The Ferny Hills State School P&C Association is the approved provider for our Out of School Hours Care (OSCH). Our OSHC service is located on school grounds, providing care and supervision for children before and after school and during school holidays. The service is licensed to provide care for up to 130 students and is staffed by a dedicated team, with relevant childcare qualifications. Our service is trusted by many families, with more than a third of Ferny Hills State School students using the service several times a week and others less regularly.
Our OSHC service is located on school grounds, providing care and supervision for children before and after school and during school holidays. The service is licensed to provide care for up to 130 students and is staffed by a dedicated team, with relevant childcare qualifications. Our service is trusted by many families, with more than a third of Ferny Hills State School students using the service several times a week and others less regularly.
The Queensland Department of Education is the regulatory authority responsible for administering the National Quality Framework in Queensland. Our service has been assessed as meeting the requirements of this framework. Our Quality Improvement Plan (DOCX, 523KB) sets out the practices and areas we have identified for further improvement.
Operating hours
Before school care: 6.30am to 9.00am
After school care: 3pm to 6pm
Vacation care and pupil free school days: 6.30am to 6.00pm
View the term dates and pupil free days on the Education Queensland website.
The service does not operate on public holidays.
Our philosophy to care
As a family-centred service we believe:
- Children should experience freedom to play, explore and develop their sense of identity and community.
- Flexible routines support children to develop as confident and involved learners.
- Responsibilities offer children and adults opportunities to develop important life skills to build a sustainable future. Taking on responsibilities builds a strong sense of physical and emotional wellbeing, identity and citizenship.
- Respect underpins relationships and practices for all children and adults. We respect the role that families play and seek to build meaningful relationships with each family.
- Inclusion of all children and adults is valued and supported through care, empathy and respect regardless of background, beliefs or abilities. We believe that children have the right to have their individual and cultural identity recognised and respected. We value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their cultures as an important part of our nation’s history and seek to embed such cultures in our educational practices. We are committed to reconciliation.
- Equity for each child and adult helps develop a strong sense of identity and confidence.
- A fun, safe, relaxed environment promotes communication and connections to peers, staff and the broader community.
- We value ongoing learning and reflective practice as a way to inform and enrich the decisions made that continuously promote positive wellbeing, learning and developmental outcomes for children.
Our goals for children
- Children always come first and are attended to as a priority.
- Children feel safe and happy.
- Children have opportunities to explore and experiment.
- Children are able to learn new things.
- Children have freedom and choice.
- Children feel respected.
- Children learn to care about and appreciate others.
- Children feel empowered to make appropriate choices regarding their own safety.
- Children know who they can go to when they have a problem.
Our program
We provide varied and interesting recreational activities that develop each child’s social, emotional, lingual, physical, intellectual, social, creative and recreational potential and that are developmentally appropriate. The program (DOCX, 101KB) seeks to foster self-esteem and confidence in children by including their own ideas into the planning and providing experiences that encourage children to negotiate and cooperate in small groups.
The service is well resourced with many games, art and craft materials, sports equipment, books and toys and care is taken to plan engaging activities with the children each day. Whether it’s making loom bands, cooking scones, tending the herb garden, reading or playing cards, there’s an activity for everyone.
While activities are planned, children’s own sense of individuality is promoted by offering them choices as to how they spend their time and they are free to engage in their own play if they do not want to take part in planned activities.
Our centre is spoilt for space with a main play area, a kitchen and chill out area and a second large indoor playroom for free play. We also have a well-resourced playground suitable for prep children to year 6 children immediately outside the centre, visible from our main room. Our oval is also directly outside and supervised play on the oval is a regular activity.
We provide a screen and device-free service to encourage social and emotional interactions. TV is available to the children only after 5.30pm normal weekdays and Friday mornings.
During vacations our team puts together varied activities for the children that will stimulate them mentally and physically. Whether it’s doing tie dye, riding bikes or scooters, STEM activities or dancing, your child is certain to be entertained!
A copy of the program for each week is posted on the door to the office. We welcome input from children and families to the program so feel free to provide feedback.
