WALLSEND OOSH FAMILY HANDBOOK
7
WALLSEND OOSH FAMILY HANDBOOK Family Handbook Reviewed 09/09/18 Page 1 of 7 HOURS OF OPERATION Before School: 7am – 8:45am After School: 3:10pm – 6pm Vacation Care & Pupil Free Days: 7am – 6pm BEFORE, AFTER SCHOOL & VACATION CARE SERVICE Wallsend Public School Plattsburg Public School Elermore Vale Public School Wallsend South Public School ABOUT OUR CENTRE Wallsend Public School OOSH is a not for profit community organisation. Wallsend Public School OOSH is an incorporated entity in its own right, run by a volunteer Committee of users. If you wish to become involved in the Management Committee or attend Committee meetings, please see the Coordinator/ Nominated Supervisor. The centre is run by qualified staff/educators that have comprehensive experience and training in the child care field. Our centre operates with appropriate staff/educators to child ratios of 1:15 when at the centre and 1:8 when on excursions. All staff/educators are screened through the Working with Children’s Check from the New South Wales Commission for children and young people. From January 2012, Wallsend Public School OOSH became part of the Education and Care Services National Regulations. Our Quality Improvement Plan will be based on these regulations which include the National Standards and our school aged framework: My Time, Our Place. A.C.E.C.Q.A (Australian Children’s Education and Care Authority) will be responsible for the guiding of the National Quality Framework at the National level. We will be assessed according to the National Standards, consisting of 7 Quality Areas: 1. Educational Programme and Safety 2. Children’s Health and Safety 3. Physical Environment 4. Educator/staffing Arrangements 5. Relationships with children 6. Collaborative Partnerships with Families and 7. Leadership and Service Management Communities PHILOSOPHY We aim to provide a safe, healthy and caring environment for children at an affordable price. We aim to create a comfortable atmosphere that offers acceptance and support in an environment that nurtures the children’s development and values every child. We aim to provide activities to enhance children’s development, encourage individual interests and foster independence, where children have opportunities for self-expression, self-direction and self-discipline and play during their middle childhood years. We encourage parent involvement in all decisions. We aim to be supportive to our parents/guardians and strive for open communication and positive relationships between staff/educators, children, families, management, school staff and members of the local community. AIMS & OBJECTIVES The following is a list of our aims and objectives, which we have written in relation to the centre, the parents/guardians, the children, the staff/educators and the community. At Wallsend OOSH, we believe: • In RESPECT for ourselves, other people, their belongings and the environment • Individuals should take RESPONSIBILITY for their own behaviour • Individuals need to make SAFE choices
Transcript of WALLSEND OOSH FAMILY HANDBOOK
WALLSENDOOSHFAMILYHANDBOOK
FamilyHandbook Reviewed09/09/18 Page1of7
HOURSOFOPERATIONBeforeSchool:7am–8:45amAfterSchool:3:10pm–6pmVacationCare&PupilFreeDays:7am–6pm
BEFORE,AFTERSCHOOL&VACATIONCARESERVICEWallsendPublicSchoolPlattsburgPublicSchoolElermoreValePublicSchoolWallsendSouthPublicSchool
ABOUTOURCENTREWallsendPublicSchoolOOSHisanotforprofitcommunityorganisation.WallsendPublicSchoolOOSHisanincorporatedentityinitsownright,runbyavolunteerCommitteeofusers.IfyouwishtobecomeinvolvedintheManagementCommitteeorattendCommitteemeetings,pleaseseetheCoordinator/NominatedSupervisor.Thecentreisrunbyqualifiedstaff/educatorsthathavecomprehensiveexperienceandtraininginthechildcarefield.Ourcentreoperateswithappropriatestaff/educatorstochildratiosof1:15whenatthecentreand1:8whenonexcursions.Allstaff/educatorsarescreenedthroughtheWorkingwithChildren’sCheckfromtheNewSouthWalesCommissionforchildrenandyoungpeople.FromJanuary2012,WallsendPublicSchoolOOSHbecamepartoftheEducationandCareServicesNationalRegulations.OurQualityImprovementPlanwillbebasedontheseregulationswhichincludetheNationalStandardsandourschoolagedframework:MyTime,OurPlace.A.C.E.C.Q.A(AustralianChildren’sEducationandCareAuthority)willberesponsiblefortheguidingoftheNationalQualityFrameworkattheNationallevel.WewillbeassessedaccordingtotheNationalStandards,consistingof7QualityAreas:
