Spotlight on Radcliffe - Bubbles After-School Club

Reporter: Kevin Burke
Date online: 15 November 2010

Centuries ago, children in Radcliffe would live on the top floor of the factory they worked at, possibly hundreds of miles away from their parents.

Nowadays, parents in Radcliffe commute from Radcliffe into other towns in Manchester, and children play in school clubs.

Bubbles Before- and After-School Club was created to help this new demographic. Held in a mobile unit in the grounds of Wesley Methodist Primary School, the privately-run organisation gives children breakfast in the morning, takes them to local schools and nurseries, and gives them a healthy tea in the evening.

Kate Grobbelaar set up Bubbles in 2006. She had already worked in child care as a childminder and saw an after school club as the next step along the way. Some of the children she has looked after, she’s seen growing up, starting high school and getting spotty. “I think this is pretty special,” she said.

“Childrens health is well promoted,” their OFSTED report reads. “Each day they are allowed to help themselves to a selection of healthy food.”

Mrs Grobbelaar agrees with the importance held on healthy food. “We try to provide healthy options, but give children a choice,” she explained. Both brown and white bread and different fresh fruits are available for snacking, and the afternoon teas are always healthy.

“When we have a party, though, this goes out of the window,” she said.

These parties and ‘theme nights’ vary weekly, but every Thursday the children know something exciting is going to happen. Mexican nights, ‘I’m a Celebrity- Get Me Out Of Here’ nights, Guy Fawkes night, Halloween night and Christmas parties always prove exciting and entertaining. OFSTED say: “Each night they become engrossed in their play,” and it seems Mrs Grobbelaar puts an extra bit of effort in to make sure they always will.

“I’m always asking for feedback from parents and guardians,” she said. “I’m constantly talking to parents; most come in and have a chat when they pick up their children.”

“But I get a lot of feedback from the children as well,” she said. “There’s always room for improvement.”