OSHC News
From the TheirCare Team
PRIORITY OF ACCESS POLICY
The Jackson School Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) Demonstration Program continues to grow, and it is great to see a huge interest in the program. However, the funding of the Department of Education and Training only permits a capped number of children to attend the program each day.
At Jackson School, we are at capacity daily for After School Care and the Holiday Program. To ensure that we create a system for bookings to be allocated fairly.
TheirCare has implemented the Australian Government's Priority of Access recommendations to ensure the bookings are allocated systematically and fairly.
The Priority of Access Guidelines can be accessed here:
Priority 1- a child at risk of serious abuse or neglect
Priority 2- a child of a single parent who satisfies, or of parents who both satisfy, the work, training, study test.
Priority 3- any other child
OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS CARE POLICIES
Minimum Stay Policy:
To fully utilise your booking and ensure your child receives the complete benefits of our After School Care program, a minimum attendance of forty-five minutes (45mins), from 3:00pm to 3:45pm, is required. In cases where early pick-up is necessary, please consider utilising the parent pick-up or Student with Disabilities Transport bus service options. Two instances of early pick-up (including same-day cancellations after 12:00pm) within a one-week attendance period will result in the cancellation of your booking for the subsequent week, allowing waitlisted children an opportunity to attend. Continued instances of early pick-up may prompt a review and reconsideration of your child's enrolment and booking by our OSHC management team.
Late/Non-Collection of Children Policy:
All children must be collected by an authorised person at the end of each session. While we understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, we expect parents/carers to notify the OSHC Coordinator at least thirty minutes (30 mins) before the scheduled late pick-up time. Two instances of late collection (1 minute past closing time – 6:00pm) will lead to the cancellation of your booking for the following week, allowing waitlisted children an opportunity to attend. In the event of non-collection and/or unavailability of parents/carers twenty-five minutes (25 mins) past closing time, our OSHC Management Team will report the matter to the Department of Families Fairness and Housing after-hours emergency hotline and the Police. The authorised agencies may decide to collect the child/ren. We will continue to follow established policies and procedures to ensure their safety.
Cancellation and Absences Policy:
Our permanent booking policy operates on an annual basis. If a child withdraws from the service within the calendar year, the vacancy will automatically be offered to children on the waitlist.
Parents/Carers must notify the school OSHC Program Manager or the Service Coordinator of any changes to their child's booking. A 48-hour notice period is required for cancellations.
Behaviour Guidance Policy:
Management and guidance of children’s behaviours are the most important part of providing quality programs. In accordance with the Child Safe Standards and the Behaviour Support Flow Chart, if a child persistently displays serious inappropriate behaviour (including minor and major behaviours of concerns such as disruption/distraction, physical aggression, bullying, property damage/destruction) after appropriate behaviour guidance procedures have been followed, parents and carers will be notified to collect their child/ren from the service. Each child has the right to attend a TheirCare program, however in some situations where the child’s behaviour continues to compromise the safety and wellbeing of other children and staff may result in a suspension for 2 days. In situations where this behaviour continues after the suspension, this may then result in exclusion from the program as the last resort.