NORTHERN Tablelands MP Adam Marshall today announced applications were now open for schools across the region to access funding to establish new out of school hour care (OSHC) services.
Mr Marshall said the $20 million Before and After School Care Fund would help create up to 45,000 additional out of school hours care places for primary school students in NSW.
“Primary schools from all sectors may apply for one-off grants of up to $20,000 to help with the cost of establishing these services in time for the start of the 2016 school year,” Mr Marshall said.
“The grants can be used for fit-out costs, tendering or establishment costs, or to pay for necessary equipment to support the new OSHC service.
“Principals of primary schools that do not presently have before and after school care are being asked to consult with their communities to determine the level of demand for an OSHC service at their schools.”
Mr Marshall said schools were also being asked to consult with each other across local areas to determine ways of working together to match service delivery with actual demand.
“Where there is a suitable site but limited demand for example, school communities need to consider how they can partner with other local schools – government and non-government – to make a service viable,” Mr Marshall said.
“Schools that do not have the space to establish an OSHC service on site are also being asked to consult with their local councils or other community organisations to identify a site for a potential OSHC.”
Grants for eligible schools will be awarded on the basis of a school’s capacity to establish and support an OSHC service.
Applications are accessible from the NSW Department of Education, Catholic Education Commission NSW, and the Association of Independent Schools of NSW websites.