26 May 2025
Larissa Issah
Director of Services
OOSH NEWCASTLE GROUP
By Email:
Dear Larissa,
Subject: Inquiry About Enrolling My Son, in OOSH/Vacation Care
1. Thank you for your prompt and thoughtful response regarding my son, 's, potential
enrolment in OOSH/Vacation Care. I appreciate the time and consideration you have given to his needs.
2. As you are aware, my daughter attends OOSH and Vacation Care, and
thoroughly enjoys her time there. As a single mother, with full time care of my two children throughout the school week and holidays, this has allowed me to continue working to support my family.
3. I understand the challenges posed by 's current requirements, particularly in
relation to toileting and his tendency to abscond, however I remain of the view that attending OOSH and Vacation Care, alongside his sister and peers in the local community is in his best interests. I would like to explore possible solutions that might help address these concerns and facilitate his inclusion in your program.
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I have a good understanding to the legal and regulatory obligations you are required to
meet as a Child Care provider regulated by ACEQA in order to ensure the safety of the children in your care and your staff. I am confident that we can work collaboratively to ensure that any potential risks can be managed safely. The two key issues relate to toileting and absconding.
Challenges and risks
Toileting
5. Funding for Additional Staff: from the NSW Inclusion Agency has
indicated that funding can be provided for an extra staff member to assist with ’s needs. This could potentially alleviate the staffing constraints you mentioned.
6. Training and Equipment: wears pull-ups and can be changed standing up in
most circumstances. Training on nappy changing can be provided, and an adult change table can be loaned to your service for occasions where ’s nappy is soiled and he cannot be changed in a standing position. I am confident that Public School will be able to work with you to accommodate this, thereby ensuring that ’s toileting needs are met without compromising your existing facilities.
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Safety and Supervision / Absconding
- Enhanced Supervision: With the additional staff member funded (or partly funded) by the Inclusion Agency, could receive the close supervision he requires to prevent absconding. This would help ensure his safety without impacting the child-to-educator ratios for other children.
8. Occupational Therapy Support: 's occupational therapist can work with your
staff to implement strategies tailored to his needs, further enhancing his safety and inclusion.
- Support Worker Assistance: If the Inclusion Agency cannot provide sufficient support, I will explore with NDIS whether a support worker can attend with , particularly for vacation care and excursions. This would offer the opportunity to participate in the activities you offer alongside his peers and sister, whilst removing any extra responsibility on your staff, arising from ’s disability.
Social and Developmental Benefits:
10. currently attends mainstream preschool and daycare in . He thoroughly
enjoys both Centres, and has established relationships with several children who will be
attending Public School. By attending Oosh and Vacation Care,
will have to opportunity to interact with his sister and his peers and develop important social skills and relationships.
Oosh Newcastle Group’s Values and Policies:
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Oosh Newcastle Group aims to offer a positive experience for all children by celebrating diversity and building on each other’s skills and knowledge bases so that children may feel a strong sense of identity. I believe ’s inclusion would align perfectly with these values, as it not only allow him the opportunity to thrive, but provide other children with an opportunity to learn first-hand about including people with a disability.
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As per the Disability Discrimination Act, it is required that reasonable adjustments are made to accommodate children with disabilities. Could you please provide a copy of the policy referred to in your letter, as well as any other policies relevant to inclusion? This will help me better understand the framework within which your service operates and identify potential areas for adjustment.
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I am keen to discuss these potential solutions further and explore how we might be able
to accommodate ’s needs within your service. Please let me know if there is a convenient time for us to have a conversation or if there are any additional steps we can take to move forward.
Thank you again for your time and consideration.
Kate Alexander.
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