeting point. Booking tends to open one term in advance. Activities will change every term so our long-term members continue to gain new experiences and skills. Go straight to each location’s page for specific prices, locations, booking, dates and activities:
Holiday clubs - where to they run, how do a book, what activities are on offer?
Read all about our Holiday Clubs.
Go straight to each location’s page for specific prices, locations, booking, dates and activities:
Are you Ofsted registered?
Yes, we are Ofsted registered :
Brighton & Hove / Ditchling site Ofsted Number - EY559428 / BN68TG
Bristol Ofsted Registration Number - 2513113
West Sussex Ofsted Registration Number - 2528700
What do my children need to bring/wear?
For Holiday Clubs - Please bring plenty to drink, a packed lunch, sturdy shoes and weather appropriate clothes (sunhat / waterproof / warm clothes). You will be sent information like this on booking.
For After School Clubs - some children bring a snack to eat at sign in. We do not expect children to change clothes but please ensure they have suitable running around footwear and weather appropriate clothing - raincoats and wellies / sunhat and suncream.
What happens if there's bad weather?
The Outdoors Project policy is that events & clubs will go ahead, regardless of the weather, as long as it’s safe to do so. However, we reserve the right to cancel the events/clubs on safety grounds in the case of extreme weather conditions. The children often find the clubs even more fun in the rain! Weather appropriate clothing and footwear really does make a difference to their enjoyment. We will often move to a more sheltered area if the weather is particularly bad and we have large gazebos where we have our wet weather games to play whilst it passes.
What happens if my child is sick or I need to cancel?
If your child is away from school or will not be attending the after school club or a holiday club, please email or call your local The Outdoors Project office to let us know.
Please see our Terms and Conditions for our cancellation policy.
How do I book a Birthday Party & what activities do you offer?
Would you like to franchise The Outdoors Project in your area?
Visit our Franchise page for more details
What happens to Lost Property
Any lost property found at After School Clubs will be returned to the school office/lost property area. For Holiday Clubs and Parties, we will remind children to take home everything they came with. Please do check that the children take home everything they arrived with as we end up with a lot of lost property. We will try and reunite named lost property with the owners and then we will clean and keep lost property in the office for 1 month following the club/party. Any remaining items will then go to charity.
What is your behaviour policy?
We want everyone to enjoy themselves and to go home with smiles after having plenty of fun with friends as well as learning a new skill or game. Our session leaders are great at encouraging the children to participate, getting them involved in the activity. If they're not quite ready, a leader might encourage a child to watch from the sidelines and join in when they're ready or perhaps take the child under their wing to become a helper whilst they find their way. In order to maximise everyone’s enjoyment of the club, disruptive behaviour is not tolerated. Disruptive children will receive warnings. The leader will also decide whether it is safe for them to operate certain equipment on the day which carries risk (such as firelighting tools or whittling blades). If the behaviour is consistently disruptive each week and the children are not responding to the leader’s encouragement, then the leader will speak to parents at the end of the session to find a solution and we may have to begin our "three strikes" policy. If three strikes are issued over a term then we will be forced to withdraw that child’s place at the club. We ask for your support in ensuring we can work to resolve challenging behaviour and encourage children to make positive choices, to enjoy and participate in the activities in order for us to provide a fun and safe environment for all.
Read feedback from parents and children to build up a picture of what we offer.
How are you inclusive, including for SEN Children?
We are an inclusive club and fully promote the many benefits of time spent outdoors for all children. If your child has additional needs please do get in touch and we'd be happy to discuss further to advise whether our club environment is the right fit and we have the resources to support your child's needs. If your child receives one to one support at school please contact us before booking so we can look at whether we can offer the support required.
Can I get a club 'ROAM' T- Shirt for my child?
We have special club member t-shirts. These are not a compulsory purchase but many children wear them over their own clothes at After School Clubs or Holiday Clubs. The t-shirt is great for sewing The Outdoors Project club patches onto. The T-shirt is available to add to your basket when you book a child’s place at an After School or Holiday Club. We will hand these directly to children at sign-in at the After School Club/Holiday Club. We don't currently have an online shop but if you'd like to buy a t-shirt outside of booking a club please email us.
Can I pay over the phone?
You can pay over the phone, but our online booking process is also very simple to go through. However, should you need someone to walk you through your booking, please call the contact number for the location you are wanting to book with, or email us and we will get back to you.
How is food managed at Clubs?
At our Holiday Clubs, all groups eat lunch together and are monitored and encouraged to eat and drink by the instructors. Children are reminded not to share food due to possible allergies within the group. When our activity involves cooking on the campfire we always provide alternatives for allergies and dietary requirements. Please alert the leader to any relevant information and medicine regarding this when signing in and on booking.
How do stamp cards and patches work?
