Applications are now open for schools across the Central West region to access funding that will enable them to establish new out of school hour care services.
Member for Orange Andrew Gee said the $20 million commitment aims to help create up to 45,000 additional out of school 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 Gee said.
“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 out of school hour care service at their schools.”
Primary schools are encouraged to consult with each other across local areas to determine ways of working together, to match service delivery with actual demand. “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 potential OSHC,” Mr Gee said.
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.