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OSHC Philosophy and Introduction

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2.1 Welcome2.2 Philosophy2.3 Government Regulations2.4 Child Protection Policy2.5 Behaviour Support and Management Policy2.6 Complaints Handling Policy2.7 Parent Conduct Policy

2.1 Welcome

Our Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) team is committed to providing exceptional care that supports, develops and encourages children through positive interactions and learning experiences in a holistic environment.

The National Quality Framework guides us for School Age Care - My Time Our Place for our school-age children and The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia, Belonging, Being & Becoming for our kindergarten children, in conjunction with the National Quality Standard for Early Childhood Education and Care and School Age Care.

Under the National Quality Framework, we have achieved the highest quality rating of "Excellent", awarded by ACECQA for a third consecutive time (2014, 2016 and 2019).

We look forward to building warm, caring and supportive relationships with all the children and will value the effective partnerships that we will build between our educators and families.

If you have any queries or concerns, please contact OSHC at 3826 3361.

Please note - the information contained in this booklet is in addition to the content contained within the JPC and Kindergarten Handbooks.

If you would like to download a copy of the OSHC Handbook, please click here.

2.2 Philosophy

Children are influenced by all who are around them.

'It takes a village to raise a Child.'

JPC OSHC aims to provide high-quality care for the JPC community by acknowledging the importance of play and leisure in children's learning and development. Learning is not limited to any particular time or place. OSHC supports the College's vision by providing:

  • A school-aged care service that has an understanding of the Convention on the rights of the child through respecting the dignity and integrity of children
  • A service that has a commitment to reconciliation and provides a learning environment for the children to gain a better understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture
  • A service that recognises the importance of continuous improvement by establishing and maintaining a culture of ongoing reflection and self-review
  • Children with the opportunity to interact and play in safe, nurturing, fun-filled surroundings, where mutual respect, tolerance and respect for diversity and the environment are encouraged
  • A caring, relaxed environment where children can make choices to participate in experiences relevant to their interests and needs
  • An environment that fosters open communication and secure, respectful and reciprocal relationships between children, parents and educators
  • A commitment to encouraging full participation of all children with a diverse range of needs.

The Program offers:

  • Engagement in meaningful real-life and life-like experiences which recognise the individual interests and needs of the children in our care, in a supportive and stimulating environment
  • A holistic approach in the enhancement of each child's social, emotional, physical, spiritual and cognitive development through play and leisure
  • Positive reinforcement and effective role modelling by qualified and experienced educators to encourage appropriate behaviour

JPC OSHC has several goals on which our service is based. These goals are based on the outcomes for children as outlined in the 'My Time, Our Place' Framework for school-age care and The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia - 'Belonging, Being & Becoming'. Our goals are to encourage children to:
  • Have a strong sense of identity - the service aims to teach children to demonstrate a capacity for self-regulation, negotiating and sharing behaviours by motivating and encouraging children to succeed when they are faced with challenges
  • Be connected with and contribute to their world - the service demonstrates awareness of connections, similarities and differences between people and how to react in positive ways by encouraging children to listen to others and to respect diverse perspectives
  • Have a strong sense of wellbeing - the service aims to teach children to show self-regulation and manage their emotions in ways that reflect the feeling and needs of others by offering care, understanding and respect for all children
  • Be confident and involved learners - the service aims to teach children to use reflective thinking to consider why things happen and what can be learnt from these experiences by encouraging children to communicate and make visible their ideas, theories, collaborate with children and model reasoning, predicting and reflecting processes and language
  • Be effective communicators - the service aims to teach children to convey and construct messages with purpose and confidence, including conflict resolution and following directions by modelling language and encouraging children to express themselves through language in various contexts and for a range of purposes, including leading and following directions.

At this service, the practice of educators and the relationships they form with children and families have a significant effect on children's involvement and success in learning. Children thrive when families, educators and the wider community work together to support children's wellbeing and learning.

At this service, families are:

  • Invited and encouraged to visit and become familiar with the service
  • Encouraged to talk with the Educators about the values and expectations they hold concerning their child's learning
  • Encouraged to share their understanding of their child's strengths, interests, abilities and needs.

Educators will assist families in developing and maintaining a routine for saying goodbye to their child if needed.

Educators will assist children who are distressed at separating from their family by comforting, closely observing and offering reassurance as necessary.

The Head of OSHC and the educators will be happy to share information with families about how their child is settling in.

