This is the letter that the CCI-99 organisation team sent to the parents of the children at the CCI. The aim of the letter is a major step in synchronising the expectations of the parents, child minders and organisers. It may give a bit of an insight behind the curtains of how we envisage child care being organised at workshops like the European CCI, McCoCo and other CornuCopia workshops.
Dear Parent
As members of the organising group we would like to clarify the principles on which we have set up child-care at Broomlee in August. We shall look forward to meeting you with the child-minders on Saturday evening at 6.30 in the children’s workshop room to discuss the arrangements. If, in the meantime, you have any queries about what we are proposing, please contact either of us by phone. Our telephone numbers appear at the end of this letter.
AIMS OF CHILD-MINDING AT THE WORKSHOP
1. That all the Co-Counsellors present can attend workshops in the knowledge that the children will be safe, happy and well looked after by the child minders during the child-minding hours.
2. That the child-minders will provide a balance between a supervised space for free play, and opportunities for structured play appropriate for the age group and inclinations of the children.
3. That the children will have a good time and enjoy their holiday.
4. That child-minding will be a co-operative exercise between the parents and their children, the child-minders and the workshop organisers.
CHILDREN'S TIMETABLE
Child care will operate during the morning and afternoon workshops, and the evening support groups, as follows: Morning 9.30 - 12.30 Afternoon 2.00 - 5.00 Evening 7.30 - 9.00 At all other times, the children are the responsibility of their parents - this includes mealtimes.
PARENTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO:
1. Collect and deliver their children at the beginning and end of each workshop promptly.
2. Attend the initial introductory meeting with the child-minders on Saturday evening 6.30 in the children’s workshop room to liaise with them about their children in order to avoid any foreseeable difficulties or problems, to view the play-space, to hear about the week's program and the structure of the day, and to inform them about any special or dietary needs. At this meeting we will also be asking you about the possibility of arranging an outdoor adventure activities afternoon at a charge of £8 per child; and organising a swimming or beach trip by minibus (also to be paid for separately once choices are made). Obviously whether these happen will depend on the response of parents.
3. Make use of the evening consultation time (6.30-7.00 p.m.) in the children workshop room with child-minders and the workshop organisers responsible for child care, to deal with any problems which arise during the day, and to provide an opportunity to share and resolve any issues as soon as possible.
Virginia Holt and JanPieter Hoogma