CHILD SAFE ENVIRONMENT POLICY
(Natural, built and social environment)
This policy is to guide staff, students, parents and volunteers on how to approach issues involving the natural, built and social environment at Green Umbrella. This policy shows all of us how to appreciate our natural and built environment, how we use them to support healthy learning and how our relationships underpin all that we do here.
Green Umbrella values our natural environment and actively works towards its regeneration for past, present and future custodians of the land. Our environment enables children to have experiences that develop them as a whole person, both through contact with nature, through engagement with buildings and gardens, through social engagement. We supervise students to engage in natural risk-taking behaviour, as part of their learning and growth.
Green Umbrella strives to provide children, staff and families with a natural landscape that is supportive, challenging and dotted with just enough risk for growth.
Green Umbrella supports the concept of “reuse, reduce, and recycle” in all that we do. Being responsible for supporting our planet is at the heart of Green Umbrella practice.
At Green Umbrella we have no tolerance for alcohol, cigarettes or other illicit drugs on the grounds at any time. We, as staff and the adult community, are role models for students.
Learning at Green Umbrella is seamlessly merged between indoors and outdoors. Our playgrounds are designed to support a variety of different play and learning scenarios. The playground includes small nooks and crannies and large open spaces to be explored. At Green Umbrella, playgrounds are adventurous learning areas the landscape of which can change according to students’ interests. For example, staff will facilitate students interests in building structures or digging channels or establishing vegetable or ornamental gardens in the grounds. We have a unique environmental setting that supports children’s ability to be independent and self assess risk.
Our playgrounds are free of harmful synthetic chemicals so that students are safe.
Green Umbrella environment has access to an area of native vegetation that provides corridors that link our grounds with the wider natural environment and sustains local flora and fauna. We regularly have excursions to the adjacent National Park for bush walks and water play in the creek .
Staff encourage students to participate in bush regeneration activities where appropriate.
Student safety is paramount in our built environment: furniture and equipment is safe, clean and in good repair. The school Administration team arranges a professional check of electrical safety annually.
The buildings are large and naturally well-lit and ventilated. They provide a variety of magical spaces that allow student to find just the right place to be - whether at desks in the bright open floor space, or in a cosy nook filled with cushions. Students can determine their needs in relationship to equipment and staff support by assisting facilitation.
Green Umbrella uses recycled materials wherever feasible for learning activities and craft works.
Green Umbrella has access to a shower and laundry facilities at both preschool and primary. There are sufficient and age appropriate toilets, hand washing and drying facilities in the hall.
Relationship is at the heart of Green Umbrella practice.
Our environment encourages family members to feel comfortable to stay and enjoy and be part of their child’s experience. This builds community engagement and understanding.
The staff at Green Umbrella and the other adults of the community are responsible for being good role models. They are responsible for the language and emotional and social modelling at school. Families are entitled to have wide and differing viewpoints and experiences. This is what makes our school culture rich. However, this does not mean that they can express their views unnecessarily or deliberately to offend another person. Adults may not bring alcohol, cigarettes or drugs to school and they may not be at the school if they are intoxicated or under the influence of drugs.
Staff are to contact the school Manager or Authorised Supervisor if they believe any inappropriate behaviour is occurring on the grounds of Kinma. This includes adults who may be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs at the school. The Manager then will intervene. Staff are to contact the Chair of the Board if there are problems with the conduct or behaviour of the authorised supervisor.
4. APPENDIX
4.1 Supporting Documents
4.2 Regulatory Legislation and Considerations
Date Approved: July 2021
Date reviewed: July 2024
Date for review: July 2027