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Guide to developing OSHCservice specifications

  • The School Principal is responsible for developing the OSHC service specifications.
  • The ‘steps to take when school governing council has endorsed the decision to outsource their out of school hours care service to a third party provider’ document MUST be read before completing these service specifications.
  • The service specifications will be inserted into theRequest for Quote document, which will be sent to the providers you select from the OSHC Panel of Approved Providers.Accordingly, it is essential the specifications accurately reflect what is important about school age care in your community and for your families.
  • The suggestions outlined in this document do not account for all potential servicerequirements and should be amended based on your schools particular needs. Any additional requirements should also beincorporated where necessary.
  • The outsourcing process can take up to 6 months to complete (this includes time required for regulatory approvals). You must ensure that the commencement date you nominate allows sufficient time for the process to be undertaken as follows:

School decision to proceed with outsourcing (around 1 month)

Outsourcing preparation and selection process (between 6 to 8 weeks)

Approval processes (at least 1.5 months and up to 3 months)

  • The school Principal must ensure the specifications do not provide an advantage or disadvantage to any potential tenderer and must complete and sign the probity statement as outlined below on school letterhead.
  • Please contact the OSHC Unit for any queries in relation to these specifications.

DECD OSHC Unit
Ph: (08) 8226 1580
Email: .

DECD Procurement Unit
Ph: (08) 8226 1610

School Name:
School Address:
Governing Council Name:
Governing Council ABN:
Governing Council Chairperson:
Project Manager’s Details:
(person responsible for facilitating the OSHC outsourcing process – MUST be the school Principal) / Name:
Position:Principal
Telephone: (08)
Fax: (08)
Email:

PROBITY STATEMENT
(must be provided separately to this document and be on school letterhead)

“These specifications were drafted and approved by the [insert name], School Principal.

In approving these specifications, I declare that these specifications are not biased, nor do they provide an advantage to one tenderer over another.”

Signed:...... MUST BE SIGNED

[School Principal]

Date: / /

OSHC SERVICE SPECIFICATIONS

The suggested OSHC service specifications outlined in this document do not account for all potential requirements and should be amended to suite your schools particular needs. Any additional requirements should also be added where relevant.
Information contained in green boxes are for instructional purposes only.
Information contained in square brackets should be amended to suit the schools requirements.
  1. BACKGROUND

1.1.[Insert school name] (“The School”) is a State co-educational school located at [insert address], [X] km from the CBD of Adelaide [expand to include relevant background information about the school].

1.2.The School is a category [X] school with an enrolment of [XX] students. The enrolment trends of the past few years have been steady.

1.3.The Schoolis culturally diverse with over [X] countries of birth represented among our population.

1.4.[School] has a very strong community focus and has strong parental involvement in the school.

1.5.Currently the students’ access an after school care program at [insert details]. Some families utilise the [insert details of current service utilised by school students] and others use the Vacation Care service at [insert details]. ORCurrently, the OSHC service is provided by [provide background to existing on-site service, if applicable]

  1. TERM OF AGREEMENT

2.1The Term of the Agreement will be for a one year period, with an option to extend for a further two year term at the Minister and Governing Council’s discretion.

2.2The OSHC Provider must commence operating the service on-site on [dd/mm/yy NOTE: consult with the OHSC unit regarding commencement date].

2.3Participation in an orientation and handover program prior to the OSHC Provider commencing will be negotiated.

  1. OSHC PREMISES

  • You MUST attach a site map and individual building plans, showing square meterage as follows:
  • Highlighted site plan showing shared (highlight green) and dedicated spaces (highlight pink)
  • Highlighted building plans(s) showing shared (highlight green) and dedicated spaces (highlight pink).
  • If your school is already providing on on-site OSHC service, your OSHC Director should have suitable maps of the Premises.
  • If you don’t have an on-site service or don’t have maps, please obtain SAMIS site/building and use a highlighter to highlight the relevant areas on the map. Maps for PPP/ super schools can be obtained fromDECD Building Management on Ph:8226 6738.
  • The DECD OSHC Unit can provide assistance with determining the OSHC areas to ensure they meet regulatory requirements, and with determining the square meterage of the areas involved.
  • Care should be taken to ensure you don’t provide exclusive access to spaces that may be, or may be in future, shared with another organisation (i.e. activity hall/gym for karate/sports lessons).