1. EducationalProgrammeandSafety2. Children’sHealthandSafety3. PhysicalEnvironment4. Educator/staffingArrangements5. Relationshipswithchildren6. CollaborativePartnershipswithFamiliesand7. LeadershipandServiceManagementCommunities
PHILOSOPHY
Weaimtoprovideasafe,healthyandcaringenvironmentforchildrenatanaffordableprice.Weaimtocreateacomfortableatmospherethatoffersacceptanceandsupportinanenvironmentthatnurturesthe
children’sdevelopmentandvalueseverychild.Weaimtoprovideactivitiestoenhancechildren’sdevelopment,encourageindividualinterestsandfosterindependence,wherechildrenhaveopportunities
forself-expression,self-directionandself-disciplineandplayduringtheirmiddlechildhoodyears.Weencourageparentinvolvementinalldecisions.Weaimtobesupportivetoourparents/guardiansandstriveforopencommunicationandpositiverelationshipsbetweenstaff/educators,children,families,
management,schoolstaffandmembersofthelocalcommunity.AIMS&OBJECTIVESThefollowingisalistofouraimsandobjectives,whichwehavewritteninrelationtothecentre,theparents/guardians,thechildren,thestaff/educatorsandthecommunity.AtWallsendOOSH,webelieve:
• InRESPECTforourselves,otherpeople,theirbelongingsandtheenvironment• IndividualsshouldtakeRESPONSIBILITYfortheirownbehaviour• IndividualsneedtomakeSAFEchoices
WALLSENDOOSHFAMILYHANDBOOK
FamilyHandbook Reviewed09/09/18 Page2of7
CoreRulesforStudentsatWallsendPublicSchoolOOSH
EventhoughtheCentrerulesmaychangeduetostudentandparent/carersuggestions,belowisalistofthegeneralruleswhichapply:• Behavesafely,consideratelyandresponsibly,includingwhentravellingtoandfromOOSH• Showrespectatalltimesforstaff/educatorsandhelpers,includingfollowingOOSHrules,speaking
courteouslyandcooperatingwithinstructionsandactivities• Treatoneanotherwithdignityandrespect• Careforpropertybelongingtothemselves,theschoolandothers• Runningoutsideonly• Co-operatewithothers• Ballplayisforoutside• AlwaysstayinsideWallsendpublicschoolOOSHboundaries• Cleanupafteryourself• Careforothers• Obeyschoolrules• Nostandingonfurniture• Careforallequipment• Putlitterinbins• Nopersonaldevisesoftechnology• Alwaysuseyourmanners• Treatothersthewaythatyouwouldliketobetreated• ListentotheWallsendpublicschoolOOSHstaff/educators• Listentoandfindpersonwithemergencywhistle• Nohat,noplay• Havefun!
Theserulesencourageacaring,safe,inclusiveandwellmanagedenvironmentwheretheindividualisvaluedasapersonandhastheopportunitytobeactivelyinvolvedinthedecision-makingprocessesofthecentre.TheconsequencesforbreakingtherulesatWallsendOOSHwillbediscussedwithstudents.Staff/educatorswillfollowupallbehaviouralissuesbydiscussingthesituationwiththechildandworkingtogethertoproblemsolvebettersolutionsforfuture.Staff/educatorswillusearangeofwellbeingtechniquesincludingmodelling,redirection,positivereinforcementandrewardprograms.Staff/educatorswillensureparents/guardiansarepromptlyinformedofanybehaviouralconcernswhencollectingtheirchild.ThisisdoneusingaBehaviourReportwhichwillbesignedbytheCoordinator/NominatedSupervisororEducatorwhowitnessedthesituation.Informationcollectedwillbesavedandkeptforfuturereference.Whereachilddemonstratesconsistentunacceptablebehaviourstaff/educatorswill(inconsultationwithparents/guardiansandotherprofessionalsasrequired)willassess,planandimplementanindividualBehaviourManagementActivePlanwhichreflectsthechild’sneedsandabilities.Shouldunacceptablebehaviourcontinueandindividualstrategiesarenotworkingthestaff/educatorswillinformManagement.Managementinconsultationwiththestaff/educatorswilldiscusstheissue.Where,intheinterestofthechildandotherchildrenatthecentre,suspensionorexclusionisseenastheonlysteptobetaken,thiswillbedecidedbyManagement.
