The Before and After School Care (BASC) service for Pennant Hills Public School is located on the K-2 site in Bellthorn Cottage – next to the lower oval. We are right near the cul-de-sac of Malahide and Leith Road’s. The children often refer to our centre as ‘BASC’.
Since its establishment by parents in 1990, PHBASC has witnessed significant growth. More than 360 children are enrolled in our not-for-profit organisation which is managed by a volunteer Management Committee made up of parents that utilise the service.
PHBASC has a full time Director, three Assistant Coordinators and four Senior Educators to run the service. The Educators at the service have a mixture of academic qualifications and endeavour to have all trained up with accredited child protection training and First Aid.
PHBASC is proud to have a rating of Exceeding the National Quality Standard, a rating that less than 17% of OSHC centres have in NSW.
Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) is more than you think. OSHC has a Framework developed by the Department, My Time Our Place, that has been designed to extend and enrich children’s wellbeing and development in OSHC settings.
The OSHC Framework recognises the importance of social and emotional development and communication in learning through play and leisure. OSHC Educators collaborate with children to provide play and leisure opportunities that are meaningful to children and support their wellbeing, learning and development.
To find out more information about Pennant Hills BASC, please read on below or visit our website at:
Care Provided
Pennant Hills Before and After School Care (PHBASC) offers places only to Pennant Hills Public School students, needing care:
Before School
After School
Pupil Free Days / School Development Days
Vacation Care (except Dec/Jan holidays – only open one week before school returns)
PHBASC is currently licensed for 150 places for Before and After School Care.
PHBASC is currently licensed for 50 places for Vacation Care.
Need to book in for care?
Before your child/ren can attend PHBASC, you must complete the online enrolment, submit a booking request and complete a direct debit form.
It is important to note that completing the online enrolment does not guarantee a place. Please enquire with BASC Educators for availability as sessions may be at capacity and / or waitlisted.
Hours of Operation
Before School Care 7am – 8:45am
After School Care 3:15am – 6:15pm
Vacation Care 7:15am – 6:15pm
Contact Details
PHBASC is located within the grounds of Pennant Hills Public School, at the K-2 Site, in Bellthorn Cottage next to the oval.
PHBASC contact phone number in Bellthorn Cottage - (02) 9481 8696 or email info@pennanthillsbasc.org.au
PHBASC administration office (billing / account enquiries) in Bellthorn Cottage (Tuesday and Thursday only) – (02) 9481 8696 or email sue@pennanthillsbasc.org.au
Child Care Subsidy
PHBASC is approved to offer eligible families a Child Care Subsidy (CCS). This is Government Assistance to assist you with the cost of child care. This subsidy is paid directly to your child care provider (our centre) to reduce the fees you need to pay.
The Child Care Subsidy requires criteria to be met. You may be eligible if you or your partner:
care for your child at least 2 nights per fortnight, or have 14% care
are liable for fees for care provided at an approved child care service, and
meet the residency rules
Your child must also:
- meet immunisation requirements,
- not be attending secondary school unless an exemption applies
Please note there is a limit of 42 allowable absences per year, per child (NOT per account). Your CCS may be affected after this amount is reached.
Each family is responsible for applying for CCS. More information can be found below from The Department of Human Services or follow the link: https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/online-help/centrelink/claim-child-care-subsidy
Philosophy
PHBASC redeveloped their philosophy in 2018. It reflects the current educators and the why we do what we do – our philosophy of practice. The philosophy was so well received, it was also picked up by Early Childhood Australia (ECA) celebrating our quality and commitment.
Article from ECA can be found here:
http://thespoke.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/quality-commitment-outside-school-hours-care/
You can view PHBASC philosophy here:
The Mission
Our mission is to provide high quality care for children who attend Pennant Hills Public School outside of school hours.
Our purpose is to provide child care to families where the parents/guardians are working, studying or in need of child care for any other reason.
Our Centre provides an environment where children have access to, and are encouraged to participate in, a range of age appropriate recreational and educational activities.