Each member of the club receives a stamp card which contains different skills and “ranks” for them to earn throughout their time with The Outdoors Project. Each time they attend they will receive one stamp with the potential to earn more by impressing instructors during the session! Once they fill up a stamp book completely they will receive a gift from us as a reward each time, so please make sure to pack their stamp cards and feel free to chat to an instructor after sign out if we need to catch up on any missed stamps or lost cards. These are meant as a positive reward for the great work that they do at the clubs! Each member of an After School Club receives a reward card which earns them points each time they attend. When they get to 10 points they receive a special Outdoors Project patch! The patches are iron-on but we do advise sewing them on if you put them on clothing. There'll be a designated patch to earn per term which will be shown to members.
The Ambassadors Award - After School Club
Each term at our After School Clubs our club leaders will choose children at the club to receive a special patch and certificate for passion, politeness and resilience during the term.
Do you run activities for adults?
We're happy to see if we can help... Nerf, Teambuilding, Bushcraft, cross generational activities for family events... sky’s the limit! Please get in touch to discuss further.
Can I add my child to a waiting list?
A lot of our Clubs do get fully booked. If this is the case you have the opportunity via the online booking system to add your child to the waiting list. We will then be in touch via email or phone to let you know if a space becomes available.
What are your sessions like?
Every day is different to keep the young ones enthused and entertained enjoying the outdoors! Our activities are a huge mixture of gameplay, learning new skills, communication & teamwork, crafting or building, playing and creating memories to last. We work hard to create a non-competitive "just for fun" environment, with something for everyone from the quiet and methodical to the loud and lively! Activities are a mixture of children playing together or having the opportunity to find some space by themselves. We encourage a supportive and happy environment where the children can build friendships, succeed at new tasks and feel relaxed in an open green space. We encourage physical "green" exercise throughout our gameplay to promote health and wellbeing. A note on our Holiday Clubs and Birthday Parties - once with us, each child will be encouraged to participate in the planned activity for the day so please do make sure to check that the activity for the day is a good fit for your child prior to booking.
Can I arrange for someone else to collect my child?
At the end of each session, children will be signed out to the pickup person named on the register. Any changes to who will be picking up, please let us know prior to sign-in. Please do check that they have everything they arrived with as we often end up with lost property.
What training has your staff had?
All our staff are DBS checked, Safeguarding trained and we have First Aid trained instructors at every club. Our staff have a range of additional training and backgrounds, including in Forest School, teaching and bushcraft. Check out the team pages for each location for more information:
Do you offer After School Club trial sessions?
Our clubs are often fully booked but if we have a space you are welcome to join us for a trial session. Please contact your local office to see what is available.
Can I sign my child up for After School Club mid-term?
Bookings are taken online for a whole term. If there are spaces we are happy for children to join mid term and prices are amended weekly online to reflect the missed sessions. If you are unable to pay for the whole term then please get in touch to see how if we can help.
What is my child's school isn't on the list or they don't attend a school?
If we're not running an After School Club at your child’s school or on a day that suits you, you can still join us for fun in parks for 7-12 year olds. Parents are often key to getting a club started - let us know if you’re interested, and we can see if we can make something happen in your area. We have tonnes of fun and the activities help develop social skills: confidence, self-motivation, initiative, communication and teamwork.
Check out each location’s page for details on location and availability:
What ages do you cater for?
Clubs are open to children in Year 1 to Year 6 (not Reception class). Our parent and toddler Saplings group is for preschool age 18 mo to 4 years old.
Talk me through an average After School Club session from sign-in to home time.
A TYPICAL SESSION
● Each school has a club meeting. Please check your booking email confirmation for the meeting points and parent pick up locations for the club.
● Infants and Junior Clubs at the same school often have different meeting and collection points so please read carefully.
● Registers are sent to the School office so they know who should be attending the Club.
● All our staff are DBS checked and we have first aid trained instructors at every club.
● KS1 (Yrs 1&2) will either be picked up by instructors or the teachers will bring them to the meeting point. KS2 (Yrs 3-6) usually come straight to the meeting point from their classroom.
● Generally, each club has a Lead Instructor and an Assistant Instructor.
● Should a child not arrive, the instructor will check with the office to see if they are accounted for. Parents will be called if the child is expected at the club and there is no absence note. This is a time-consuming process and we take it very seriously so please do let us know if your child will not be attending the club that day to avoid this.
● Once everyone has arrived the session commences with the activity for the week. FUN TIME!
● Home time: The pick up point at the school is communicated in the booking confirmation. Children will be signed out to the parent or carer named on the register. If there are any last minute changes for pick up - such as family friends - please do let us know prior so that the information can be passed on. Should the instructor not have received this instruction, they will attempt to contact the named parent to confirm before they can release the child from their care.
Do you have activities I can try at home with my child/ren?
Absolutely! To give you a feel for the kinds of activities and games we love, why not try some of the ideas on our blog in your home, garden or local park?
