Smiles of Quorn Ltd is an Out of School Club that is fully insured and Ofsted registered (URN: 2520112) , set up in response to a growing demand from working parents for a safe, happy, secure and stimulating childcare environment.

Our history

Smiles of Quorn was founded in 2018 by good friends and work colleagues, Rachel Marshall and Suzy Saddington, both of whom have many years experience working with children in a pre-school as well as a primary school setting and both hold a Level 3 qualification in the Early Years Educator along with Paediatric First aid, Enhanced DSB certificate, safeguarding and many other related qualifications for childcare. Since Suzy's departure from the business in 2021, Rachel has continued to lead Smiles of Quorn carrying forwards the same passion and ethos established when we first opened. Both Rachel and Suzy are very proud of the childcare setting that Smiles of Quorn has become.

Our location

Smiles of Quorn is based in the village, just a healthy walk away from St.Bartholomew’s Church of England Primary School, within the newly refurbished, modern and fantastic facilities at The Deep End, Rawlins Academy. Research shows that 4 out of 5 children are not getting enough exercise and at Smiles we see this walk to and from school as a great positive. Just a short walk like this can help improve your child’s mood, self-esteem and energy whilst keeping them healthy. We also note the importance of the children not feeling the club is a continuation of their school day, the change of setting helps welcome the children into the relaxed and safe environment where they can play and socialise. We also feel the lovely modern setting, with all it’s great outdoor facilities will benefit the children greatly .

What we offer

As a breakfast and after school club we follow the Playwork Principles, offering the children a free choice and independence whilst still providing a range of adult led activities. Children will have the opportunity to engage in a range of activities including arts and crafts, construction, small world play, sports, quiet areas, book clubs, board games, literacy and numeracy zones, karaoke, dance, yoga and mindfulness. Children also have access to outstanding outdoor facilities with courts, fields and a den building area. We are always taking on board children’s comments and any suggestions to ensure all children enjoy the activities we have to offer.

What we provide

At Smiles of Quorn, we understand the importance of healthy eating and therefore we provide a wide range of healthy and tasty breakfast and snacks for the children and always make fresh fruit, vegetables and salad available. We promote independence, by encouraging the children to prepare their own snacks, another fun activity for the children, and to clear away after themselves with the supervision and support of the team. Children are encouraged to sit and enjoy their breakfast or snack within a social environment at the snack table. We use fresh ingredients and follow statutory food hygiene guidelines, something that has been recognised by our achievement of a 5 star food hygiene rating at both of our previous inspections. We will always meet individual dietary requirements and parental preferences wherever possible.

Organisation

Smiles of Quorn is run as a private business, now solely owned and managed by Rachel. We enjoy a close working relationship with St.Bartholomew’s Church of England Primary School in order to ensure continuity of care and to maintain good communication links with your child’s education provider.

Our Awards and Recognitions

In 2021 we were inspected by Ofsted, achieving the highest possible outcome for out of school care providers and outstanding feedback. As we are registered to provide the snacks we offer, we were routinely inspected by Environmental Health in October 2019 and June 2021, when on both occasions we achieved a top food hygiene rating of 5. In 2022, after an expert review of all our safeguarding arrangements and successful submission of the SAFE risk assessment, we were officially awarded the the Safer Activities for Everyone 'SAFE Award' which recognises excellence in safeguarding. The Out-of-School Club Awards, or OSCAS (a shameless appropriation of the OSCARS), are a national award organised by Club Central that celebrates all that is brilliant about our sector. In 2023, Rachel Marshall was crowned Manager of the Year at these awards, a huge achievement! The judges said, “The winner of the Manager of the Year Award was selected because she is passionate about improving children’s experiences in life, she cares about the wellbeing of her staff and values feedback from external stakeholders.”

Our aims

We recognise each child as an individual with many diverse talents and skills. We want children to be truly happy and content in our setting so that you as their parent/carer feel confident that your child is well looked after and enjoys the club.