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Outside School Hours Care
ECEC Provider in Focus: UWA OSHC ‘The Blue House’
Freya Lucas
Aug 04, 2023
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The University of Western Australia’s outside school hours care (OSHC) service,affectionately known as The Blue House, provides education and care for 39 children a day in a homelike environment.
The service is currently rated as working towards the National Quality Standard.What is the setting and environment of The Blue House?
The Blue House was granted approval in August 2010, and offers both OSHC and vacation care services. Located on the University grounds, the service has an outdoor environment which is well shaded with mature, leafy trees and an impressive double-storey natural timber cubby house.
The Crawley foreshore is easily accessible and the staff utilise the surrounding gardens/open areas on the UWA campus (the Human Movement oval, Secret Garden, Biological Sciences grass area and the walkway at the back of the centre) to play games and sports.
The outdoor area also includes a basketball ring, ground level trampoline, climbing frames, monkey bars and interactive spaces.
The service interior is brightly coloured and is a “time capsule” displaying the journey of past and current children and staff. Educators emphasise play and creative experiences and have purposely reduced access to electronic devices and television.
There is an area for children to access staff for assistance if completing homework and all rooms offer the opportunity for active or passive play.
The centre has a fully operational kitchen that the children can utilise to engage in cooking experiences and provides a cooked afternoon tea daily plus additional snacks and morning tea during vacation care periods.
The environment is regularly being re-created according to the children’s interests and activities being offered. Staff support and respect the children’s feedback and endeavour to include their suggestions and ideas in the centre program.
What is The Blue House vision and approach to learning?
Educators and carers at The Blue House endeavour to become an extension of the family’s home, and to place the happiness and wellbeing of every child as the first priority.
By providing a quality OSHC service, The Blue House supports the University’s ongoing commitment to its Work and Family policy.
Are there any unique aspects to The Blue House offering?
The UWA OSHC bus can collect children from St Thomas Primary and Pre-Primary; Hollywood Primary and Pre-Primary; Rosalie Primary; and Loreto Primary and Pre-Primary. A walking collection from Nedlands Primary and on-site Pre-Primary is available.
The service offers a diverse range of stimulating activities, excursions and facilities in a friendly, fun-filled environment that is enjoyed by all participants and sets the benchmark for enriching and extending children’s well-being and development in a school-age care setting.
Learn more about The Blue House here.
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