Outside School Hours Care

Our Outside School Hours Care setting is a collaborative environment where educators and children come together to learn, relax and play alongside one another. Our main focus is to create a recreational leisure environment for school-aged children promoting enjoyment, a sense of belonging and opportunities that are meaningful and support their wellbeing, learning and development through a free choice program. Children are provided with an educational program based on the individual and group interests, planned and unplanned experiences with high value put on time, space and the freedom of choice.

At Matthew Flinders Anglican College Outside School Hours Care, we strive to provide a setting that compliments the children’s learning, values and beliefs at home and within the school community. A place for children to feel connected, a strong sense of identity, a strong sense of wellbeing with the confidence to be involved activators of their own learning.

Matthew Flinders Anglican College OSHC has developed service goals based on the outcomes for children as outlined in the ‘My Time, Our Place’ Framework for School Age Care. Our goals are to encourage children to:

• Have a strong sense of identity
• Be connected with and contribute to their world
• Have a strong sense of wellbeing
• Be confident and involved learners
• Be effective communicators

The National Law and National regulations require our service to provide a program that is:

• Based on an approved learning framework – My Time Our Place Framework for School Age Care
• Delivered in accordance with that framework
• Based on the developmental needs, interests and experiences of each child
• Takes into account the individuality of each child

The aim of the framework is to extend and enrich the wellbeing and development of school-aged children. It acknowledges time and place as children engage in a range of play and leisure experiences.

The educational program should contribute to the following outcomes

• Children have a strong sense of identity
• Children are connected with and contribute to his or her world
• Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
• Children are confident and involved learners
• Children are effective communicators

Critical reflection and careful planning increase the value of children’s time in education and care by ensuring that the educational program and practice responds to children’s interests and scaffolds their learning. (NQS) In developing programs, the service recognises the basis of program aims to be recreation and leisure. The program and learning environments embrace “free choice” and “free play”.

For After School Care, the written program is a weekly program based on children’s interest, abilities, skills and play with documentation on children’s experiences and their responses to the learning environment. Our Vacation Care Program is planned in advance.  The educators and children are directly involved with this process through our Vacation Care Idea’s board at ASC, brainstorming sessions and planning meetings. Family suggestions are also encouraged.

The service is conveniently located in its own room next to the Primary School Tuckshop.

Bookings for After School Care can be made by phoning or emailing Primary Administration or After School Care direct at least the day before if possible, or in person during After School Care sessions.  Bookings for Vacation Care should be made as early as possible before the program begins. You can create permanent or casual bookings.

Permanent Bookings
As each new school year commences, permanent bookings for students requiring after school care (term-time only) must be re-submitted.

This is an annual booking process and previous bookings and use of the service are not carried over, or prioritised year to year. Bookings can only be made, and will only be accepted, from 8:00am Monday, one week prior to Vacation Care resuming in January of that year. For example, to book your child’s place at OSHC (term-time only) for the 2021 year, your annual booking will need to be submitted by Monday, 4 January, 2021. Bookings will not be accepted prior to this date or time.

Bookings are accepted on a ‘first in, first served’ basis. If a family misses out on the days they request, the family will be placed on a waiting list and alerted as soon as a place is available.

If you need to withdraw or change your child’s permanent booking, please provide notice at least 48 hours prior on a weekday. Notice received during weekends or school holiday closures cannot be processed and, as such, families will be charged for the day. Regardless of the situation, notice is always required if a child is not attending their set day at OSHC. If a child falls ill and a doctor’s certificate is provided, there will be no charge for the day in question.

Casual Bookings
Casual bookings can be made on an ad-hoc basis, subject to places being available on the given day. Notice of requirement of casual bookings is required as soon as possible (subject to availability). Cancellation of casual bookings must be made at least48 hours prior to the booking being required – no charge will occur if casual bookings are cancelled with 48 hours notice.

Parents can utilise a combination of both permanent and casual bookings. Preference will be given to placing permanent bookings over casual bookings.

OSHC Enrolment Form

Direct Debit Form

The April 2024 Vacation Care program is now available.

Click here to download the schedule and booking form.

CASUAL AFTER SCHOOL CARE BOOKINGS

Parents MUST telephone the College in advance of the After School Care session if their children are not to attend. To avoid any cancellation fees, parents are to provide at least 48 hours notice of any change in their booking by contacting the Co-ordinator on 5477 3257 directly or giving written or verbal notice to Primary Administration.

FOR VACATION CARE

To avoid any cancellation fees, parents are to provide 48 hours notice of any change in their booking for after school care. For vacation care excursions, a 48 hour cancellation period is also required due to confirmation of numbers at venues and to ensure correct staffing ratios are maintained when leaving College premises.

For cancellations, please contact the OSHC Co-ordinator on 5477 3257 directly or by giving written or verbal notice to Primary Administration.

Our Billing Process
The College is pleased to offer a compulsory Direct Debit payment arrangement specifically for OSHC. Bookings for OSHC will only be accepted if a Direct Debit Request – Authorisation Form has been completed and returned.

Direct Debit Payment of Fees
Direct Debit Payments are processed on a fortnightly basis from your nominated bank account. The Direct Debit Payment is processed on the Friday after the invoice is generated and emailed to you. Click here to download the Direct Debit Request – Authorisation Form.

Once a Direct Debit arrangement has been established for OSHC, the Direct Debit Request – Authorisation Form is only required to alter your bank account details or cancel the arrangement.