3.1A map of the School is attached as Attachment 2 and delineates the shared and dedicated OSHC space.

3.2The OSHC Provider will be granted:

3.3Exclusive access during OSHC operation hours to [building X room X and building X room X (highlighted pink on the map)EXPAND IF NECESSARY]

3.4Access during OSHC operation hours to the shared common areas [building x room x – expand if necessary (highlighted in green on the map)].

3.5The date the OSHC premises is available for occupation is [dd/mm/yy].

3.6Inspection of the OSHC premiseson [dd/mm/yy]can be arranged by emailing [school principal] on [insert email]

  1. INDICATIVE UTILITY COSTS

4.1The OSHC Provider will be responsible for paying a proportion of the utilities.

4.2Indicative utilities charge based on past usage is as follows, however this will vary depending on usage:

  • [$X] per year/month for electricity
  • [$X] per year/month for gas.
  1. OVERVIEW OF THE REQUIRED SERVICES

1.1The OSHC Provider will be required to provide an on-site Out of school hours care service primarily for children attending [school name].

1.2The OSHC program is required to operate every week of the year with the exception of weekends, public holidays and Christmas/New Year’s weeks.

1.3Hours of operation are as follows:

Before School Care (BSC) / After School Care (ASC) / Vacation Care (VC) / Early School Finish (ESF)
([x] per year) / Pupil Free Days (PFD)
([x] per year)
[X:XX] am to
[X:XX] am / [X:XX] pm to
[X:XX] pm / [X:XX] am to
[X:XX] pm / [X:XX] pm to
[X:XX] pm / [X:XX] am to
[X:XX] pm
  1. UTILISATION OF THE OSHC SERVICE

2.1Anticipated utilisation of the service is as follows:

Current approved CCB Places / Average Utilisation
Term x/ Vac care period / Average Utilisation
Term x/ Vac care period / Average Utilisation
Term x/ Vac care period / Average Utilisation
Term x/ Vac care period
Before School Care
After School Care
Vacation Care
Early School Finish
Pupil Free Days

The estimated average utilisation figures above are based on average attendance for the last four terms/ vacation careorThe estimated average utilisation figures above are based on [expand – i.e. survey undertaken by school]

NOTE: the average utilisation is a daily average not a weekly average.

The average utilisation abovehas/has notincurred a 20% reduction.

2.2The OSHC Provider must review the CCB allocation regularly to assist with adequate places should the school increase in number and demand for OSHC and Vacation Care increase both internally and externally.

2.3Places are to be filled using the Australian Government priority of access guidelines.

2.4The Minister and Governing Council provide no guarantee on the number of children utilising the service.

  1. OSHC PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

3.1Before School Care

3.1.1Breakfast must be offered before 8am and discretionary after 8am.

3.1.2Reception/year one school students are to be accompanied to class by an educator.

3.2After School Care

3.2.1Reception/year one school students are to be collected for OSHC.

3.2.2The Providermust offer a ASC program that includes:

a)Homework / quiet area;

b)Afternoon tea;

c)Late snack;

d)Outdoor play / gym;

e)Indoor activities e.g. craft, board games, drawing.

3.2.3Children should be encouraged to participate in the planning of all programs that meets the children’s needs and interests.

3.2.4The OSHC program should incorporate external specialised programs offered through the school, e.g. Art classes, Active After School.

3.2.5The use of electronic games/ television / computer time should be limited and used only when children have exhausted all other active activities, the exception being inclement weather.

3.3Vacation Care

3.3.1[X]days in every 5 is to be an “out” activity day i.e. – an externally arranged off-site excursion. Please note that incursions are considered to be an “in” day.

3.3.2The structure of the Vacation Care program should be consistent with programs provided by the service in the past. Copies of previous Vacation Care programs can be obtained from the School.

3.3.3At least one day per week of Vacation Care children should be involved in the preparation of food.

3.3.4Afternoon tea to be provided on all Vacation Care days.

3.4Food

3.4.1All food provided must comply with the DECD Right Bite Healthy Eating Policy. A copy of the policy is available at

3.4.2All meals are to be prepared and cooked on the school premises.

