All children need a safe place with adult supervision during before and/or after school hours and vacation care providing opportunities to participate in engaging and enriching activities supporting learning and mastery of new skills.

School age programs provide supervised care to children who are in school full time and require care for before school, after school, before and after school care and vacation care. School age programs operate in centre based childcare programs located in schools, parks and recreation programs, Boys and Girls Clubs, or private organizations; family childcare related and non related care and self care.

School age programs are not regulated but may be licensed dependant upon the location of the program. Please contact your local city or rural authority regarding licensing regulations for school age programs in your area.

Quality school age programs have a direct impact on children’s academic achievement and socialization skills. School age programs also give parents assurance that their children are cared for and engaged in positive program activities suited to the age range of children, and reflect the languages and cultures of families served. Children enrolled in after school programs experience benefits such as: increased sense of safety,; increased academic performance and school attendance, and decreased risk-taking behaviors such as experimentation with drugs and alcohol.

When parents are seeking an after school program to meet specific family childcare needs it is important to understand what your child’s needs are and how a program will support these needs. Be specific and take the necessary steps to find the best after school program which will support your family’s school childcare needs.
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Elements of a High Quality School Age Programs

 The hours after school between 3:00 PM and 6:00 PM are the most dangerous for unsupervised children. These are peak hours for juvenile crimes and these are the times when there is an increased possibility of children most likely becoming victims of crime.

High quality school age programs provide families with the assurance that when they are working or at school children are engaged in positive programs supporting the development of children.

Elements of high quality school age programs have the following:

• Good organization.
• Strong management with defined policies and practices.
• Goal setting for the after school program; for group programming and individual children’s needs.
• Staff with credentials, appropriate education and ongoing educational plans.
• Low staff child ratios recommended staff child ratio is 1:10 .
• Attention to: health, safety and nutrition.
• Enriched programming opportunities including: physical play; dramatic play; quiet activities; and socialization. Children are able to move from one activity to another smoothly, at their own pace. Children have input into program planning.
• Activities must be suited to the range of ages represented by children in the group reflecting languages and cultures.
• Strong involvement with families.
• Links between the school age program and the school programs.
• Evaluation of program progress and effectiveness. What does their report card state?

Studies represented by the National Child Care Organization states there are keys of quality organized under six categories:

• Human relationships
• Indoor environment
• Outdoor environment
• Activities
• Safety, Health and Nutrition
• Administrative Activities

Review the after school program to determine if these six categories meet your family’s needs in an effective manner.

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