Hours of operation
Before Care: 7:00am - 8:50am
After Care: 3:30pm - 6:00pm
Pupil Free Days: 7:00am - 6:00pm
Contact us
Email: [email protected]
Program phone: 0491 273 710
OUR PHILOSOPHY
At Newlands Out of School Hours Care, we provide high quality care for children before and
after school, and on pupil free days. Our service is licensed to care for up to 105 children each
session. We are proudly community-based, and meet each child’s need for care in a creative,
stimulating and safe environment. The best interests of children and families are of paramount
importance to our service.
At the forefront of our practices are the 5 outcomes for children as outlined in the “My Time,
Our Place” Framework for School Age Care. Our program is planned by qualified educators,
and takes into account each child’s interests, family and cultural background and stage of
development. We ensure that activities and routines assist in the social, emotional, creative
and physical development of these children. Planned arts and crafts, cooking, games and
sports activities run each day, with children invited to choose what they participate in. We also
have a range of materials for self directed play, exploration and relaxation.
Driving all aspects of the running of our service, our philosophy is to:
● Meet the needs and interests of each child.
● Value each child, their family and our staff members, and treat everyone with respect,
equity and fairness. This includes those from culturally and/or linguistically diverse
backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and those with a disability.
● Give all children opportunities to contribute, participate and feel a sense of belonging at
the service.
● Ensure new children have a smooth transition into the program.
● Present engaging activities and learning opportunities that a child may not have
experienced before.
● Use cultural and background information to enhance program routines, interactions and
experiences.
● Integrate diversity into the everyday running of the program without the use of
stereotyping.
● Educate our children using positive behaviour guidance and emphasise respect towards
others.
● Meet the needs of our local community and support our school.
OUR STAFF
Coordinator: Jill
Assistant Coordinator: Bede
Educators: Jody, Esther, Thalia
Qualified and enthusiastic casual team members also work each day.
At Newlands OSHC, staff are friendly and fun! All staff hold a current Working with Children
Check and have completed or are currently undertaking relevant childcare, teaching or
psychology studies. At least two staff members with current First Aid qualifications, Asthma
and Anaphylaxis Training and Food Handling qualifications are present at all times.
A minimum ratio of 1 educator for every 15 children is held at all times, in accordance with the
Education and Care Services National Regulations.
SESSIONS OF CARE
Before School Care
BSC is available from 7:00am Monday to Friday during the school term. Children must be
escorted into the OSHC space and signed in on the iPad by a parent or authorised contact.
Cereals and milk are available for breakfast each day. Twice each week we have an additional
breakfast option, such as wholemeal toast, scrambled eggs, yogurt, or breakfast jaffles.
Children are welcome to bring their own breakfast, but please avoid foods containing nuts due
to the high risk of anaphylaxis.
With calm, creative and energetic activity options each morning, we aim to provide a positive
start to the day and help each child feel ready to begin their day in the classroom.
After School Care
ASC is available until 6:00pm Monday to Friday during the school term. A typical schedule for
an ASC session includes:
3:25pm
Children in Foundation and Grade 1 are collected from their classrooms
and escorted to the OSHC space.
3:30pm
All other children make their own way to OSHC. They check the weekly
display board to find out about the day’s planned activities.
3:45pm
Roll call. This, along with afternoon tea, is completed outside except in
the case of poor weather. Staff will follow up any missing child as per the
procedure detailed below.
3:50pm
Afternoon tea is served. A fruit platter is served each day, along with anothe
filling and nutritious snack such as pasta with a tomato-based sauce, fried ric
or a platter of veggie sticks, crackers and dip.
4:15pm
Indoor and outdoor activities begin. Typically, there is an arts and crafts or
cooking activity, an outdoor experience and a construction or board game
activity each day. Children are free to choose how they spend their time.
5:30pm
Main activities are packed up and wind down games begin.
6:00pm
Service closes.
Pupil Free Day Care
Our OSHC service offers care from 7:00am-6:00pm on curriculum days. Emails will go out
before each curriculum day with information and instructions on how to book.
Vacation Care
Newlands OSHC recently partnered with the holiday program company TeamKids. TeamKids
are the legal provider of the service and are responsible for the administration, organisation
and staffing during the holidays. With a focus on FUN, a typical holiday program includes
themed days at school, incursions with special visitors or materials, and excursions to cinemas,
trampoline centres, zoos and more! Families will need to register through the TeamKids
website (https://www.teamkids.com.au) to be eligible to attend.
