Parent Portal
Our goal at SHARE OOSH is to provide comprehensive support to families by serving as a trusted and accessible source of practical information. We are committed to connecting parents with relevant resources and services within the local community, offering guidance and information to assist them in their parenting journey.
Weekly Article • 1/04/2025
Helping your child through separation anxiety
Separation anxiety is a common challenge for children, especially when transitioning from home to school or an out-of-school hours care setting. As an OOSH service committed to providing a safe, supportive environment for children, we understand how difficult these transitions can be for both children and their families. That's why we recommend the Separation Anxiety – How to Build Their Brave webinar, hosted by expert Karen Young. This informative session offers valuable insights into the causes of separation anxiety and provides practical strategies to help children feel more confident and secure when separating from their parents or caregivers.
In this webinar, Karen Young delves into the emotional and psychological factors that contribute to separation anxiety, exploring how certain behaviors can unintentionally make anxiety worse. She provides clear, evidence-based strategies that empower parents and caregivers to help children build resilience, particularly in settings like school drop-offs and out-of-school care environments.
My Time, Our Place
At SHARE OOSH, we are committed to creating a nurturing, engaging, and inclusive environment where children can thrive outside of school hours. To support this, we align our programming and practice with the nationally endorsed framework My Time, Our Place – Framework for School Age Care in Australia.
What is My Time, Our Place?
My Time, Our Place is part of the National Quality Framework (NQF), developed by the Australian Government to ensure high-quality education and care across early childhood and school age care settings. Specifically designed for outside school hours care (OOSH), this framework recognises the unique time children spend in our care – time that is theirs to explore, unwind, connect, and grow.
The framework emphasises the importance of belonging, being and becoming for children aged 5 to 12 years. It guides educators in creating a responsive, child-centred program that values each child’s individuality, supports their development, and encourages their agency in everyday experiences.
The Five Outcomes:
Our program at SHARE OOSH is shaped around the five core learning outcomes of the framework:
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Children have a strong sense of identity
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Children are connected with and contribute to their world
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Children have a strong sense of wellbeing
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Children are confident and involved learners
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Children are effective communicators
These outcomes are not isolated goals—they are embedded into everything we do, from daily routines to spontaneous play and structured activities and programming
How We Use the Framework at SHARE:
At SHARE, My Time, Our Place is more than a set of guidelines—it’s the foundation of our approach. We use it to:
Guide our planning: Every aspect of our program is thoughtfully designed with the framework in mind. Activities are chosen to support children’s interests, extend their learning, and build on their strengths and abilities.
Encourage child-led learning: We actively seek children’s input in the development of our program. This empowers them to make choices, express their ideas, and take ownership of their time with us. Our suggestions box in the hallway is constantly full of creative new ideas for activities.
Promote inclusive practice: We celebrate diversity and ensure that all children feel safe, respected, and included. Our practices support equity and uphold the rights of every child.
Support holistic development: Whether through creative arts, physical play, STEM activities, or quiet time, we aim to nurture every aspect of a child’s growth—social, emotional, physical, and cognitive.
Reflect and improve: Our educators regularly reflect on their practice using the framework to ensure we are meeting the needs of the children, families, and community we serve.
At SHARE OOSH, the My Time, Our Place framework is at the heart of everything we do. It helps us create a welcoming, inclusive, and engaging environment where children feel a strong sense of belonging and have the freedom to explore, play, and grow in their own way.