As we move into another phase in the fight against the spread of COVID-19/Corona Virus please be assured that we are taking every precaution to do all we can to ensure the safety and well-being of all our children and families we care for as well as ourselves and our own families. We are following the latest Government advice and going beyond these measures where we feel it is necessary.

We recognise how important it is that at this time parents are still able to access their normal childcare and to this end we were committed to keeping our clubs & services operational for as long as we could whilst we awaited what will inevitable be the next step leading to school closures.

These school closures were announced yesterday for Scottish schools which will close on Friday 20th March for an indefinite period, we will therefore be closing our service on Friday at 6pm for the foreseeable future.

In the meantime, we are maintaining the highest level of hygiene within our service and following strict protocol for hand washing as science tells us that this is critical in terms of stopping the spread of this virus.

In addition, we as you are aware also introducing new measures within our service relating to the signing in and out of children at collection time. From Monday 16th March parents were no longer be able to enter the service further than the main hallway at the front door. At collection time you will be met by a member of staff who will sign your child out on your behalf and your child will be brought to the door. We would also ask that you maintain the recommended social distancing guidance if there are other parents waiting. We will work as fast as we can so as not to cause unnecessary delay but we know that you will work with and support us on this in the best interests of all the children, staff and other parents.

One of my key duties along with our Board of Directors is to ensure that the finances of the business are managed responsibly so lastly I wish to share with you the implications that this will have on the payment of fees and the wider scale impact of operational closures. Beyond the end of April, I find it very difficult to predict what our situation will be. This will of course remain a critical area for Fun Lodge and throughout the coming days, weeks and months I will remain in touch with our Board of Directors on how the business is likely to be affected in the longer term.

We have set in motion a plan which will allow our staff to work from home, albeit in a very limited capacity, due to the school closures. They will use this time to undertake on-line training, reading & research of articles and publications which are relevant to their job role, activity and event planning for when we return to normal and updating their SSSC Portals to reflect training that they have undertaken which counts towards their CPD requirements as a registered worker.

Ross Taylor and myself will work from home if necessary and where good health allows and will be able to be contacted by phone or email to answer any questions you may have. We will also make use of our Closed Facebook Page and our website www.funlodge.co.uk to update parents and staff quickly and would therefore ask that if you are not already a member on this then to please consider doing so, even in the short term whilst we navigate our way through these times.

As well as our commitment to you as our service users we must support our staff by paying salaries where possible. April invoices will be suspended for the time being. Anything beyond this period will have to be revisited and will be very much dependant on the circumstance that prevail at that time.

My aim along with our Board of Directors is to preserve all that we have built up during the last 21 years here at Fun Lodge so that when we do return to normal the business is on a surefooted position. I hope that you can support us in this drive.

We will of course keep you fully informed if and when any further measures need to be taken into account or put into place but in the meantime I would simply ask that your bear with us whilst like the rest of us, we try to steer our way through the challenges that we currently face.

Please take care of yourself and each other and keep your loved ones safe.

Kindest regards

Susan Brown

Service Manager