Out of School Hours Care - CareforKids.com.au®

Out Of School Hours Care
How it works…

Out Of School Hours Care (before and after school) is generally offered by schools or centres nearby to the school. There may be a waiting list for the start of the year, so it's very important to get in early and also think about alternative arrangements if you can't get a place straight away.

If you are putting your child into Out of School Hours Care on a regular or casual basis, pre-register with them as early as you can, so you can ensure you have a place and that all your paperwork is done.

Even if you aren't likely to use the service much, register anyway because if you're ever running late and can't get to school in time for pick up, if your child is registered, the after school hours carers can pick up your child with the other Kindy kids and look after them until you arrive.

To register, you'll generally need your ID and your Centrelink number (if you've had your child in any form of registered child care you will have this number already) in order for the centre to register you for any child care benefit or rebate, proof of address and sometimes your child's birth certificate/passport.

You'll also need to think of two additional emergency contacts or give the details of anyone else who is likely to ever pick up your child for you. Anyone, including parents and official carers will have to show ID for the first time they pick up a child, so that the carers can identify them, so make sure anyone picking up your child has a driver's license with them.

Good news is that you can continue to claim Child Care Benefit and Child Care Rebate for out of school hours care and this also includes Vacation Care provided by a registered child care establishment.

For Kindy kids, out of school hours care centres will have a list of everyone in Kindergarten and for at least the first term or two, the Kindergarten children are collected from their classrooms by the child care centre carers. This helps the children and the parents feel that they are still being looked after while they get used to their new routines.

Try to stick to days as much as possible. This is important both for the child care centre and also the child's happiness. Even the very young children quickly know (often better than their parents) which days they go to after school care and who is there on the same days as they are.

For more information on Out of School Hours Care, click here and to find out of school hours care near your school or check your school has one, click here and pop in your postcode in the search criteria.