WALLSENDOOSHFAMILYHANDBOOK
FamilyHandbook Reviewed09/09/18 Page3of7
TheCentre:• toprovideacomfortableandsupportiveenvironmentforparents/guardians,staff/educatorsand
childrentostriveforopencommunicationandgoodrelationshipsbetweenallparties• toprovideasafeenvironment• toprovideacleanenvironment• toprovideaninclusiveandcaringenvironment• toprovideafriendlyandwelcomingenvironment• toprovidehighqualitycareforchildren• tohaveequipmentandfacilitiesthatissuitabletotheneedsandabilitiesoftheschool-agedchild• toencouragegoodnutritionthroughtheprovisionofnutritioussnacksandbymodellinghealthy
eatinghabitsTheParents/Guardians:
• toprovidefortheneedsofparents/guardianswhoareworking,lookingforwork,studyingorwhoneedcareonanoccasionalbasis
• toopenforhoursthatallowparents/guardianstotraveltoandfromthatplaceofemploymentorstudy
• tomakeparents/guardiansfeelwelcomeandvalued.Toacceptandvalueeveryparentregardlessofrace,culturalbackground,religion,sexorability
• tohelpthemfeelconfidentinthecentre’squalityofcarefortheirchild• tokeeptheminformedandupdatedinissuesrelatingtotheservice• toencourageparentinvolvementindecisionsonpolicyandprogrammingissues• toencouragefeedbackandinputfromparents/guardiansinrelationtotheprogram,policiesor
otherissuesrelatingtothecentre• toencourageopencommunicationbetweenparents/guardiansandthecentre• tomaintainpositiverelationshipsbetweenparents/guardians,staff/educatorsandmanagement• tomeetthecurrentneedsofparents/guardiansthroughcontinualupdateandreviewofrelative
issueTheChildren:
• toacceptandvalueeverychildregardlessofrace,culturalbackground,religion,sexorability• tomaintainpositivecommunicationandrelationshipsbetweenstaff/educatorsandchildren• toencourageindividualinterests• tofosterchildren’sindependenceandself-helpskills• toprovidechildrenwithopportunitiesforself-expressionandself-direction• toprovideanenvironmentthatwillfosterthechild’sselfesteem• tohelpchildrendevelopself-disciplineskillsthroughpositiveexampleanddirection• tohelpchildrenappreciateandcareforeachotherandtheirsurroundings• toencouragechildrentobeinvolvedintheplanning,implementationandevaluationofactivitiesin
thecentre• todevelopandimplementabalancedprogramthatisstimulating,interestingandexcitingwhich
allowsforopportunitiestoexploreanddevelopnewskills• todevelopamixedprogramthatisappropriatetothedevelopmentalandleisureneedsofall
individualsandreflectsthecentre’sculturaldiversity• toprovideaplaceforchildrentoplaywithfriends• toencouragechildrentoparticipateindecisionsaboutthecentre
WALLSENDOOSHFAMILYHANDBOOK
FamilyHandbook Reviewed09/09/18 Page4of7
TheCommunity:• toprovideforthechangingneedsofthelocalcommunity• tobesensitivetotheneedsofresidentsaroundthecentreinrelationtoparking,noiseandother
considerations• toensuretheculturaldiversityofourcommunityisvaluedandrespected• todeveloppositiverelationshipswiththeschool,localcouncilandgovernment• tomaintainopencommunicationbetweentheschool,neighboursandotherrelevantcommunity
groups• tokeeptherelevantgroupsinformedofanymajorchangeswithinthecentre• tokeepuptodatewithanycurrentissuesinthelocalarea• toparticipate,wherepossible,incommunityevents
TheStaff/Educators:
• tocreateanenthusiasticandpositiveatmosphereforthestaff/educatorswhichencouragespersonalinitiativeandco-operation
• tohelpdevelopmutualrespect,courtesyandunderstandingforall• toprovidesupportandassistancewhereneeded• toproviderelevanttraininganddevelopment• toensurestaff/educatorsareawareofallexpectationsandduties• toabidewithchildprotectionlaws–alleducatorsareamandatoryreporter
CENTREPROCEDURESPlacementOffers&PriorityofAccessThepriorityofaccessplaceswillbegivento:
• 1stpriority–arechildrenwhoareatriskofabuseorneglect.• 2ndpriority–arechildrenofworkforceparticipants,whereasingleparentorboth
parents/guardiansareemployed,seekingemploymentorstudying/trainingforfutureemployment.• 3rdpriority–arechildrenofparents/guardianswithacontinuingdisabilityorincapacity.• 4thpriority–arechildrenwithparents/guardiansathomeandsingleparents/guardians.
