On behalf of the school may I apologise again, for the upset and anxiety caused by the new arrangements for breakfast club.

The issue was not of the schools making, rather it has occurred because the Local Authority (LA) informed all schools that breakfast clubs were moving to an electronic registration rather than the paper approach we had successfully been using.

The registration process was instigated by and imposed upon us by the LA, and, after this;

1. Did not inform schools that caps were to be placed on numbers or what the cap was
2. Failed to let schools or parents know it was a first come first served registration process
3. Did not allow for single day registration
4. Did not inform schools that when the breakfast club was full, parents/carers were to direct concerns to the school.

We have managed to persuade the LA to raise our cap to 142 pupils. However, we still have a waiting list for 47 pupils that has been compiled as requests have come in.

As a school we have never had more than 140 pupils on any given day. Unfortunately, due to many parents feeling they need to secure a place in breakfast club, should they need one, the school has seen an unprecedented surge in registrations resulting in numbers that cannot be managed.

Breakfast club is staffed by the LA and the school provides the venue. We are charged by the LA to ensure the venue is fully safe. We do not set the cap on pupil numbers, rather this is determined by the number of staff the LA employ for our breakfast club. Additional staff are being sourced but at present there are none available. Should additional staff be secured the school will work with the LA to raise the cap.

May I ask parents that in the spirit of fairness, if you do not need breakfast club regularly to consider relinquishing your secured place for a parent with greater need. Places not used for three weeks will be cancelled and offered to the next on the waiting list.

If your child has not been successful then they will not be permitted into breakfast club. Parents MUST accompany their child to the front door and hand them over to staff to ensure registration is confirmed.

Confirmation of registration as well as those on the waiting list will be sent today.

All concerns have been relayed to the LA and hopefully the system will be clearer, fairer and better communicated for Spring term registration.

I hope you appreciate the situation the school has found itself put in and thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Kind regards,

Mr H Roberts