OSHC News

What’s Been Happening at OSHC

The weeks are flying by. We have been very busy, reviewing our OSHC rules, cooking, building Lego towers, putting together our new tables, designing car tracks, building a box fort, celebrating Chinese New Year, creating Flextangles, and last week doing random acts of kindness.

Instead of focusing on just Valentine’s Day on the 14th February, over the last few years, OSHC has focussed on “Random Act Of Kindness Week” which falls around the same time. It is a week to encourage everyone to do kind acts to others, something that is never a bad thing.

Last week, we gave the challenge to the children and asked what could they as individuals do and the group as a whole? As a result, we saw many acts of kindness, such as writing Thank You cards to each other, helping each other, saying kind words to each other, looking out for anyone who was sitting on their own (at OSHC and at recess/lunchtime), as well as cooking and giving away biscuits at the Acquaintance night (it should be noted, that all of the biscuits were given away either on Acquaintance night, at pick up time after school, or to the teachers in the staff room, the children didn’t eat any of them!). We hope to see these random acts of kindness continue throughout the year, as it creates a wonderfully positive atmosphere.

April Vacation Care

Good news for our over 8’s these April holidays. We will be having a special ‘over 8’s’ group during the April holidays. Children who are over 8 will have a choice of joining the day’s activity as set out in our program, or participating in a separate over 8’s activity, based on their interests and ideas.

Last holidays the over 8’s had several discussions with staff about how and what this will look like, and we trialled having an over 8’s group. As a result of these constructive discussions and a successful trial, we are now looking forward to having an even more vibrant and interactive program. All of the over 8’s activities will be based on what they have suggested and asked for.

As with life, this extra privilege comes with extra responsibility. In order for this to be an ongoing part of our vacation care program, the over 8’s will also have to help plan for the July holidays, including things like ringing and booking excursions, helping to budget the activities and so on. Of course they will be assisted in these responsibilities by staff, but it will help them to understand what goes into organising events and give them some vital life skills along the way.

Did You Know?

That the National Standards reinforces children’s right to experience quality education and care in an environment that provides for their health and safety?

Quality Area 2 of the National Standards is all about health and safety. Not only is OSHC required to provide a healthy and safe environment, but we must also teach children about healthy lifestyles, including nutrition, physical fitness, emotions, social relationships and personal hygiene (such as handwashing and dental hygiene).

OSHC also encourages children to take increasing responsibility for themselves and promote a sense of independence. When a child says “Mum forgot to pack my drink bottle” or something similar, we will generally ask “Whose drink bottle is it?” followed by “Who forgot to pack your drink bottle?” The next day, the child has checked or packed their drink bottle themselves. If a child approaches us and says “I can’t open this?” we will respond with “Oh, ok” or “that’s a shame”, the child will be confused at first, but eventually either find another way of opening it, such as getting a pair of scissors, or asking for help. By having children take on responsibility for their own things, actions and problems, it encourages resilience and independence.

You will see other examples of this at OSHC in our menus, the way the room is set up, our chore chart, Tooth brushing area, step stools available for children, even in the way our craft cupboard is set up. All aimed at helping children become independent and responsible.

We also provide a safe environment for children to take on this independent role. Educators are there to support and guide children or gently prod/remind, such as each child is asked in the morning “Have you had breakfast? Have you brushed your teeth?” (Some cheeky children, will often answer “yes, yes”, before I have even asked the questions). Educators will talk about everyday foods and sometimes foods when the children give their menu ideas. All our educators are now expected to have a First Aid certificate (including Anaphylaxis and Asthma Management). We have policies and procedures in place to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of the children.

By setting up the environment this way and by teaching the children responsibility in their self-care, I am proud to say we have very few injuries and incidents. That doesn’t mean we get complacent, we are constantly looking for ways we can improve in this area.

We are currently reviewing Quality Area 2 – Children’s Health and Safety, so if you have any suggestions or feedback we would love to hear it.

If you would like to book for Before or After School Care, enquire about OSHC, or have a suggestion, please contact us on 0499 228 039 or email oshc.director286@schools.sa.edu

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