ShouldapriorityoneplacementberequiredonanygivendaywhichwouldexceedthenumberofchildrentheOOSHisapprovedtoprovidecareforchildrenstartingfromthelowestprioritygroupsonthosedayswouldbeaskedtoforegocareuntilotherarrangementscanbemade.ExtremeWeatherInthecaseofextremeweatherthechildrenwillbeisolatedinthehallortheschoollibrary.Forexample:extremehotweatherorflooding.SunSafeAllchildrenarerequiredtowearahateg.broadbrimmedwhenevertheyareoutsidethroughouttheschoolyear.AminimumSPF30+,broadspectrum,waterresistantsunscreenwillbemadeavailableinthecentreandstaff/educatorsandchildrenwillbeencouragedtoapplybeforeandduringexposuretothesun.PleaserefertoSunProtectionPolicyforfurtherdetails.SigningInandOutChildrenattendingBeforeSchoolCareshouldbesignedinbyaparent/guardianonarrival.Childrenarerequiredtogotoschoolafter8.45amandwillbesignedoutbyanOOSHeducator.Oncethechildrenare
WALLSENDOOSHFAMILYHANDBOOK
FamilyHandbook Reviewed09/09/18 Page5of7
droppedoffattheirschool(whereapplicable)andsignedout,thechildrenaretheninthecareoftheirrespectiveschools.Signinginandoutbyparents/guardiansneedstobedoneeverydayasthisisaRegulatoryrequirement.Thenotingoftimeofarrivalanddeparturemustalsobecompletedeachdayincludingasignature.Non-completionofthistaskcausesamarginoferrorinouremergencyevacuationprocedure.Signin/signoutbookgivesusanaccuratenumberofchildrentobeaccountedfor.SickChildren&AccidentsRefertotheCentre’sIncident,Injury,IllnessandTraumaPolicyandFirstAidAdministrationPolicy.WallsendOOSHpoliciesareavailabletoallparents/guardiansforviewandareavailableuponrequest.Ifforanyreasonachildbecomesdistressedparents/guardianswillbecontactedatthediscretionofstaff/educator’smemberseg.head/facial/spinalinjurieswillreceiveacall.Ifachildisunwellathome,theywillnotbepermittedtostayatWallsendOOSH.Childrenwhoappearunwell(lethargic,hasafeverover38oC,vomitsetc.)whenbeingsignedinbytheirparent/guardianwillnotbepermittedtobeleftatWallsendOOSH.Educators/Staffmayrequestadoctor’sclearancetoensureotherchildrenarenotexposedtoinfectiousdiseases.IfachildbecomesillwhilstatWallsendOOSH,theparentswillbecontactedtotakethechildhome.Wherethefamilyisunavailable,emergencycontactswillbecalledtoensurethechildisremovedfromWallsendOOSHpromptly.Ifachildisinjuredwithinthecentreorwhilstonanexcursion,staff/educatorswillofferfirstaidtopreventtheinjuryfromworseningandcontacttheparentsoremergencycontactswheretheaccidentisofaseriousnature.ParentswillbeaskedtosignanIncident,Injury,IllnessandTraumaReport.NewVaccinationLawsfromJanuary2014ThePublicHealthAmendment(VaccinationofChildrenAttendingChildCareFacilities)Act2013cameintoeffect1January2014andrequiresachild’simmunisationstatustobeprovidedtoaservicebeforeenrolment.Allfamilies(new&existing)needtoprovideevidencethattheirchildiseither:
• fullyvaccinatedfortheirage• hasamedicalreasonnottobevaccinated• hasaconscientiousobjection,includingreligiousbeliefs,tovaccination,or• isonarecognisedcatch-upscheduleiftheirchildhasfallenbehindwiththeirvaccinations.
