FAQs

Our Management Committee is comprised of the School Principal, the OSHC Director, a member of the school’s Governing Council and parent/caretakers. The Management Committee meets at least once a term to discuss operational issues. The Governing Council member reports all relevant issues to the Governing Council.

West Beach OSHC Centre is administered by West Beach Primary School Governing Council and an OSHC Advisory Committee which reports to Governing Council. The Advisory Committee comprises of parents of the OSHC children, Management of the School, the OSHC Director, and Assistant Director. Management liaison persons’ contact details are available from the Director.

All OSHC services are the responsibility of the Director. A designated qualified assistant is responsible when the Director is unavailable. Our service ensures that the following staff-to-child ratio requirements are met in accordance with the Licensing and Standards set by the Department of Education and Children’s Services:

1:15 (Home based, ie “at school”)
1:10 (Excursion)

‘Little Kids’ OSHC is based in the main building of the School in a dedicated room accessible from the main court area. ‘Big Kids’ OSHC takes place in the school’s hall where the space is transformed with comfortable seating, activities and space for afternoon tea.

Both Little and Big Kids also make use of the school’s hall, the library, hard-court areas, oval and various playgrounds.

The OSHC program is accessible to all children inclusive of their physical, social, intellectual, cultural, or religious needs provided its facilities are suitable and can accommodate their needs. Since the West Beach Primary School OSHC service is provided within the school grounds, it caters for children from Reception to Year 6 who have enrolled for the service. Numbers are in accordance with approved OSHC places for our school.

Families seeking places must first contact the Director to assess availability and obtain an enrolment form. All special needs (including diet and medical), interests, custody issues and contact details should be addressed on this form. The enrolment form must be submitted prior to the child/ren attending the service. It is your responsibility to inform us of any changes to any details and to immediately amend the enrolment details.

Our OSHC Service uses the CCS, which is a national child care system that brings all approved childcare services online. We use this software to record child enrolment and attendance information.

Parents/Guardians wishing to claim Child Care Subsidy must provide the Enrolling Parent’s CRN Number, date of birth together with the Child’s CRN Number and date of birth to our service. Families who have enquiries regarding their eligibility and entitlements for CCS or who require a Customer Reference Number (CRN) should visit a Family Assistance Office (FAO) or telephone 13 6150.

Under CCMS parents/guardians will continue to deal with the FAO for all their CCB payments. Parents/Guardians are still required to advise the FAO about any changes to their situation such as changes to income or a child commencing school.

Parents/guardians over the age of 18 years must sign their child/ren in and out of the programme each day using the HubHello QR code located on the door outside. This is a legal requirement for DEEWR and CCMS purposes and must be adhered to at all times.

Only the person identified on the child’s enrolment form is authorized to collect a child. If these details should change, the OSHC staff must be notified in advance. If a person unknown to the OSHC staff is collecting for the first time, then they will be asked to provide identification.

Mornings
If your child is attending Before School Care, they must also be signed in. You cannot drop your child and leave them to walk to the service alone.

Afternoons
When collecting your child in the afternoon, you are required to sign them out using the HubHello QR code. Children must be collected before 6.00pm and failure to do so will result in a late fee charge.

Children cannot be accepted into the program until the Medical and Enrolment Forms are completed. Information about medical conditions, health problems, additional needs and medications must be provided to ensure that we are able to provide appropriate care for your children.

It is the responsibility of parents to notify the Director of any relevant or important information relating to the care, collection or supervision of their children.

West Beach OSHC staff require a written health care plan from your child’s doctor/treating health professional to plan for special needs. Health care plans are used for Asthma, Epilepsy, Anaphylaxis, and Diabetes etc.

If your child requires medication, a permission to administer medication form must be signed by the doctor before medication can be administered by the OSHC staff or self-administered by a child over 8 years of age.

All medication must be supplied in the original container with the pharmacy label and the child’s name clearly marked on the container. Children are not permitted to carry medication in their bags and must give all medication to a staff member. This medication will then be stored in a locked cupboard until children are collected.

