Parent handbook

Patterson lakes primary

school

Before and after school

care
 GENERAL INFORMATION
Hours
Before school care 6.45-8.45 am
After school care 3.30-6.15 pm

Costs
Permanent Booking
BSC $11.25
ASC $13.50

Casual booking
BSC $12.25
ASC $4.50

Location

Patterson Lakes Primary School

Gladesville Boulevard
Patterson Lakes

BSC Room 23
ASC Room 23 and Library

Contact details
Coordinator: Ashlee Franks 0437983561
Email: Franks.ashlee.m@edumail.vic.gov.au
Web: www.pattersonlakesoshc.blogspot.com

Patterson Lakes Primary: 97724011

Web: www.patterson-lakes-ps.vic.edu.au

Education Department: 95896266

Outside School Hours Care Philosophy statement

Our aim is to provide quality recreational programs for primary aged
children. Our experienced and committed team recognises the importance
of middle childhood by providing a safe, stimulating and creative
environment where all children and their families are treated on an equal
basis, and are acknowledged and respected for their individual needs,
beliefs and ideas.

We will endeavor to:

• Create responsive and inclusive environments that meet the needs of
all families
• Recognise individual needs, interests and diversity of all children who
attend our programs and plan accordingly
• Provide a safe environment for children and staff where they feel
comfortable
• Encourage the development of new skills
• Seek support from the wider community in providing a right.

We value the importance of play to encourage, initiate and promote learning

Program Staff
Coordinator: Ashlee Franks

Casual staff members:

• Evelyn Neale • Anita White
• Nicole Large • Shane smith
• Matt Chambers • Nicole Boldiston
• Jake Macaulay • Belinda Solomon

No. of places Before Care 30

After school care 45
 Daily Routine
Before School Care
Children have free play in Before School Care. We always have activities set
up on the tables and it’s the children’s choice what they want to engage
themselves in.
Cereal is available between 7.15 and 7.50am. A hot breakfast is available at
8.00am each morning. Pack up time is 8.30am. Children are let out at
8.45am.

After School Care

3.30-4.00pm is snack time. This consists of healthy snacks that the staff
members have prepared earlier. 4.00-5.00pm is outside play (depending on
the whether). At this time they have free use of the schools sports
equipment. The areas in which they play are the two basketball courts and
the middle play ground. Sometimes they play on the year 6 adventure play
ground and the oval.
5.00pm the children all come inside where we have an organized art and
craft activity or a range of other toys and activities that are always available.

Free choice
activities:

•
• Reading • Pretend play
• Construction
• Water colour
paints
• Activity
sheets
• Colouring in • Dress ups
sheets • Games
• Outside play
• Lego
6.15pm the children have all been picked up.

Active after school care

The Active After-School Communities program is a national initiative that
provides primary school-aged children with access to free sport and other
structured physical activity programs in the after-school time slot of 3.00pm
to 5.30pm.

The program aims to engage children in sport and other structured physical
activities and, through a positive and fun experience, develop a love of sport
that inspires them to join a local sporting club.
If you would like to know more about the program log on to
www.ausport.gov.au/aasc

Dropping off and picking up children

When children are dropped off to Before School Care, they must be signed in
by whoever is dropping them off. This person must be over 18 years of age.

When you are picking your child up from afterschool care they must be
signed out by an adult (over 18 years of age) that is listed on their
enrolment form. If this is anyone different the coordinator must be notified
before this occurs and it must be submitted in hand writing.

Under no circumstances will a child be released without the child being

signed out by an authorised person.

