Children’s Week (24 October – 1 November) is a national celebration of children’s rights, talents and citizenship held on the fourth Wednesday of October in Australia to coincide with Universal Children’s Day. Each year the theme of Children’s Week highlights a particular Children’s Right.
Children’s Week 2020 is a wonderful opportunity to promote the rights of children and young people, and to celebrate their capacity to actively contribute to the world around them.
The Educational and Care National Law and Regulations requires Children Services to base their educational program on an approved learning framework.
Catholic Out of School Hours Care (COSHC) are lead by the My Time, Our Place (MYTOP) framework which has been designed for school-aged children.
My Time, Our Place has five outcomes for educators to use to critically reflect and embed into the service program.
At COSHC Holy Cross, Glenwood, and COSHC St Joseph’s, Schofields, they have been focusing on Outcome 2 – Children are connected to and contribute to their world.
These two services have partnered together to expand their children’s connection to their community by setting up activities via Zoom for the services to do together. Children are also given the opportunity to form relationships via a pen pal system.
A child’s response to what they enjoy at Catholic Out of School Hours Care at St Francis of Assisi Primary, Glendenning. Image: Supplied.
Meanwhile, at COSHC St Francis of Assisi, Glendenning, they have been focusing on Outcome 1- Children have a strong sense of identity.
Educators encouraged children to use their voice by drawing or writing what they enjoy at COSHC and what they would like to improve.
Educators critically reflected on the children’s answers and implemented these into the educational program. Children have expressed their gratitude to educators as they are feeling recognised.
Catholic Diocese of Parramatta Services Limited (CDPSL) has responsibility for the Diocese of Parramatta’s extensive network of Catholic Out of School Hours Care Centres and Catholic Early Learning Centres.
