Springfield Central State School parents left scrambling by end of after-school care arrangement

Parents at a major Ipswich primary school have been left scrambling to find new after-school car after an arrangement with a neighbouring Catholic school was terminated. They have now launched a petition.

Springfield Central State School parents have started a petition after suddenly being left without after-hours school care.

Parents at an Ipswich-area primary school with more than 1200 students have been left without a dedicated outside-school hours care (OSHC) service after an arrangement with a neighbouring school was stopped.

Springfield Central State School families have launched a petition for the booming school to start its own OSHC after a longstanding arrangement with a neighbouring Catholic primary school was abruptly terminated at the end of the 2023 school year.

Disability support worker Teresa Le Lievre, who has a child at Springfield Central, launched the petition in a bid to help parents.

She said the termination of the care arrangement was not just inconvenient, it made it much harder for parents who needed to work.

“This sudden change has had a profound impact on many families including my own,” Mrs Le Lievre said.

“I personally have lost 16 hours of full-time work each week and I am now unable to work past 2.30pm on weekdays.

“Because Springfield Central did not have it’s own OSHC, our best option was to use the one at Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School because it’s just across the street.

“It meant our children didn’t have to go to a whole other suburb for after school care”.

Parents were emailed in November last year that the after-school care partnership with the Good Shepherd would not be continuing in 2024.

Springfield Central State School parents have started a petition after suddenly being left without after-hours school care.

“There was an increase in enrolments and requests for OSHC, so Good Shepherd had to prioritise their students, which is completely understandable,” Mrs Le Lievre said.

“They were able to keep some Springfield Central students from defence families, but it’s just a minimal amount.

“I actually emailed Good Shepherd to see how many children would be affected and they said roughly 50 children...’’

Another Springfield Central parent, Sharon Turner, commented on the petition: “Parents have to work and without OSHC we can’t”.

“I work 6.30am to 4pm most days and the OSHC services provided to Springfield Central this year kicked many students out as they didn’t have the space,’’ she said.

“We have to work to provide for our families and can’t without OSHC.

“Try being a single mum. I’ve done this and without OSHC my daughter and I would be on the streets.

“This school has over 1200 students and the excuses need to stop and the service needs to be provided.’’

Single working mother Jessica Lamers also said that without the service it was becoming increasingly difficult to maintain enough work hours to provide for her daughter.

“I’ve been on the waitlist for the very minimal other options in the area and they are always full,” Ms Lamers said.

“The service closest to Springfield Central State School takes 45 kids.

“We’ll be waiting years to get a place considering how many kids are at the school.

“I’ve been considering changing schools purely for this reason”.

An Education Queensland spokesperson said they were aware of parents’ concerns.

“Springfield Central State School does not currently operate its own OSHC facility, however the school has proactively sought outside school hours care services that can drop students off and pick them up from school,” they said.

“The school’s P&C has been made aware (at the last two meetings held last year) that some of the servicing outside school hours facilities are operating on waiting lists.

“All parents and carers are required to attend an information session from the principal where they are informed of the range of OSHC options at the school.

“The school will continue to work in partnership with the providers who offer outside school hours services to families.’’

Brisbane Catholic Education was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Springfield Central State School parents left scrambling by end of after-school care arrangement