Payment procedures
• Statements will be issued fortnightly on a Wednesday
• They will need to be collected in the alphabetical sorter near the sign
in/out sheet by the parent every second Wednesday
• Each account must be paid weekly or in advance.
• If payments are more then 2 month overdue, the child/ren may be
excluded from before and after care. Once the balance has been
settled the child may be able to return to the program (subject to
program availability). Fee’s then will need to be paid in advance of the
child attending.
 Enrolment procedures
• Parents are to complete and sign the appropriate and current
enrollment form
• Parents are to return the completed enrollment form directly to the
program supervisor or via the school office.
• Enrolment forms can only be accepted if all the enrolment details are
completed, including the two emergency contacts other then the
parents. In addition, any individual health plans must be provided to
meet the enrolment requirements. A minimum of two or more CRN
numbers must be on the form also, if you do not have a CRN for your
child and guardian, contact Centre Link or the Family Assistance
Office.
• If the program is full, the children’s details will be placed on a waiting
list and access will be based on priority of the access criteria.
• It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that all the details on the
enrollment form are kept current and up to date, including home, work
and emergency contact details.
• Parents who indicate that their child/ren suffer from asthma or any
other medical condition requiring regular medication must include a
current action plan which has been developed in consultation with a
general practitioner.
• For children who require the possible use of an epi-pen, it is
recommended that you supply an epi-pen to stay at the OSHC
program.

Priority of access

• First priority- Children at risk of serious abuse or neglect

• Second priority- Work-force participants where a single parent or
both parents are employed, seeking employment or studying/training
for future employment
• Third priority-other children

Casual bookings

• Intention to use the Before and/or Aftercare Program on a casual basis

is indicated by ticking the ‘casual’ box on the enrollment form
• Parents are to advise the program supervisor that a casual booking is
required, 24 hours in advance by calling and leaving a message on the
OSHC mobile phone or in person at the program
• Program supervisor is to assess if there is an available place in the
program when the booking request is received
• Casual bookings will not be accepted unless there is an available place
on the day care is required.
• 100% holding fee for any bookings

Permanent bookings
• Intention to use the Before and/or After School Care program on a
permanent basis is indicated by ticking the box/s on the enrollment
form that corresponds with the days care is required
• Changes to permanent bookings must be submitted in writing to the
program coordinator

Sun protection

• Whilst outside, staff and children must wear a hat during terms 1 and
4 at all times
• Each child is encouraged to bring a hat, clearly marked, which protects
the face, neck and ears
• If a child refuses to wear a hat, staff must make every effort to
encourage wearing head protection. A child that does not cooperate
will be restricted to an area that offers protection e.g./inside, veranda
or shaded area.

Behavior Management

• Children are required to adhere to the program rules supported by

positive guidelines and directed towards acceptable behavior with
encouragement freely given by staff
• Smacking and harsh punishment is prohibited by all staff
• Staff will use positive guidance i.e. direct a child to what they would
like them to do rather then what they shouldn’t be doing. E.g. “walk
inside” not “Don’t run inside”
• ‘Rethink’ time will be used to redirect more positive behavior
• A ‘Rethink’ form may be filled out by the child involved

Management of continual difficult behaviour

 • Staff shall monitor the child’s behaviour and make incident reports and
observation notes
• Staff will constantly administer the program rules and their
consequences
• Once a behaviour issue is identified, it will be discussed with parents.
Staff shall collect information to ascertain if there are similar problems
at home or school and what management techniques are used and
whether they are successful.
• Where possible staff and parents then formulate a plan of action to
address behaviour issues
• In the instance that various action plans are unsuccessful, suspension
of the child from the program may be implemented at the discretion of
the principal.
• If the action plans and suspension is unsuccessful in changing the
child’s behavior, termination of the child’s place will be considered by
principal.

The supervisor will advise the child’s parent in both verbal and written
documentation that provides the two week notice of the permanent
withdrawal of the care place with stated the reasons for the child’s removal
from the program.

Communication
Communication is a vital key to making your child’s time here, a good time,
at Patterson Lakes Primary school Outside School Hours Care. If you have
any suggestions please place them in our ‘suggestion box’ near the sign
in/out sheets, or see any of the staff. Our staff here at OSHC are always here
to listen to your concerns and suggestions.