School management teams (SMTs) and school governing bodies (SGBs) need to optimise their resources and provide support to working parents. Through a programme that allows for continued education through play, a community can be created to meet the needs of children after school. This idea provides a compelling reason to outsource aftercare services to a professional company like Club Engage.
“We provide specialised expertise, enhanced facilities and a flexible programme for the children while alleviating the pressure on teachers and diminishing any administrative burden on them,” says Genevieve Allen, founder and CEO of the Club Engage franchise.
Club Engage conducted a survey at the schools where it operates aftercare and holiday care solutions and received an excellent response rate of 40%. Insights from the survey included that over 60% believe that the Club Engage model provides parents with value-added benefits as well as lowering the overall costs of running the services.
Of the respondents, a further 33.33% indicated that outsourcing the after-school and holiday care to a well-known company to manage the operational elements has been positive.
“By partnering with a professional aftercare and holiday care provider, the children are in a safe environment, where they will receive enriching experiences beyond the regular school day,” Allen adds.
Accountability and the Assurance of Quality
There are several reasons to consider partnering with a professional childcare provider with accountability and the assurance of quality being at the top of the list. Over 72% of respondents agree that Club Engage managing all the administration, financial, and parent-related duties as a part of the outsourced offering is a benefit.
Justin Choveaux, Executive Head of Schools, Pinnacle College Linden says: “We are most happy with the offering and service delivery of Club Engage.”
Professional childcare providers such as Club Engage have strict quality standards and regulations laid out in the agreement with their franchisees. The policies include child safety, staff training and a continuous evaluation of their programme. This ensures consistent service delivery and accountability to the school and parents giving them confidence in the care provided.
Seventy-five percent (75%) of the individuals who took the survey said they would recommend and have already recommended Club Engage as an after-school and holiday care provider.
No Strain on Resources and School Facilities
With already established programmes to enrich the children’s afternoons and ensure a good mix of relaxation and quality play, the school resources, such as teachers, can concentrate on the core learning requirements of the curriculum.
“I love the idea of learners working on themselves and having structured and unstructured play opportunities,” comments Amanda Coetzee, Principal at Fields College.
In addition, the school’s administrative teams do not have to allocate and manage staffing requirements, adhere to compliance, and manage parents’ communication and security procedures for collection.
“A positive from the survey, is that 78% of the schools responded that they receive minimal feedback from parents about Club Engage – parents tend to reach out to the Club Engage team directly, which means we are in direct contact with our clients,” Allen says.
When parents do provide feedback directly to the school regarding Club Engage services it appears to be positive.
Expertise, Customisation and Flexible Programme
Club Engage specialises in high-quality care and enrichment programmes tailored to the children in their care. The team bring expertise in managing diverse needs and engaging activities that complement the school’s mission and vision.
Club Engage can tailor the service and programme to fit the school’s schedule and the families’ needs. Whether homework assistance or themed activities, it can be done without placing stress on an already overburdened SMT.
“We are truly ecstatic about the positive comments we have received regarding our staff’s friendly and professional demeanour and we appreciate the overall good sentiments regarding what we offer from the various heads of schools and principals we share facilities with,” concludes Allen.