Accreditation/RegistrationAccreditationbyACECQA.Mytime,Ourplace.StudentWellbeingPolicyThecentresPoliciesandProceduresareavailableuponrequest,pleaseseetheCoordinator/NominatedSupervisorifyouwouldliketoviewthesedocuments.WallsendPublicSchoolOOSHaimstoprovideasafe,supportiveandcaringenvironmentwhereallstudentsarefreefrombullying,harassment,discriminationandintimidation.Students,withstaff/educatorsdirectionareencouragedtobeinvolvedinthedevelopmentofpositivestrategiestoensurethewellbeingofallpersonsusingthecentre.Thesestrategieswillencouragestudentstodevelopthequalitiesofself-discipline,responsibilityandcourteousbehaviour.
WALLSENDOOSHFAMILYHANDBOOK
FamilyHandbook Reviewed09/09/18 Page6of7
InclusionSupportSubsidyOurprogrammaybeeligibletoreceiveanInclusionSupportSubsidy(ISS)whichcanassistwiththeinclusionofchildrenwithadditionalneeds.ForfurtherinformationconcerningISSpleasespeakwiththecentreCoordinator/NominatedSupervisor.HomeworkAquietspacewillbeprovidedtoencouragechildrentodotheirhomework.Staff/educatorsmayremindchildrenuponrequestofparents/guardiansorthechild’sinterest.Duetostaff/educatorsbeingrequiredtosuperviseallchildren,staff/educatorswillbeunabletooffereachchildindividualassistance.Staff/educatorswillnotforceormakehomeworktimecompulsoryforanychild.Thefocusoftheprogramisrecreation/leisureinasafe,funandsupervisedenvironment.PersonalItemsStaff/educatorsmayaskchildrentoputbackintheirbagsorhandincertaintoys/itemsshoulditbeatriskofbeingdamagedetc.WallsendOOSHtakesnoresponsibilityforbelongingswhicharelost,brokenorstolen.TechnologywhichisnotsuppliedbytheOOSHwillberequiredtobepassedtostaff/educatorsatthebeginningofthesessiontobeplacedinthesafelocatedintheofficeandreturnedtothechildattheendofthesession.FoodWallsendOOSHprovidesbreakfastandafternoonteaeveryday.Ourmenusvarywiththeseasonsbutalwaysincludeavarietyoffruitorvegetableseachday,andanoptionofahealthysnack.Thefoodprovidedisnotalwaystoeverychild’stasteandassuchparents/guardianshavetheoptionofsendingahealthysnackwiththechildtoallowforthis.Weeklymenusareondisplayatthecentre,acopyisalwaysavailableuponrequest.WallsendOOSHstaff/educatorswillendeavourtoprovideassistanceandsupporttoanychildwithadditionaldietaryrequirements.Parents/guardiansmustinformstaff/educatorsuponenrolmentaboutsuchrequirementsandprovideallnecessaryinformationwiththeenrolmentform.Discussionregardingafternoonteawillbemadeinconsultationwithparents/guardiansandstaff/educators.WherefoodrequirementscannotbemetbytheWallsendOOSH,parents/guardiansandstaff/educatorswilldevelopstrategiesthatwillensurethechildreceivesappropriatesnacks.WallsendOOSHwillalsoendeavourtomeetreligiousbeliefs,regardingfoodforindividualfamilies.CommunityAdversityWeadoptanattitudeofrespectforallfamiliesandstaff/educatorsregardlessofbackground,physicalcapabilityorculturaldiversity.Thisisencouragedbyfosteringhighself-esteemandapositiveself-conceptinchildrenbyexploringsimilaritiesratherthandifferences.Theprogramwillpresentpositiveexperiencesforthechildrenwhicharebasedongenderequity.Weaimtocreateanatmospherewhereallchildrenfeelcomfortable,secureandhappy.SmokeFreeZoneOurserviceisstrictlytobacco,drugandalcoholfree.Inordertokeepchildren,staff/educators,familiesandvisitorsfreefromthedangersofdrugs,alcohol,tobaccosmokeandothersmoke,includingillegalsubstancestheconsumptionofthesesubstancesisprohibitedinallareasoftheservice.Undernocircumstanceswillanypersonattendtheserviceiftheyareaffectedbyalcoholordrugs.
