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THOMAS DUTTON & JOSHUA EMERTON Most of the local children in the area would be familiar with Thomas Dutton and Joshua Emerton. They are the energetic characters who have applied their natural passion, dedication and education to creating a thriving before and after school and vacation care service in the Manning-Great Lakes: Manning Valley OOSH. Having had her children experience first hand their expertise, Jasmine McQuillan decided to delve a little deeper!
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o Josh and Tom, you guys have been in business since 2008 ... Give us a run down on your career so far? How did you get to where you are now? Josh: I am 29 years of age and born and bred in Taree. I attended Chatham Public School in my early years then progressed onto Chatham High School, where I developed my passion to move into the teaching profession after finishing my HSC. I was fortunate enough to receive a Sporting Scholarship for cricket at the University of New England and also gained automatic admission into a Bachelor of Education Primary degree. After 4 years of study, I graduated with my Bachelor of Education degree and began to step into the big teaching world. At the beginning of 2007 I commenced casual and temporary teaching in the Taree area, obtaining constant work within all the local schools. At the conclusion of 2007, Tom Dutton and I began working as teachers at Chatham Public School and soon became the best of mates. We soon discussed the idea of commencing a Vacation Care program to commence in January 2008. The service was an instant success, with the local community being in full support of the new program which assisted all working families with our stimulating and exciting programs. Following the commencement of our first centre, we then continued
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teaching, with our main goal of extending dedication to reach our main goals, but into before and after school care services. we are well on the way to our plans. In In late 2008 I returned from the UK after the next 5 years we are aiming to acquire playing 6 months of cricket abroad and more before and after school services and moved straight to Newcastle. This is where hopefully try our trade within the day care things began to take off for both Tom and cycle. myself. We established a Vacation Care What can families and children expect service at Wallsend South in at Manning Valley OOSH? 2010, then in 2011 we Tom: Before school opened our first Before will cost families a and After school care maximum of $6 per p It has been a stee g facility at Cameron child with the child curve goin ng ni ar le Park. care rebate. We running from teachers to In 2012 and serve a healthy a in ss our own busine s ha It 2013 we have nutritious e. tim of short period k or w opened two breakfast to rd ha of been a lot ach re to n new before and tio keep the kids ca di and de t we bu s, al go n after school care energised for ai m our way to our services at Floraville the long day at are well on the plans.” and Belmont. school. Staff plan a These services have variety of activities to been extremely popular keep the kids active and within the Newcastle area entertained, including fitness with working families and families challenges, sports games and working outside the Newcastle area. In indoor activities. between our new services in Newcastle After school care will cost families a we have opened a before and after maximum of $8 with the child care rebate. school care in 2012 in Forster, and our most The children are collected from Taree West recent acquisition has been a before and Public and all other schools in the area in after school care facility operating from the big yellow bus. After some homework Taree West Public School. and chill out time, the children sit down to For both Tom and myself, it has been a a healthy afternoon tea. Each afternoon has steep learning curve going from teachers to a themed activity for the children to take running our own business in a short period part in. Staff plan activities with children of time. It has been a lot of hard work and and families and reflect on the activities
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weekly. Vacation Care will cost families a maximum $20 per child per day. Each holidays the staff plan excursions to keep the kids happy and entertained. For example, these holidays the children will be going on a dolphin cruise, meeting the local fire brigade, tenpin bowling, movies, and going crazy with 6 giant slides and jumping castles coming up from Newcastle. What’s the key to your success? Tom: I think there are a few different reasons for our popularity with children and families in the local area. Firstly, Josh and I throw 100% of our energy into the program and into the day’s activities; we would go home with nothing left in the tank each day! We let the children choose what they would like to do during the day. We would offer several different organised activities during the day and if any of the children didn’t want to take part in an activity, that was okay. Having an energetic staff who enjoy what they’re doing and can keep up with the kids is another key to our success. While it’s important to have a lot of fun we also have the children’s respect, as they know us as teachers. What are your plans for the future? Josh and Tom: We both plan to continually improve our local services, to challenge ourselves to keep the programs we offer exciting for the children and staff. Thanks Josh and Tom.