Kiwi Families - for passionate parents
SEARCH  Products, Services and Articles
 

Before & After School Care

 
 

A checklist of the key points in Before School and After School care for your school age children in NZ. We save New Zealand parents the time and effort by listing the important issues for you in considering Before School and After School care.

 

What are your "Out of School" Needs?

  • Before School care only?
    • Can you drop off? 
    • When do you need to drop off?
    • Do you need breakfast provided?
  • After School care only?
    • Can you pick up?
    • When can you pick up?
    • Do you need afternoon tea provided?
    • Extra-curricular activities to co-ordinate?
      • Sports; Music; Dance; Clubs
  • School Holidays care also?
    • every school holiday period?
    • the entire school holidays or part thereof?

       

 

Out of School Caregiver Options

  • Stay at Home parent
  • At Your Home Professionals - Nannies or Au Pairs
  • Family (grandparent? relative? sibling aged 14+ years?)
  • Neighbour
  • Away from Home Professionals
  • Combination of the above

Consider the strengths and weaknesses of each caregiver option

  • Safety? --- will your child always be safe? safety record?
  • Reliability? --- guaranteed? every day that you require their service?
  • Quality of care? --- how good exactly? testimonials?
  • Educational value? --- help with homework? developmental activities?
  • Fun factor? --- varied games and activities? interesting?
  • Social value? --- desire to interact with other kids?
  • Child friendly? --- is each individual caregiver friendly?
  • Flexibility? --- prepared to adapt to your changing needs?
  • Transport to & from school? --- and extracurricular transport?
  • Cost? --- what is your budget? eligible for government subsidy?

Another important factor?

  • Your child
    • special needs? - diet? allergies? behavioural issues?
    • his or her preference?
    • opportunity to develop friendships?
    • ability to adapt to and bond with caregiver(s)?   

Professional Programme Providers 

The household income requirements --- and associated need for full time employment or study --- of an increasing number of parents has resulted in the huge growth in businesses, councils and community groups providing professional "Out of School" Care and Recreation (OSCAR) programs --- including Before School programmes, After School programmes, and/or School Holiday Programmes --- in supervised places where children may learn and play.  

OSCAR 

Many of these Out of School service providers have become OSCAR approved, which provides the benefits of (i) approved by Child, Youth and Family (CYF) to have met certain quality and safety standards; and (ii) potential eligibility for Work and Income (WINZ) subsidy, depending upon household income and number of dependent children.  

CYF Approved 

CYF Approval for OSCAR Services is an assessment process carried out by Child, Youth and Family. It ensures that OSCAR programmes are properly run and take place in a safe environment.

The selected OSCAR programme must be CYF Approved for OSCAR if  parents want to apply for the government OSCAR Subsidy from Work and Income. 

Work and Income OSCAR Subsidy 

The OSCAR Subsidy helps towards the costs of Before and After school care of up to 20 hours a week, and School Holiday Programmes of up to 50 hours per week, for school-age children (5-13) years.

For the details on eligibility, click through to the Work and Income page on OSCAR Subsidies. 

Educational books? Find a great selection of popular Books & Authors.
Age: 0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12 Years Old

 


Face-to-face Questions to ask Professional Providers

  • OSCAR Approved?
  • CYF Approval for OSCAR Services? 
  • Written Policies & Procedures?
  • Comprehensive Enrolment form?
  • Safety records?
  • First aid kit?
  • Emergency (eg. injury) procedures?
  • Food catering abilities?
  • Transport service?
  • Collective experience of staff?
  • Staff to child ratio?
  • Discipline philosophy? 
  • Staff turnover?
  • Well maintained facilities?
  • Indoor and outdoor spaces?
  • Variety of play equipment?
  • Well resourced for games & activities?
  • Structure vs Individual freedom to choose activities?
  • Range of programmes? --- Before school? After school? Holiday? 
  • Overall atmosphere? Happy? Friendly? Cheerful?

 

Useful Website 

Try the user friendly  Find an OSCAR Programme database to search for CYF approved Before School Programme, After School Programme, School Holiday Programme, and Camp providers in your town or suburb.  (NB. If in Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, or Dunedin, then firstly input your suburb.) 

For an overview of OSCAR (Out of School Care and Recreation) holiday programmes, click through to our OSCAR article.  

 Article Before & After School Care prepared by the Kiwi Families team.