Sherpa Kids Australia has given the thumbs up to the South Australian Government’s decision to expand OSHC services to provide more choice for schools and parents across the state.

Vicki Prout, managing director of the Adelaide-based Sherpa Kids Australia, a commercial provider of out of school hours care (OSHC), said the changes will allow schools to choose from a larger pool of pre-approved service  providers to manage OSHC requirements on the school’s behalf.

“We welcome the Government’s move to expand out of school hours care services in South Australia and its decision to set up an official OSHC Provider Panel that will make it easier for school principals and governing councils to choose from high quality, pre-approved providers,” she said.

“Our in-school program has already been embraced by primary schools around Australia, so we’re really pleased that as a commercial provider of high quality OSHC services we can now also operate in SA.

“Parents today are working longer hours than ever before and finding it tougher to juggle work commitments with school drop-offs and pick-ups, so OSHC services are increasingly in demand.

“Our focus is on providing primary school aged children with meaningful learning and recreational experiences that complement what they’re taught during normal school hours, with all of our staff fully trained in child behaviour management and qualified in first-aid and food safety.”

• Sherpa Kids has operations across Australia with the company also launching in the UK earlier this  year.