ENROLMENT PROCEDURE
How to Enrol:
● Head to the Outside School Hours Care section of the Newlands Primary School website.
● Look for the blue enrolment button, as shown below:
● Complete your Xplor enrolment form for Newlands OSHC. Handy hints:
○ If you already have a child attending Newlands OSHC, please use the same email
address and mobile number already associated with your account. This is essential
to prevent problems associated with duplicate accounts.
○ Fill the form out on a computer or laptop, not a mobile device. We recommend using
the Chrome browser.
○ Allow time to complete the form in one sitting.
○ Have your parent and child Centrelink Reference Numbers (CRNs) and your child’s
Vaccination Record (available through myGov) ready.
○ Any questions marked with an asterisk (*) are compulsory and you will not be able
to move forward without entering this information.
● Once we have received and finalised your enrolment, you’ll receive a ‘Welcome’ email from
Xplor. This email invites you to create your Xplor Home account (a necessity).
○ This app is for both parents/guardians of your child. You will each need separate
accounts.
● Download the Xplor Home app on your mobile device and follow the prompts to set up
your account.
Xplor Home
● To arrange a PERMANENT booking (see below), please email us at
and which days you would like. We will get back to you to confirm availability and will set
the booking up on our end.
● To request a CASUAL booking (see below), go to the ‘Bookings’ tab in your Home app.
Select ‘New’, and the date of the booking you’re requesting. In the comment box, type
whether you are requesting BEFORE, AFTER, or BOTH sessions. Once seen by the
Coordinator, you will receive a notification CONFIRMING or DECLINING the request
depending on availability.
● You will also use the Xplor Home app to:
○ Sign your child in and out using a contactless QR code or mobile and pin
○ View important messages from our centre
○ View your account statement at any time
○ View observations and photos of your child at play
○ Mark your child as absent
● You can also log in any time on the Parent Home web platform by going to
home.myxplor.com
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE
Children must be signed into Before School Care and out of After School Care each day by a
parent or other authorised contact person. To sign in/out, scan the QR Code with your Home
app, or enter your mobile phone number and PIN into the iPad and follow the prompts. Persons
under the age of 18 are not permitted to collect children from the service.
To support our children and their safe arrival please always remember to inform them in the
morning if they will be attending After School Care. Children are encouraged to wear an “I’m
going to OSHC today” bracelet to help remind them on days they attend.
We have a duty of care to all children at Newlands Primary School and child safety and
wellbeing is our first priority. It is your responsibility as the parent/guardian to mark your child
absent if they will not be attending. If any children have not arrived at ASC by 3:45pm, an
announcement will run over the P.A system, then parents/guardians will be contacted. Failure
to notify staff of absence is a child safety issue and will be taken very seriously. We will be
documenting these instances, and continued failure to notify staff of child absences may
jeopardise your ability to use the service.
To notify us of an absence please use the My family Lounge app. Click on the child, the session,
scroll down and click “Mark as absent”. DO NOT notify the school office or classroom teacher. If
you are unable to mark your child absent on the app please text us directly on 0491 273 710.
Please, no late emails regarding absences.
LATE COLLECTION OF CHILDREN
If you cannot arrive by 6:00pm to collect your child or will be sending someone in your place,
you must telephone staff to inform them of the late arrival/change. We ask for your cooperation
by collecting your child/children by 5:45pm. The following procedures will apply if you child is
not collected by 6:00pm:
If there is an emergency and you will be running late, parents must telephone the coordinator if
they will be arriving later than 6:00pm.
1. If your child is not collected on time, a fee of $1 per minute is applicable after 6:00pm;
this fee will be applied straight to your bill.
2. The Coordinator will make every attempt to contact the parents. If necessary, we’ll then
phone an emergency contact listed on your enrolment form.
3. The program’s first concern is for the wellbeing of the child. Therefore, in the
exceptional circumstances where a parent has not collected the child and cannot be
reached, the Department of Human Services or the police will be contacted.
4. Families who are habitually late or fail to inform us of their child’s absence from the
program may be asked to make alternative childcare arrangements.
PERMANENT vs CASUAL
When your child attends this service, they will all under one of two payment/ booking
categories:
Permanent
Is defined by your child attending the same days every week, for a term or more. Permanent
sessions will always be charged regardless of attendance. If your child is not attending a
session, you are still required to mark them absent on the app.
Casual
Is defined by your child using the service irregularly or attending extra one-off session in
addition to their permanent days. A casual session can be made via the My Family Lounge app.
