By Mr Keane, Out of Hours Care Manager 

Playwork is “the specific act of affecting the whole environment with the deliberate intention of improving opportunities for play.”

Out of Hours Care is a playwork setting, designed to create an inviting child-led environment where children determine and control the content and intent of their play. 

This doesn’t mean that the children get to do whatever they want. Instead, the staff team promotes the children’s interests and supports their play while they are in the setting.

From as early as the 1800s, theories have been developed which demonstrate the vital role of play in a child’s development. This work continues to be explored and expanded upon to guide best practice in childcare. 

"Play is the highest level of child development. It is the spontaneous expression of thought and feeling… It promotes enjoyment, satisfaction, serenity, and constitutes the source of all that can benefit the child...  At this age, play is never trivial; it is serious and deeply significant." Friedrich Froebel.

In addition, there is also the practical aspect. We have a high volume of families who have relocated to Aberdeen for employment and often find themselves without a family support network nearby to help with childcare. Out of Hours Care can fill that void.

Children attending Robert Gordon’s College benefit from an incredible array of activities, both through the school curriculum and the vast co-curricular offering at the college. Life at Gordon’s can be hectic! However, it’s critical that we don’t forget the importance of play and relaxation in a child’s development.

Within Out of Hours Care, our role is to provide the children in the setting with as many opportunities for play as possible. This starts with having a diverse staff team with a range of experiences and play styles. The idea is that there should be at least one staff member with whom all children can relate to and connect. We provide the space and resources for children to choose from activities including quiet reading, craft, construction, role play, outdoor play, and more. Our spaces are designed with certain activities in mind, but children may use them differently. As playworkers, we adapt to their needs to maintain a child-led environment. This type of practice is based on the theory of Compound Flexibility, developed by Fraser Brown in 2003, and is key for children to develop confidence, awareness, resilience, imagination, and other important qualities.

The primary function of Out of Hours Care is to be a flexible and supportive partner for our busy families, which is why we strive to be as accommodating as possible. Families can register for set days each week or book ad hoc. However, it is not uncommon for us to be there for parents when a last minute work emergency prevents them from being able to collect at homeline, we will always do our best to accommodate.

Out of Hours Care is “Safe, Fun, Relaxing.” These three words capture the essence of what we want children and families to experience in our service. We are not just there to watch the children, every child comes with their own unique view of the world, and we want them to be able to explore and develop while they are in our care. Many children attend due to their parents’ commitments, but our goal is for children to want to come. A recent thank you card from a family described us as ‘aunts and uncles’ to their children. Knowing the level of positive impact we have is the most rewarding part of our work.