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Children attending school out of hours are being given a wealth of new experiences and opportunities.

Magna Carta Primary Academy has relaunched its breakfast and after-school club with the appointment of new manager Rebecca Pengelly.

The mum to two Magna Carta pupils is giving children opportunities to be creative, to use their imaginations and to learn before and after school at the clubs, now named Lionhearts.

She said: “I am creating a welcoming, fun environment focusing on children being creative. I am getting children to use their imaginations and ideas.

“We do a lot of artwork at the clubs, and it is there as an option. It is all there if children want to do it, but using their creativity is very important at this age.”

The club has dress-up costumes for children to role play, Lego to develop co-ordination and building, a colouring area and a quiet home corner with blankets and pillows for those wanting an after-school rest.

The sessions have an educational element and regular themes, including one week learning about pets and watching Andy’s Animal Adventures and another having a teddy bear’s picnic where they made their own hats and played party games.

While numbers at the breakfast and after-school clubs are growing, the school is keen for more parents to take the opportunity for their children to go along.

Headteacher Marios Solomonides said: “We have got great parents who do a lot for us. Rebecca is a parent and brings with her lots of customer service experience and people skills from her previous roles.

“Our breakfast and after-school clubs have been revamped. They are better than ever and have a well thought out offering. It is not a child-minding service, it is a place children want to come to.

“We considered outsourcing the clubs, but this way we are able to link the sessions to our curriculum and they become an extension of the school day. The team running the clubs are a part of our staff training and work to the same systems, so that brings its own security and peace of mind for children and parents as the standards are the same throughout.

“It is interesting and exciting for children.”

The breakfast club runs between 7.30am and 8.45am and the after-school club operates between 3pm and 6.30pm. Healthy meals are served during both sessions.