3.4.3Afternoon tea should include a fresh fruit and vegetable platter followed by a nutritious snack.

3.4.4Drinking water is accessible to children at all times.

3.4.5A menu must be displayed and updated weekly.

3.4.6Any allergies or special diets must be on the enrolment form. Families are required to provide the service with health care plans containing a current photo of child.

3.5Animals

3.5.1Animals / pets currently residing in the OSHC area are to be retained and cared for by the staff and children and replaced when necessary.Remove if no OSHC pets.

3.5.2The [insert details of school pets] need to be cared for during Vacation Care.

3.5.3The OSHC Advisory Committee to be notified if the Provider intends to introduce additional animals to the school environment.

  1. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF THE SCHOOL

4.1The Provider’s policies and procedures should be consistent with the school’s policies and procedures.

4.2The schoolpolicies and procedures are available to view on the school website [insert link to schools website]

  1. CHILD: EDUCATOR RATIO

5.1Educator to child ratios for excursions must be based upon the OSHC Providerundertaking a detailed risk assessment from which they formulate an appropriate ratio (in line with the requirements of the Education and Care Services National Law 2010).

5.2Preschool age children are permitted to attend all services provided by OSHC (specific ratios are required in line with the Education and Care Services National Law 2010).

5.3When vacant places are filled, priority must be given to school children over children who have not started school. The service is encouraged to provide care to children with high support needs and disabilities as per the Australian Government Child Care Handbook.

  1. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE OSHC SERVICE

The aims and objectives must be amended to suit your particular schools requirements. If your school doesn’t have specific aims or objectives, you may outline the schools vision or mission statement (or similar).

6.1Aims:

  • To offer the community a fun, caring and secure environment which caters for the social, emotional, physical, cultural and developmental needs of children.
  • To provide a diverse range of programmed and self-initiated pursuits, where students can interact with peers of varying ages, backgrounds and ability levels, in an atmosphere where children feel comfortable to relax and unwind.
  • In accordance with the school’s values, to offer children structured and spontaneous recreational experiences to learn and grow so they develop into happy and confident individuals.
  • To create and maintain the highest quality service of care and to further the social, emotional and interpersonal development of students; and to foster a supportive environment where students feel safe and happy.

6.2Objectives:

  • Create opportunities for positive social interaction;
  • Create quality and diversified recreation and leisure activities that engage all children;
  • Create opportunities for children to achieve together;
  • Create a service of integrity and security for all children, families and employees involved;
  • Provide optimum duty of care;
  • Work collaboratively to meet the needs of all children, including children with disabilities and/or challenging behaviours.
  1. RENTAL FEE

The School must set the rental figure if they choose to change rent.

7.1For-profit OSHC Providers will be required to pay a [monthly/quarterly/yearly] rental fee of [$X]

7.2Not-for-profit OSHC Providers will not be charged a rental fee, in accordance with DECD Community Use of Facilities guidelines.

  1. PERSONNEL AND WORK ALLOCATION

8.1The OSHCProvider must have mechanisms in place to manage the provision of all services in the event of loss or absent staff.

  1. TRANSITION ARRANGEMENTS – SCHOOL GOVERNING COUNCIL OSHC EMPLOYEES

9.1Continuity of staff is important to [school name].

9.2The Governing Council, in consultation with existing employee(s), has indicated a preference that employee(s) be retained by the successful OSHC Provider and entitlements either paid out by the outgoing OSHC provider or transferred to the incoming OSHC provider in accordance with the transfer of business provisions under the Fair Work Act 2009.

9.3The OSHC Provider must outline in their response if they are prepared to transfer the accrued entitlements (length of service, personal and recreation leave etc.) of such staff to their organisation on the receipt of the monetary value of those entitlements from the School Governing Council.

9.4The OSHC Providermust provide details (including methodology) on how they would determine which employees they would offer employment to, in the event that there were more employees than they would require.

  1. OSHC SERVICE ASSETS

10.1The Governing Council’s owns the following assets which they are willing to sell to the successful OSHC Provider:

10.1.1[insert description of assets and associated serial numbers if applicable/available]

  1. OSHC RESOURCES

11.1The School is willing to provide [insert details of resources].

11.2The OSHC Provider must make provision for and purchase all other required up set up equipment.

Last updated May 20161