WALLSENDOOSHFAMILYHANDBOOK
FamilyHandbook Reviewed09/09/18 Page7of7
ParentCommunicationOurcentrerecognisestheimportanceofparentinvolvementwithintheprogram.Werealiseformanyworkingparents/guardianstimeislimitedandthereforeweaimtoprovideavarietyofopportunitiesforparents/guardianstoparticipateaccordingtotheiravailability.Someofthewaysinwhichyoucanbecomeinvolvedarebycompletingsurveys,attendingP&Ccommitteemeetings,socialfunctions,inputintoweeklyprograms/menus,policiesandproceduresandfundraising.Parents/guardianswillreceiveupdatedinformationalongwiththeirweeklystatement.ConfidentialityWallsendOOSHacknowledgesandfollowsconfidentialityguidelinesasoutlinedinlegislativerequirementsbytheDepartmentofCommunityServicesCentre-BasedandMobileChildCareServicesRegulation(No2)1996,TheAustralianEarlyChildhoodAssociation(AECA)CodeofEthicsandthePrivacyAct.GrievancesAllgrievancesshouldbedirectedtotheCoordinator/NominatedSupervisorandifnotsuitablyresolvedthenthegrievanceistobedirectedtotheOOSHConvener.ThiscanbedonebyputtingthegrievanceinwritingandhandedtotheCoordinator/NominatedSupervisorandaddressedto‘TheOOSHConvener’.ForseriousgrievancesboththeCoordinator/NominatedSupervisorandP&CExecutiveCommitteewillreviewthegrievanceandmakemutualrecommendationsfortheresolutionoftheissue.Atalltimes,WallsendOOSHiscommittedtothetimelyandpositiveresolutionofconcerns,complaintsandgrievances.
• WallsendOOSH:[email protected]• WallsendPublicSchoolP&CAssociation–ExecutiveCommittee:[email protected]
Ifyouneedtotakefurtheraction,contact: NSWOmbudsmanPh:1800451524Address:Level24,580GeorgeSt,Sydney,NSW2000FeesPleaserefertotheWallsendOOSH‘FeesPolicy’.Thispolicyoutlinesthecurrentfees,administrationfee,andproceduresforoverdueaccountsorlatecollectionofchildren,failuretonotifyandChildCareSubsidy(CCS)information.FeedbackProcedureFamiliesareencouragedtotalktocentrestaff/educators.ACommunicationbookisavailable,andallfamiliesareencouragedtowritefeedbackofthecentre,programandstaff/educators.Aquestionwillbeaskedeachweekhoweverifyouhaveanyfeedbackoutsidethequestionaskedforthatweek,youarewelcometoaddyourownonthesamesheetofpaperoremailusyoursuggestion.Wearehappytohearanyideasandconstructivecriticism.WallsendOOSHunderstandsandrespectsthateachfamilyisuniqueintheirculture,homelifeandcommunitywewouldliketosupportandcelebratethisbyincorporatingfamiliesintoourroutine,activitiesandlearning.
Welookforwardtohearingfromyou!
