SLOOSH Outside School Hours Care
Before & After School Care Hours:
(During School Terms)
Before School Care: 6.30am to 9.30am
After School Care 2.30pm to 6.30pm.
SLOOSH Pick up Bus Service:
As part of our OSHC Service, we provide transportation between our Service location and local primary schools.
The safety of children enrolled in our service is paramount. Educator to child ratios are strictly adhered to at all times. We undertake comprehensive risk assessments, ensure adequate supervision and ensure all attendance records are checked and maintained when children embark and disembark a vehicle.
Homework
We understand that many children may need to complete homework whilst in care. Our service offers a homework/tutoring program, where we support children by providing them with the space, staff support and resources to complete their homework. We provide tutoring services every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. If you would like your child to receive assistance with their homework or tutoring lessons, please notify us.
Routine & Meal Service
At Before & After School Care, we offer nourishing, tasty breakfast and afternoon tea options.
Our weekly menu is designed based on input from both educators and children, ensuring it meets everyone’s needs. This menu is displayed at our centre, and we encourage feedback and suggestions from children and families.
We strive to accommodate all dietary requirements and provide a variety of eating experiences for the children. We are a nut-free zone.
- Breakfast is served until 8 a.m., so children arriving after this time are expected to have already eaten.
- Afternoon tea is available at 4:30 p.m. Children picked up before 4:15 p.m. usually do not receive afternoon tea, but those collected between 4:15 and 4:30 p.m. will receive it to take away.
Our kitchen skills are top-notch, and we encourage children to participate in cooking activities, including cutting fruits and vegetables, whenever possible.
During Vacation Care, we offer four meals each day: breakfast, morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea.
Morning tea is available from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., with a mid-morning snack at 10:30 a.m. Lunch begins anytime between 12:30 p.m. and 1:00 p.m., and afternoon tea starts anytime between 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Meals may extend beyond these start times and times may vary depending on the day’s excursions and activities. Our menu, crafted with input from both educators and children, is displayed for children, staff, and parents to see.
Physical Play
Physical play includes activities that use physical movements to allow children and young people to use their energy, enhance their concentration, co-ordination, motivation, learning and wellbeing. We feel that physical play is a vital part of everyday life and is especially important in an Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) setting given the amount of time children have been non-active in the classroom throughout the day.
Our Service provides children with a wide range of both indoor and outdoor physically active play based learning experiences.
Excursions/Incursions
As part of our program, we will plan excursions within the local community and incursions at the Service. While these activities enhance the program, children’s learning experiences and involvement in the community, they are optional.
Special Events
Our Service organises special events throughout the year. We will communicate these to families in a timely manner. We encourage parent input in all aspects of these events. Some of these include fundraising, celebrations and information sessions.
Educational Program
We provide a range of both structured and non-structured play-based learning experiences that are designed to be are stimulating, challenging, inclusive and meet the needs and interests of all children and young people attending our Service. Children and young people’s learning in school age care settings complements their learning at home, school and in the community.
Our educators collaborate with children and young people to provide play and leisure opportunities that are meaningful and support their wellbeing, learning and development. Children and young people are provided with choices and control over their play, leisure, and learning.
Our educators consider children’s learning styles, abilities, interests, linguistic and cultural diversity and family circumstances when planning and implementing learning programs. We support and respect the history and backgrounds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and aim to foster each child’s sense of identity.
The development of our program is guided by the My Time, Our Place Framework for School Age Care in Australia and is informed through ongoing observations, evaluations and collaboration between educators, children, families, and relevant stakeholders. Our program format varies for before and after school care and during vacation periods.
My Time Our Place (Pdf)National Quality Framework
The Framework provides broad directions for school age care educators to ensure children and young people are supported, celebrated and connected to their community, taking account of their wellbeing, learning and development
7 Quality Areas
Quality Area 1 - Educational Program and Practice
Quality Area 2 - Childrens Health & Safety
Quality Area 3 - Physical Environment
Quality Area 4 - Staffing Arrangements
Quality Area 5 - Relationship with Children
Quality Area 6 - Collaborative Partnership with families and Communities
Quality Area 7 - Governance and Leadership
Quality Improvement Plan
The aim of a Quality Improvement Plan is to help providers self-assess their performance in delivering quality education and care and to plan future improvements.
National Quality Standards (NQS)
Sets a high National benchmark for early childhood education and care, and outside school hours care services in Australia.