Our OSHC is licensed by the Department of Education and Children’s Services under the new National Quality Framework. Our registration is displayed on the wall.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

The objectives of the National Quality Framework are to:

• ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of children attending OSHC
• improve the educational and developmental outcomes for children attending OSHC
• promote continuous improvement by providing quality education and care in OSHC
• be part of a national system of administration within the National Quality Framework

The National Quality Framework includes:

• A national legislative framework of the OSHC Education & Care Services (“National Law”)
• The Education and Care Services National Regulations (“National Regulations”)
• A National Quality Standard consisting of 7 Quality Areas:
• Educational Program
• Children’s health and safety
• Physical environment
• Staffing arrangements
• Relationships with children
• Collaborative partnerships with families and communities
• Leadership and service management
• A national quality rating and assessment process

If an accident happens to your child, an attempt will be made to contact you immediately. Therefore it is very important that West Beach OSHC has current contact details (home, work & mobile) of yourself or other people whom you nominate when you are not available. This information is requested upon enrolment. Please notify us of any changes during the year.

In the case of serious accidents, an ambulance will be called immediately.

If your child is sick or unwell please keep them home and notify OSHC of their absence (the school will not do this for you).

A fee will not be charged if a sick notice is given.

My Time, Our Place – Framework for School Age Care in Australia is part of the Council of Australian Government’s reform agenda for childhood education and care and is a key component of the Australian Government’s National Quality Framework for childhood education and care. It is incorporated in the National Quality Standard to ensure delivery of nationally consistent and quality school age care across sectors and jurisdictions.

The Framework ensures that children in school age care have opportunities to engage in leisure and play-based experiences which are responsive to the needs, interests, and choices of the children attending the service and contribute fully to their ongoing development.

Our programming attempts to accommodate both individual and group needs, taking into account children’s social, emotional, intellectual, creative, and physical development. While we promote free choice by offering a range of play opportunities, we also actively encourage participation in organised activities.

Programmed activities will be offered each day, in addition to spontaneous activities. These will include: art & craft, indoor games, outdoor games, cooking, group games and a variety of sports. Children and parents/caregivers are invited to share and contribute any ideas or suggestions they may have.

We also communicate our learning outcomes using a floor book. This book is located by the main entrance and is available at all times for parents and children to look through. We also provide parents and families the opportunities to see what their children are doing at our service through photos on our closed Facebook page.

At West Beach OSHC the management of children’s behaviour is essential for the provision of a safe, interesting, relaxed and happy environment for all children. Behaviours are neither good nor bad. They are more or less appropriate given the situation. Appropriateness is determined by their affect on the rights and responsibilities of others. Students who are allowed to continue behaving in ways that interfere with learning and recreational activities of others is not having their long-term social and educational needs met.

Students and parents agree to:

Treat other children and staff with respect
Respect OSHC equipment and environment
Use acceptable language
Follows staff instructions
Be good role models

Staff agree to:

Always listen and respect all children
Have exciting and interesting excursions and activities to do
Use acceptable language
Ensure the safety of all children at OSHC
Be good role models

Please refer to our Behaviour Management Policy. This is located for families upon request.

It is our aim for our service to address any grievances or complaints promptly, and in a manner that is professional and equitable to all parties concerned.

Any issues should be raised with the staff member in question, should this fail to resolve the issue then please approach the director. If this is still unresolved it will be referred to the management committee and governing council and school principal to deal with any further action.

To meet our aim, staff will adhere to the following procedures.

Procedure:

• Parents and staff are encouraged to address minor concerns with the director as they arise, so they can be dealt with as soon as possible.
• If the grievance or complaint is of more serious nature, parents and staff are encouraged to discuss this with the director so they are informed of the actions taken and the outcome of that action.
• If parents and staff are still not satisfied with the action taken and the outcome, they can contact the principal. The principal can address their concern and decide on a course of action, which will resolve their grievance.
• All user of the service are encouraged to give feedback, as if their is a problem that we are unaware of, we cannot address it and prevent it from happening again.

To view any of the West Beach Primary School OSHC policies and procedures, please contact us in person or via phone or email.