Ensuring appropriate child supervision
POLICY STATEMENT:
Green Umbrella OSHC Inc. has a duty of care obligation under the National Law and Regulations to ensure that a the adult to child ratio is at least 1:15 at all times to ensure the health, safety and well-being, learning and development of all children at the service. This is to ensure that all legislative requirements are met.
PROCEDURES:
Awareness
- Educators are aware that the maximum of children being directly supervised by an educator does not exceed 15.
- Materials and display promote professional development and understanding of active supervision.
Communication
- Educators are to carry their mobile phones with them when they are not in visual contact with another educator.
Programming
- The nominated supervisor or responsible person will:
- Ensure continuity of care and adequate supervision is in place at all times in the service and on excursions.
- Sign in and sign out procedures with head counts are used to keep track of children. Parents sign out their child/ren on collection. Nominated supervisor or responsible person to sign child out if alternative person picks up. Final check that all children are collected at the end of a shift.
- Plan activities and strategies for both indoor and outdoor activities to ensure adequate, respectful supervision by staff as well as ensuring that staff engage in quality interactions with the children.
- Ensure staff are aware of the importance of communication with each other about their location within the environment.
- Document a risk benefit assessment for a planned excursion using: https://www.acecqa.gov.au/media/22736 This will consider and identify the number of adults required to ensure continuous adequate supervision throughout the excursion.
- Inform new and relief staff about supervision arrangements and what is required of them with regard to supervising children.
Accessing Toilets
- The internal toilet in the building will be accessible to all children and staff during operational hours of the service.
- The additional external toilets will be kept locked and children will need to request a key from a staff member. This will ensure that staff know that a child is accessing the toilet and that they have safely returned.
Utilizing outside space
- Orientation of children to the area to be used for outside of school hours care
- Positioning a staff member to ensure good lines of sight to provide adequate supervision of outside play
- Communication with other staff member to ensure the correct ratios are maintained
Education and Care Services National Regulations | National Quality Standard | Other Service policies/documentation | Other |
R 123 (1) (d), 100,101 R 115
| QA 5.1 QA 5.2
| - Staff Handbook
- Providing a Child Safe Environment Policy.
- Interactions with Children Policy.
- Governance and Management Policy
- Confidentiality Policy.
- OSHC Code of Professional Standards.
| - Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority (2014)
- Guide to the Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2015
|
Approval Date: June 2021
Date reviewed: July 2024
Review Date: July 2027