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AFTER SCHOOL CARE

OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS CARE

PHILOSOPHY
Maple Street Primary School Outside School Hours Care program's aim is to provide high quality After School Care based on the children's interests. We understand children are not all the same and each deserves a full range of developmentally appropriate experiences, free of stereotypes or limits based on gender and race.  A safe, happy, comfortable and stimulating environment is created for all children to play and thrive in.
Through our observations and planning we provide a program to encourage children's growth in all areas of development; physical, social, emotional, language and intellectual.
The program respects the diversity of families and works in partnership with them to provide optimum care. We recognise the need for a true partnership with parents and are responsive to individual and collective parents' needs, requests and concerns about the care and education of their children.

HOURS OF OPERATION
Before School Care: 7:30am - 8:45am
After School Care: 3:15pm - 6:00pm
Extended Care: 1:30pm - 6:00pm
Curriculum Day: 8:30am - 6:00pm

WHAT IS OSHC?
OSHC is a form of childcare available to all parents of primary school aged children. You do not have to be working to access care, you may be studying, looking for work or need respite care.

PROGRAM GOALS
Provide activities that encourage the children to practice consolidate and expand their physical skills.
Provide activities that encourage social interactions across age groups and gender groups.
Provide activities that promote emotional development, taking responsibility for their own belongings and actions and making decisions from choices of activities on offer.
Provide good role models for communication, encouraging the children to express themselves in an appropriate manner.
Provide an environment that promotes creativity, with the use of colour, posters, books and ideas for activities.
Provide experiences that cater for each child's cultural, social and family structure.
Provide a comfortable, clean and safe environment that encourages the children to take care of themselves and their belongings.
Provide time and space for rest and relaxation.
Provide a FUN Program.

WHAT DO WE DO DURING THE PROGRAM?
3:15 - The roll is taken to ensure all booked children are present
3:30 - Children can relax, do homework, read. And we will discuss what is planned for the night.
3:45 - Afternoon tea is provided, usually fruit, vegetables, fresh muffins etc (depending on the season)
4:15 - Begin activities. These vary daily and can include art and craft, outdoor games, musical activities, videos etc.
5:30 - Children pack up activities and play quiet games.

INCLUSION OF FAMILIES
Maple Street Primary School Outside School Hours Care Program welcomes the input of all Parents/Guardians to our program. If any Parents/Guardians wish to contribute to our programming ideas, please speak to the Coordinator.

SUN SMART POLICY
Maple Street Primary School is a Sun Smart school, therefore;
No hat = No Play
This policy is applicable from the beginning of September until the end of April.

BOOKING IN/ CONTACT NUMBERS
OSHC Mobile: 0448 544 342
Both regular and casual use is available for students of the school. An enrolment form is required for each child attending. Enrolment forms are available from the office or the OSHC Room and the School Office. Please take your time over completing this form and ensure that all relevant information and phone numbers are up to date.
Any changes in family circumstances, including contact details, must be notified to the OSHC staff immediately.
Levels of priority apply when filling any vacant places (see OSHC Policy document). We are registered for 30 places; Parents/Guardians are able to make a booking by calling one the above mobile (leave a message outside OSHC operating times).
Please feel free to contact the Coordinator to arrange a meeting if you have any concerns about your child attending OSHC, e.g. health or social issues.

LOCATION
OSHC is situated in Room 7. Children make their way to Room 7 as soon as they are dismissed from their classrooms, where they are signed in by a staff member.
OSHC routinely uses other areas of the school such as the computer room and the playgrounds for activities, so you may need to collect your children from these areas after first signing them out in Room 7.

ACCIDENTS and ILLNESS
The enrolment form contains a medical consent form. In addition, contact will be made with familles about children who become ill or injured during a session in order to arrange an early pick-up if necessary. Available emergency contacts are essential.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE PROCEDURES
Children make there own way to Room 7 as soon as they are dismissed from their classrooms. Children with bicycles should collect them from the bike shed and walk them to Room 7 and park them in the hallway.
Children are checked and signed in by a staff member after initial roll call.
Children may only be collected by their parents or other authorised persons. If your child is to be picked up by someone other than a parent or guardian, written permission from the parent is required. Collection of the children will be from the OSHC room unless otherwise advised.
Please note that siblings (or teenagers) cannot collect children unless they are over 16 years of age.
Children must be signed out on the roll sheet which is positioned on the table by the door. It is the parent's responsibility to collect their child from other areas.

FEES
Before School care: $8.00
After School Care: $10.00
Extended Care (1.30pm - 6.00pm) $12.00
Curriculum Day: $30.00

Some families will be available for Child Care Benefit (calculated on parent earning) which can reduce the cost of care.
To register for Child Care Benefit you should contact the Family Assistance Office at the local Centrelink office or on phone 136 150.
Maple Street Primary School's OSHC Customer Reference Number (CRN) is: 407 250 509V. You will be required to quote this when registering.
Cancellation of a booking must be made by 1:00pm on the day of intended use. Failure to notify us of cancellation will result in you being charged the normal session fee. This fee will be reduced by your Child Care Benefit.
LATE FEE: Failure to collect your child by 6.00pm will incur a $1.00 per minute fee. This fee is not reduced by Child Care benefit.

PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS
You will be invoiced each fortnight for the gap amount, after Child Care Benefit is deducted. Invoices will either be handed to you or sent by post. Payment is expected within a week of issue of the account. And can be made to the school office during business hours: cash, cheque and EFTPOS facilities are available.
Failure to pay an account by the due date may mean that future access to the program is denied until settlement is made.
No outstanding fees can be present at the end of the school year.
You are also able to claim 30% of your out of pocket expenses (gap amount) on your Tax at the end of each financial year but not until the year after, so it is important to keep a copy of your invoices which also keeps a record of all your payments.

BAD DEBT
In the case of "Bad Debt" (i.e. those who have significantly overdue accounts) the following procedure will be implemented:
Coordinator will send a reminder for an immediate response
Telephone call from the school will be made
A final notice will be sent
Children will not be accepted back into the program until all outstanding accounts are settled
Credit system may be revoked, upfront payments requested for future care
If families find themselves in financial difficulty at any time, please contact the Coordinator and suitable arrangements can be made during this time.

CONCERNS, COMPLAINTS AND QUERIES
If during the program you have any queries, concerns or complaints about particular activities, outings or staffing then we urge you to contact the Coordinator, Bek Peters or Principal, Helen Dyer.