Why do we need O.S.C.A.R. programmes?
In New Zealand it is illegal to leave children under 14 years with making 'reasonable provision' for their care and supervision. A child's parent, guardian or other adult responsible at the time can be fined for breaking this law. If you are working or in training and do not have another adult at home to look after your children you may find that an Out of School Care And Recreation programme is the answer.
Good OSCAR services provide a safe, supervised environment for school children and opportunities to socialise and enjoy a variety of recreational activities.
What is Available?
Check the 'Programme Information' and see if there is a programme in or near your child's school. Call the contact number for availability and registration details and ask when would be a good time to visit.
How much does OSCAR cost?
Fees charged vary for each programme. The OSCAR Networks latest survey of programmes showed that for Before School there was an average fee of $5 per hour, After School also averaged $5 per hour with session rates ranging from $5 to $16, Holiday Programmes averaged opening hours of 8am - 5pm at $20. Some programmes offer a discount for 2nd and subsequent children from the same family.
If you are working or in training you may be eligible for an OSCAR subsidy through Work & Income, the rates range from $1.24 per hour per child to $3.61, depending on your income - check the website www.workingforfamilies.govt.nz or call 0800 774 004. In the Programme Details, look for 'Child Youth and Family Approved - Work & Income subsidies apply, this means that if you are eligible to apply for the subsidy, this programme is suitable.
What to look for
There are no mandatory legal requirements for programmes to meet any childcare regulations or standards of care. Some programmes however, choose to seek approval by Child, Youth & Family who have a set of minimum standards for OSCAR progammes. If a programme does not have CYFS Approval they may be using the OSCAR Minimum Standards as set down by the National Association OSCAR.
Don't be afraid to ask lots of questions. Following is a list of things to look for when you visit the programme before you enrol your child in Out of School Care. The programme should have written policies and procedures covering a variety of things, some of the main things to look for are:
Enrolment of Children - there should be a separate enrolment form for each child with relevant personal details, including emergency contact numbers and any special information affecting the child's care e.g. medical conditions. It should detail the parents responsibilities regarding informing staff on absenses, when the child is unwell, behaviour, rules etc as well as how this information will be used (Privacy).
Staff - All staff, paid and unpaid will have been screened and police vetted for their suitability to work with children - you won't be able to see this documentation but you can check the policies and procedures and ask if they were followed for all staff. The Supervisor should be experienced and trained to work with school-age children. At least 1 staff member on-site is trained in First Aid.
Discipline - should be positive and rules brief but fair. Punishment should be kept to a minimum and not be physical or humiliating. All rules and behaviour management should be clearly displayed and understood by the children.
Accidents & Emergencies - clear instructions on what to do, including what happens if a child does not arrive or goes missing. There should be regular fire drills. A record of all incidents should be kept.
Supervision - Children are supervised at all times. There are always at least 2 staff members present at all times. Adult:Child ratio is no more than 1:10 on-site and 1:8 on outings. Play areas are clearly defined and children are aware of the boundaries. There is clear procedure for informing staff when children are collected at the end of each session.
Facilities - There is an inside and outside play area. The inside includes spaces for quiet and active games. A telephone is easy accessible. Food preparation areas are clean and adequate. Toilet facilities are accessible, clean and adequate. There is a locked, well stocked first aid kit.
Activities - Children's activities are planned in advance (most programmes will have a basic timetable and a plan for the week up on the noticeboard). A variety of activities are available to provide choice for children of different ages, interests and energy levels. Equipment is safe and in good repair.
Different programmes have different 'styles' - use your judgement - are the children happy? Are the staff happy and energised? Are they having FUN!
And remember that once your child starts at an OSCAR programme you have obligations as well.
Make sure you have the contact number - always let the programme know if your child/ren will be absent.
When you pick up your child/ren - make sure you sign them out (this is a CYFS requirement)
Don't be late picking your child/ren up - hold ups happen occasionally (and the programme will have a late fee) but if it's a regular occurance the programme may cancel your childs place on the programme. Even with only 1 child left at the programme - 2 staff members must remain on-site and be paid for their time.
Most programmes are community, non-profit groups - run by parents, find out how you can do your bit to help out. This does not necessarily mean serving on the management committee but could be as small as collecting 'junk' for arts and crafts to running a fundraiser or selling raffle tickets.
Remember to change your details if they change - keep (especially) emergency and work numbers up-to-date. Keep the Supervisor informed about major changes in your child/rens life that may affect their behaviour.