2.3 Government Regulations

John Paul College Ltd is the Approved Provider of Outside School Hours Care and holds the legal responsibility for operating the service. The Department of Education regulates OSHC, Training and Employment, Early Childhood Education and Care, responsible for the Service Approval. Once it is assured that standards set under the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 and Regulations 2011 are being met. JPC Outside School Hours Care is approved to provide education and care for children from 36 months up to and including school children.

A Nominated Supervisor, approved as a suitable, fit and qualified person by the Regulatory Authority and appointed by the Approved Provider, is in charge of the day-to-day operations of the service. Staff information and rosters are displayed on the Parent Noticeboard.

Nominated SupervisorMiss Lindsay McQuattie

Educational LeaderMiss Lindsay McQuattie

ACECQA.jpg

Our service was assessed and awarded the Excellent Rating under the Australian Children's Education Care Quality Authority (ACECQA). We were the first OSHC service nationally to gain this ranking, and currently, we are the first and only service of any kind (Kindergarten, Child Care, OSHC) to receive it for the third time in Australia. This is the highest rating a service can be awarded and only be given if 'Exceeding' has already been achieved in all seven quality areas.

The address for The Department of Early Childhood Education and Care is:

South East Regional Office - Robina

340 Hope Island Road,
HOPE ISLAND QLD 4212
Phone: 07 56566688 Fax: 07 56566662

Postal: PO Box 492
OXENFORD QLD 4210
Email: DL - AdminSERECEC@det.qld.gov.au

2.4 Child Protection Policy (OSHC)

(Incorporating Reporting Guidelines / Directions For Handling Disclosures And Suspicions Of Harm)

As the Approved Provider for the Service, John Paul College Ltd recognises that the safety and wellbeing of children are of paramount importance. The ECS staff and volunteers are often well placed to identify and respond to significant concerns for a child's health and safety and or wellbeing.

The service actively works to provide all children with a safe and suitable environment. Suppose a child or relative discloses information of a nature that would lead the recipient to form a reasonable suspicion of harm or abuse. In that case, the service shall implement the reporting procedures contained within the John Paul College (Education and Care Services) Child Protection Policy to ensure that this information is managed appropriately and that all suspicions of harm are reported in accordance with relevant legislative requirements.

The Approved Provider, Nominated Supervisors, Educators (Mandatory Reporters) will be responsive to their mandatory legislative reporting obligations and policy directions to respond when required, to protect any child who they reasonably believe has been, or is being abused or neglected, or is at risk of abuse or neglect.

The service is governed by the John Paul College Education and Care Services Child Protection Policy.

( See Appendix 2, also available at https://policies.jpc.qld.edu.au/JPC-ECS-Child-Protection-Policy-and-Procedure ). The Head of OSHC will oversee adherence by staff and others to these protocols.

This policy also governs reports relating to prescribed matters that must be made to the Regulatory Authority, pursuant to the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011. This includes incidents where the Approved Provider reasonably believes that physical and/or sexual abuse of a child has occurred or is occurring while a child is cared for at an education and care service, or an allegation that sexual abuse of a child has occurred or is occurring while a child is being educated and cared for at a service. [National Regulation 175(2)(d) & (e)].

2.5 Behaviour Support and Management Policy (OSHC)

At OSHC, we establish an environment with the children that support their development in communicating and interacting with others. Our goal is to develop children's self-control and responsible behaviour and support them in their journey to face the challenges and obligations of living.

This service recognises the wide range of age groups that access School Age Care as well as the different developmental needs of individual children and the variety of diverse backgrounds in both School Age and Kindy Care.

Behaviour support and management strategies play a vital role in providing a safe and happy environment for all children. Families, staff and children all have roles to play.

The Behaviour Management Policy of the College is the basis of all procedures which are followed in this service. Information and support for staff relating to Behaviour Management can be found in staff Handbooks and is based on the College's Code of Conduct and Mission Statement. 'The Action Cycle and The 5' are the Behaviour Management posters displayed at OSHC.

2.6 Complaints Handling Policy (OSHC)

This service invites comments and complaints from children, parent/guardians, staff, and the community to ensure that the service fulfils the requirements outlined in its Policies and Procedures and other applicable requirements. The service respects and considers all complaints, which require a resolution, seriously and attempts to find a satisfactory resolution wherever possible. Parents and children will not be discriminated against or suffer any repercussions if they make a complaint.

2.7 Parent Conduct Policy (OSHC)

The service strives to provide a safe and healthy workplace for employees and a caring and supportive environment for children and families. The service expectation of parent conduct whilst attending the service is in line with the JPC Community Code of Conduct.