Our team
Our team is what makes our service special. Over many years we have developed a strong team culture that means each team member is specially selected for their genuine care and passion for childcare.
Every staff member holds a current Blue Card, first aid qualification and relevant child care qualifications. All staff attend first aid training, fire safety, food safety and child protection training on an annual basis. Staff attend external training operated by industry professionals at regular intervals throughout the year and also receive in-service training, when required.
You can see our educators’ genuine interest and fondness for our kids by the way they take the time to welcome children by name, include them in games and look after them if they’re upset.
Photos of staff are on the wall in the OSHC room. All staff wear name badges to help you and your child/ren to easily identify them.
Coordinator:
Certificate 3, Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Children’s Services, completing an Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management
Assistant Coordinator:
Certificate 3 in Early Childhood Education and Care, completing diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care.
Who can attend
Care is available to primary school aged children from Prep to Year 6. Newly enrolled Prep students can start at the OSCH from the beginning of the calendar year they will attend school. This is a great way to familiarise them with the school, help them to develop relationships with children of all ages and make ongoing OSHC attendance smoother.
Completing year 6 students are able to attend the OSHC until the end of the calendar year in which they are finishing at school.
What we provide
We provide cereal, toast and yoghurt from 6.45am to 8.00am each day (with pancakes one day a week) and afternoon tea is ready for the kids when they finish class. Our menu meets the Smart Choices Strategy (PDF, 2.9MB).
Children are encouraged and assisted to make their own food. Fruit and vegetables are always available to children for snacks. Our educators will often take the opportunity make fresh items with the kids, such as pancakes and muffins–a fun and tasty learning experience!
We provide red broadbrimmed hats (for easy visibility), which are washed daily.
What you need to provide
Please send your child with sunscreen, which they need to be able to apply themselves.
Please send them dressed for school in the mornings.
Please ensure your child has a water bottle.
During holidays, please send them to vacation care in sun safe clothing (shirts with sleeves) and in closed-in shoes they are able to put on themselves.
We ask that children do not bring special toys or other possessions to OSHC as we cannot be responsible for them if they are damaged or lost.
All personal items should be clearly named.
Costs
Please contat the OSHC for our current fees.
Email: oshc@fhsspandc.online
Bookings
Permanent and casual bookings are available at the service. Once your child is enrolled these can be managed directly through the Childcare Now app. Please contact the service to commence the enrolment process.
Enrolment and payment
An enrolment form must be fully completed before your child starts at the OSHC. We encourage parents to meet with the OSHC Coordinator prior to your child starting at OSHC so that we can discuss any need your child may have and for you and your child to become familiar with the service and our expectations.
Payments are made via direct debit. We require payments to be 1 week in advance at all times. Statements are emailed weekly. Use this form (PDF, 226KB) to set up your direct debit.
Feedback and tours
We encourage children, parents and caregivers to ask questions and to provide feedback and suggestions. You are welcome to tour our OSHC at any time. Please contact us to arrange a visit.
Policies and procedures
Photographs
On occasion your child may be photographed participating in activities at Ferny Hills Outside School Hours Care for display at the service. The children take great pride in having their activities documented in this way. Photos may also be used on the school website and school newsletter.
Permissions for the use of these photos are included on the enrolment form. If photos are taken by a student educator who wants to conduct a child profile as part of their studies, parents will be consulted and be required to give written permission.
Confidentiality
All personal records will be stored securely and kept confidential. All information will be strictly limited to use by the service as outlined in the Information Handling (Privacy and Confidentiality) Policy. You may access your child’s personal records at any time if you are the authorised guardian who has enrolled the child. Please see the Coordinator about accessing these records.
Complaints
If you have concerns we encourage you to make an appointment with the OSHC Coordinator to discuss them. If you wish to speak to someone other than the Coordinator you can follow the Complaints Handling Policy outlined in the Policy and Procedure Manual. This ensures an opportunity for you to express any concerns you may have regarding the operation of the service in a suitable manner.