Out of School Hours Care National Quality Framework
PHBASC is currently rated as Exceeding the National Quality Standard under the National Quality Framework (NQF). Parent / guardian involvement in the accreditation process is encouraged and their participation is an important part of the process.
In December 2009, all Australian State Governments agreed to a new National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education and Care. This means that all Australian children will get the best possible start in life through high quality school age care services. The Framework will help providers improve their services in the areas that impact on a child’s development and empower families to make informed choices about which service is best for their child.
The Management
PHBASC is managed by Pennant Hills Before and After School Care Service Incorporated, an association incorporated under the Association Incorporations Act 1984. The volunteer parent management committee of the association is made up of parents who have bookings at the centre and are elected annually.
The Management Committee meets during term time only as desired (approximately 8 times a year) and is responsible for all legal and financial matters related to the centre. Every parent using PHBASC is invited to attend the committee meetings. The Director of PHBASC is expected to attend however doesn’t have voting rights.
Services with a volunteer community-based structure like PHBASC are ones that are rated the best as mentioned in the above section. This is why a parent volunteer management committee is so important, as families will always have the children at the forefront of what is important compared to a private, for-profit company.
Staffing/Staff Ratios
PHBASC operates with appropriate staff to child ratios; a minimum of 1 staff member per 15 children. The preference is to work with 1 staff member per 13 children plus 2 additional staff members. This is to ensure the best care is provided.
Most Educators at the service possess:
- Accredited First Aid
- Accredited Child Protection
All Educators are committed to programming and implementing a variety of activities that facilitate fun, excitement and discovery within a safe and caring environment.
PHBASC complies with the Working With Children Check (WWCC) as required by the Commission for Children and Young People with all Educators being cleared prior to working with children.
Centre Routine
PHBASC provides a daily routine aiming to meet the needs of individual children in relation to each child’s
- Social development
- Emotional development
- Physical development
- Intellectual development
- Creative development
As the centre is the child’s time for play and leisure, this will be reflected in the daily routines and programming which are always displayed in our centre and based around the children’s wants and needs. No programmed activity is forced upon any child at our centre.
Parent feedback is highly encouraged regarding routine and programming with suggestions welcomed and appreciated.
Schedule of Fees
The centre is run as a not-for-profit organisation, therefore the fees will be kept at a minimum while ensuring appropriate sustainable funding and future planning.
Fees are payable throughout the school term including your child's absence for the following reasons:
- Sick days
- Family vacations (during school term)
Fees can be paid via Debit Success using a personal bank account or credit card.
Notice of one week is required to cancel any before and after school care booked sessions.
Please contact the centre and refer to the most up to date fees list for current before and after school care fees.
Fees are charged fortnightly on a Tuesday to the nominated bank account or credit card and in arrears to allow for any changes, casual bookings or above fees (e.g. late or non-notification fee).
Meals
Breakfast is served between 7am – 8:15am only. No breakfast will be provided after 8:15am. Breakfast food items include:
- Multigrain bread (choice of Vegemite, variety of jams, cheese spread, cheese slice, honey, cinnamon);
- Cereals (Muesli, Oats, Rice Bubbles, Cheerios, Cornflakes, Weetbix, Sultana Bran) and a variety of other fruit based cereals
- Fruit
- Yoghurt
- Milk
Afternoon Tea is served between 3:15pm – 4:00pm. Afternoon tea consists of a large selection of fruit every afternoon which the children eat first.
Following fruit, children may have their main afternoon tea food consisting of:
- Salad wraps
- Cheese and salsa melts
- Sandwich square selections
- Pasta
- San choy bau
- Noodles
- Soup
- Garlic bread
- Frozen yoghurt
- Salads
- Spring rolls
- Nachos
If children prefer not to eat from the day's selection, they may have a sandwich of their choice made. Water is provided for afternoon tea as a drink.
Cooking
At PHBASC we allow the children to cook at least once a week and serve what they have prepared to the other children. If parents have any concerns, they may supply the staff with their child’s own special ‘treats’ that staff will serve them when cooking has taken place.