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What do you do when the school day has finished, but your working day hasn't? How do you keep your child busy during the holidays? The answer for many working parents of school aged children is Out of School Hours Care (OOSH). OOSH is supervised care and recreation for primary school-age children: • After school • During school holidays & on pupil - free days (vacation care)
Out Of School Hours care emphasises play, social interaction and recreation. Activities are organised in small and large groups, or children may choose quiet time by themselves (eg to read and do homework). Some typical activities include: • Art and craft • Cooking • Drama • Dance • Games • Music • Reading • Sport
BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CARE VOUCHERS
The Department of Education has announced that the Before and After School Care (BASC) Voucher program for $500 per child has re-opened for parent claims and will remain open until 31 January 2023. This extension will allow parents, particularly those with a child commencing kindergarten in 2023, an additional opportunity to claim and redeem a voucher for their child. Parents can claim a voucher via their Service NSW app on their smartphone or via the Service NSW website: https://www.service.nsw.gov.au/transaction/apply-basc-voucher Parents will have until 31 January 2023 to present them to Coonabarabran After School and Vacation Care for redemption. The credit on the voucher can then be used until 30 June 2023. If you would like to use your Voucher, please see the OOSH admin team or call Children Services on (02) 6849 2184 or OOSH on (02) 6849 2222
OOSH Philosophy
We aim to provide a safe, healthy and caring environment for school age children at an affordable price. We accept and value every child regardless of race, cultural background, religion, gender, or ability. We aim to be supportive to our parents and strive for open communication and good relations between parents, staff, children, management and the community. We believe that After School Care should be a fun and supportive environment where everyone feels welcome; where children are involved in the planning of what they do; where parents are involved in the issues that relate to them and their children. We believe leisure time experiences constructed by children and supported by informed educators promote children’s holistic learning. Play is a context for learning that allows for uniqueness, enhances dispositions such as curiosity and creativity and stimulates a sense of wellbeing. We work to provide a quality service through meeting the needs of the community and following the National Framework for school age care in Australia (My Time, Our Place). Coonabarabran OOSH community acknowledges and respects the traditional land owners past and present and future on which we play, learn and live.
New to Our Community
OOSH - For those of you that may not be aware, the OOSH stands for Out of School Hours childcare for school aged children from Kinder to year 6. Children from all primary schools are welcome to attend our service with transport available from both schools. We provide a safe, supervised caring environment from 3.15pm to 5.30pm. Children will be collected from school by our educators and then safely transported to their Centre on a local school, bus bus where they are provided with afternoon tea and then actively engaged in structured crafts, games and sporting activities, as well as having free play time with friends. If you would like your child or children to attend Community OOSH click on the following links to enroll: Click here to download an Enrolment Form
Coonabarabran After School Care (also knows as OOSH/Out Of School Hours) opearates five days a week from 3.00pm to 5.30pm during school terms. Children who are attending school in years K - 6 are cared for in a fun, safe environment by educators who implement a play based program on "My time, Our place" a national framework for school age care in Australia.
The service which began in 2012 operates at the Children's Services Centre at 14 Robertson Street, Coonabarabran. Children catch a school bus to the Centre.
Managed by Warrumbungle Shire Council, the office is located in the Robertson St campus, 14 Robertson Street, Coonabarabran.
The services is made affordable be the Department of Education and Communities through the Child Care Subsidy available to to families. The NSW State Department of Family and Community Services also provides sustainability funding.
Licencing and Monitoring for Quality Assurance is provided by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA).
VACATION CARE
An exciting program, including excursions, are planned for each school holidays and provided by experienced Diploma qualified Educators.
Families are eligible to claim the Child Care Subsidy (CCS) for the service which could reduce fees to as little as $20 per day.
Fruit and healthy food options will be available for morning and afternoon tea. Children will need to bring their own lunch.
April 2023
• Tuesday 11 April to Thursday 13 April 2023 • Tuesday 18 April to Thursday 20 April 2023
Click here to download Vacation Care Booking form 2023.
Children need to bring: • Small backpack for belongings. • Season-appropriate clothing, plus change of clothes for accidents if your child 6 years or under. • Wide brimmed hat to protect from the sun. • Lunch box with healthy lunch during Vacation Care • Drink bottle with water. • We permit parents to bring in bikes & scooters if children want to play on them. ALL BELONGINGS MUST BE CLEARLY LABELLED For further information, please read our Parent Handbook
Education and Care Fees 2022-2023
OOSH Fees are subsidised by Child Care Subsidy (CCS) which is a payment from the Australian Government to assist working families with the cost of child care. CCS assessment is based upon each family’s circumstances. In general you may qualify if you :- • care for a child 12 or younger who's not attending secondary school • use an approved child care service • meet the work/study activity test • be responsible for paying the child care fees • meet residency and immunisation requirement For further information please got to website https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/child-care-subsidy o Enrolment per child $33.50 Annual Enrolment Fee per child $33.50 o Early and Late fee per minute $1.00 o Deposit 2 weeks fees o After School Care Permanent booking per child per day $28.50 o After School Care Permanent Booking – additional family child per day $22.00 o After School Care Casual Booking per child per day $34.50 o After School Care Casual Booking – additional family child per day $32.50 o Bus Fee per child use – paid at end of Term $1.00 per child per trip o Vacation Care per child per day $91.00
The National Quality Standard (NQS) sets a high national benchmark for early childhood education and care and outside school hours care in Australia. The NQS includes 7 quality areas that are important outcomes for children. Coonabarabran After School & vacation care is assessed as meeting the National Quality Standards. We were last assessed on 09 October 2020. We have been scheduled for assessment and rating (A&R) against the National Quality Standard (NQS). An authorised officer will visit our service on the 14th July 2022.
Under the National Law and Regulations, services are required to base their educational program on an approved learning framework. We use this to focus on addressing the developmental needs, interests and experiences of each child, while taking into account individual differences.
The My Time, Our Place – Framework for School Age Care in Australia helps care services to develop opportunities for school aged children to participate in leisure and play-based activities that respond to their needs, interests and choices.
My Time, Our Place is part of the Australian Government's National Quality Framework which is about ensuring children receive a high standard of education and care.
It is one part of the picture that will help Australia realise the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) vision that will see 'all children have the best start in life to create a better future for themselves and for the nation'.
My Time, Our Place - Framework for School Age Care in Australia - Information for Families - Department of Education, Skills and Employment, Australian Government (dese.gov.au)COVID-19
Coonabarabran After School & Vacation Care are now seeking enrolment requests for 2023 for children aged 5-12 years.
After School Care, provides a service that will collect your child from their school and provide them with afternoon tea. They will have fun playing with other children and getting involved in exciting activities and have assistance with their homework before you collect them at the end of the day.
Vacation Care runs during school holidays 8:30am to 5:30pm and keeps your child busy, safe and entertained. Exciting activities are planned collaboratively by children and educators and include discos, creative days, sports days, STEM days, and lots more fun.
Our OOSH service meets government laws and regulations, so you can rest assured your child is in capable hands. We pride ourselves on creating a safe and happy environment for your child to flourish in.
For more information contact Children Services on (02) 6849 2222.
Last Updated: 09 Mar 2023