By Peter Douglas
Parents love this school holiday lifesaver…
With very few schools in the Yarra Ranges region operating vacation care during school holidays, Mount Evelyn Primary School has set about helping local families.
After beginning in 2014, the school’s vacation care has been a “life-saver” for many families in the region, with the non-profit model – in which the funds go back into supporting the service – striking a chord with the surrounding communities.
Out of School Home Care (OSHC) co-ordinator Melissa McDonald said numbers are booming with more than 250 families regularly using the 80-plus placement service.
Ms McDonald said the result was not only good for families but for students as well.
“The parents have been positive, rapt to have somewhere local and easily accessible,” she said.
“People travel from all over the Yarra Ranges, with even a few coming from Croydon and Melton, given the quality of the program.
“We understand how difficult it can be for parents over the school holidays, particularly if they have a limited family network.
“The children are never bored; they don’t even realise they’re learning while having fun. We use the My Time, Our Place framework and it’s been great.”
The service has access to 15 carers, many of whom are studying teaching.
“We have an excellent team, all staff are qualified teachers or are studying teaching,” she said.
“I make the program fun… it’s a vacation atmosphere.
“Most of this growth has come from word of mouth. We’ve even had a child from Melton who stays with relatives in the area just to enjoy the program.
“Some bring along cousins or friends, if they’re staying for the school holidays.”
As well as learning-based programs, the children enjoy fun activities, too, such as participating in excursions and “kicking the footy” with the carers.
Ms McDonald hoped the model would expand throughout the region, given its success and the positive impact.
“There is a real community feeling about the program. Kids from different schools build on friendships they make in other areas, such as calisthenics and football, and meet up after the program,” she said.