Cancellation of sessions is also done via the app by marking them “absent”. If this is done by
5:30pm the night before (for Before Care) or 9:30am on the day (for After Care), payment will
not be necessary. However, late cancellations of a casual spot must be paid for in full.
Please note that places at the service are in high demand, and casual bookings may not always
be available.
CHILD CODE OF CONDUCT
To ensure Newlands OSHC remains a safe, stimulating and fun place to be, we have the
following behavioural expectations. Please read through these with your child and help them
to understand why these guidelines are in place.
● We always show kindness and respect to ourselves and others
● We are open to new ways of doing, thinking and being
● We care about everyone's wellbeing and safety
● We respect each other’s personal space
● We speak and play at an appropriate volume
● We listen when others are talking
● We walk inside and run outside
● We take care of our equipment and pack up after ourselves
● We listen to and follow the Educators’ instructions
● We go to the toilet in threes and ask an Educator first
● We only play in places where an Educator can see us
● We take pride in our program!
MEALTIMES
Children will be provided with a variety of cereals each morning and nutritious snacks in the
afternoons. The varying weekly menu is displayed at the entrance to the OSHC space. All food
is Halal and vegetarian. If your child suffers from any food allergies or intolerances, you MUST
notify staff both verbally and in your enrolment form, and we will make all reasonable efforts
to accommodate their needs.
ACCIDENTS, ILLNESS & INJURY
If your child is unwell, you must keep them home.
Children with infectious diseases will be excluded from the service until they are well enough
to attend again. This ensures the safety of all children, staff and families. The Coordinator will
consider re-inclusion of your child after you’re able to present medical clearance from a doctor.
If a child becomes unwell or seriously injured whilst at the service, the Coordinator will contact
a parent/guardian immediately. All staff are qualified to administer first aid, however if a
contact cannot be reached or it is necessary to seek immediate medical attention, an
ambulance will be called and the child will be taken to hospital. The cost of the ambulance and
all medical treatment is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
If your child is injured while at OSHC, we will complete a written report of the incident. You
will be contacted as soon as possible if this includes an injury to the head. Upon collection of
the child, you’ll be asked to read through the written report and provide your signature.
MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND MEDICATION
It is crucial that you inform us if your child has a medical condition, allergy or requires
medication. Our enrolment form provides an opportunity for you to share this information,
along with any medical management plans. It is your responsibility to communicate any
changes to your child’s medical status.
In the case that your child requires medication whilst in our care:
● Please supply the medication in its original packaging with the child’s name clearly
printed on the front (i.e. exactly how you receive it from the pharmacy). Medication
provided in any other way will not be administered.
● You will be asked to complete a written authority form, stating the drug, dosage,
method, dates and times to be administered.
● All medications will be administered by the Coordinator and witnessed by another
educator.
● For ongoing medications, it is your responsibility to continue to top-up our supply.
SUN SMART POLICY
We incorporate and enforce the “No Hat, No Play” policy. Children wear hats and sunscreen
while outdoors during terms 1 and 4. If a child does not have their hat, they will be required to
remain inside or in complete shade.
If your child cannot use regular sunscreen or requires a particular brand, please ensure this is
provided to staff or kept in your child’s bag with their name clearly printed.
CHILD CARE SUBSIDY
The Australian Government provides assistance with the cost of child care through the Child
Care Subsidy (CCS). Most families are eligible for some reduction in their fees, with the amount
varying based on individual employment and financial circumstances.
To apply, make a claim for the CCS through your MyGov account. Alternatively, contact the
Family Assistance Office on 136 150.
Please provide the individual Customer Reference Numbers (CRNs) for you (or the parent with
the CCS claim) and your child to ensure we can set everything up in our system. Once set up,
your fees will automatically be reduced.
Please note that your Child Care Subsidy claim will lapse if your child has not attended at least
once in the previous 26 weeks. To prevent this, we recommend booking your child in at least
once each term.
FEES AND PAYMENTS
Permanent bookings
$22.50 per session for Before Care and $25 per session for After Care (before CCS)
Casual bookings
$25 per session for Before Care and $30 per session for After Care (before CCS)
Accounts are issued weekly via email and payment is required within five working days.
Payment can be made to the school via bank transfer. You can find the school bank details on
the first page of your statement, on the school website. A late fee of $5 per week will be
applied to all overdue accounts. By signing and submitting an enrolment form, you are
agreeing to these terms and conditions.
Newlands Primary School Bank Details
BSB: 063-183
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 1002 3013
