Clarification on the provision of OSHC for preschool children

The South Australian Government recently announced that it would trial the provision of Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) in preschool settings at 20 sites, and recently the Federal Department of Education provided clarification about how preschool aged care may be implemented in existing OSHC settings, typically school based. 

From 22 July 2024, established OSHC services can also provide care primarily to preschool aged children at either side of preschool sessions. Previously OSHC services were directed to provide care primarily to school aged children.

This means families can get Child Care Subsidy for care provided before and after preschool, for children who attend a preschool program. Preschool programs are delivered to children in the year before they start full-time school.

To be eligible to provide preschool OSHC, the care provided must differ from a preschool service. Some of the key factors considered by the Department of Education in making this distinction include:

• Type of care program delivered: An OSHC service should not deliver the same type of educational program to the preschool service.
• Hours of operation: Preschool and OSHC services must be separate.
• Staffing: Roles and duties performed by staff can be clearly distinguished.

Providers who want to establish a preschool OSHC will need to:

• Obtain approval from their state or territory regulatory authority to operate a Centre Based Day Care service at the preschool premises. This must be a separate approval where the preschool OSHC provider is the same as the preschool provider.

• Apply for CCS approval for the new OSHC service.

Find out more and read examples on the Department of Education website at Outside School Hours Care.