PHYSICAL ACTIVITY POLICY

Physical activity is vital for young children’s health, wellbeing and development and lays the foundation for a healthy active life. All children and young people benefit from a mix of physical activity, inactivity and sleep. Our Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) Service recognises the important role educators and staff have in promoting children’s physical activity in appropriate ways ensuring children’s comfort and wellbeing requirements are being met. We are committed to supporting the Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for children and young people (5 to 17 years)- An Integration of Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour into our curriculum.

NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARD (NQS)

QUALITY AREA 1: EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND PRACTICE
1.1	Program	The educational program enhances each child’s learning and development.
1.2	Practice	Educators facilitate and extend each child’s learning and development.
1.2.1	Intentional teaching	Educators are deliberate, purposeful, and thoughtful in their decisions and actions.
1.2.3	Child directed learning	Each child's agency is promoted, enabling them to make choices and decisions that influence events and their world.
QUALITY AREA 2: CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND SAFETY
2.2	Safety	Each child is protected.
2.2.1	Supervision	At all times, reasonable precautions and adequate supervision ensure children are protected from harm and hazard.
2.2.3	Child protection	Management, educators and staff are aware of their roles and responsibilities to identify and respond to every child at risk of abuse or neglect.
QUALITY AREA 3: PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
3.1.2	Upkeep	Furniture and equipment are safe, clean and well maintained.
3.2	Use	The service environment is inclusive, promotes competence and supports exploration and play-based learning.
3.2.1	Inclusive environment	Outdoor and indoor spaces are organised and adapted support every child’s participation and to engage every child in quality experiences in both built and natural environments.
3.2.2	Resources support play-based learning	Resources, materials and equipment allow for multiple uses, are sufficient in number, and enable every child to engage in play-based learning.

EDUCATION AND CARE SERVICES NATIONAL REGULATIONS
73	Educational Program
76	Information about educational program to be given to parents
86	Notification to parents of incident, injury, trauma and illness
103	Premises, furniture and equipment to be safe, clean and in good repair
113	Outdoor space—natural environment
115	Premises designed to facilitate supervision
155	Interactions with children
156	Relationships in groups
168	Education and care service must have policies and procedures

RELATED POLICIES

Additional Needs Policy

Adventurous (Risky and Nature) Play Policy

Child Safe Environment Policy

Code of Conduct Policy

Educational Program Policy

Family Communication Policy

Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness Policy

Physical Environment Policy

Privacy and Confidentiality Policy

Professional Development Policy

Respect for Children Policy

Sun Safety Policy

Supervision Policy

Technology Policy

PURPOSE

Our Out of School Hours Care (OSHC) Service aims to promote children’s physical activity and development of their gross and fine motor skills through a range of spontaneous and intentionally planned active play experiences that are both child initiated and educator led. We aim to form respectful partnerships with families and help them gain a deeper understanding of the benefits of physical activity and wellbeing for children.

SCOPE

This policy applies to children, educators, approved provider, nominated supervisor, families, staff,

management, students, volunteers and visitors of the OSHC Service.

IMPLEMENTATION

To promote healthy growth and development, young children should participate in a range of developmentally appropriate, enjoyable and safe play-based and structured physical activities in a variety of environments, both independently as well as interacting with adults and other children. Developing fundamental and tactical movement skills provides children with the opportunity to acquire and master a range of movement skills and dispositions to participate in a lifetime of physical activity as confident, competent and creative movers.

Our OSHC Service will ensure key physical activity messages within the Eat Smart Play Smart program for OOSH are embedded in the daily program supporting the 24-hour movement guidelines for children and young people (5-17 years)

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

OSHC Services need to support planned physical activity and child initiated free play.

‘Being physically active is good for children’s health, as well as being a great way for them to make friends and develop physical and social skills. Physical activity strengthens children’s bones, muscles, hearts and lungs and improves children’s coordination, balance, posture and flexibility.’ Eat Smart, Play Smart (2020).

THE APPROVED PROVIDER/ MANAGEMENT/ NOMINATED SUPERVISOR/ RESPONSIBLE PERSON WILL:

ensure educators, staff, students, visitors and volunteers have knowledge of and adhere to this policy
ensure families are aware of this Physical Activity Policy
ensure risk assessments are conducted to identify potential hazards, assess the risks and minimise any risks that could potentially cause harm or injury to children
ensure children are adequately supervised at all times
ensure all educators and staff adhere to the Sun Safety Policy
ensure playground surfaces and equipment meet Australian Standards and guidelines
encourage educators to engage in critical reflection as a team and with the children about the risks and benefits of new activities or processes
provide opportunities for educators to engage in professional development about children’s health and physical wellbeing, including the Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines and Eat Smart, Play Smart training
reflect on our OSHC Service’s physical environment, layout and design to ensure it is supporting children’s active play, sedentary play and sleep and rest time
consider the ways moveable and fixed equipment are utilised in the outdoor physical environment to encourage physical activity and adventurous (risky) play
communicate regularly with families about cultural practices for physical activity and sleep requirements
liaise with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to seek advice about traditional children’s games and dances that would be appropriate for use in the service
ensure equitable access is provided to support children with additional needs. Consult with other health professional including the local Inclusion Support Agency to support children’s physical development.
promote physical activity and reduced screen time (e.g., watching TV, playing on computers or small hand-held games devices) with families through fact sheets and newsletter articles.

EDUCATORS WILL:

provide opportunities in the daily program for children to be active every day through a balance of planned and spontaneous active play experiences that are both educator led and child initiated (including everyday physical tasks), in the indoor and outdoor environments
adhere to our Sun Safety Policy and ensure children have access to water before, during and after any physical activity experience
include children’s voices in the development of the physical environment to provide opportunities for physical activity, risky play and creativity
collaborate with families and other professionals to provide active play experiences for all children inclusive of children with additional needs
encourage children to be accepting and understanding of the different abilities of other children
encourage children to engage in physical activity and challenge themselves
seek to promote children’s physical activity by supporting the development of their gross motor skills and fostering the emergence of their fundamental movement skills (FMS) through a range of intentionally planned and spontaneous active play learning experiences
provide positive instruction, role modelling, and advice to children as they develop and improve their FMS
encourage children to try a range of activities including obstacle courses, balancing, kicking, dancing and skipping, jumping, rolling, catching and throwing
actively role model appropriate physical activity behaviours to children
ensure active play experiences are play based, varied and creative
ensure all equipment is developmentally appropriate and well maintained
ensure that an appropriate balance between inactive and active time is maintained each day

encourage productive sedentary experiences for rest and relaxation- reading, storytelling, puzzles, singing
limit experiences involving screen use to those which have an educational component or include movement and gross motor activity
discuss with children the role of screen time in their lives and support them in making appropriate choices about their use of screen time for both education and recreation
model appropriate screen behaviours and self-regulation to children
ensure that under no circumstances screen-time is used as a reward or to manage challenging behaviours
adhere to the recommended timeframes for ‘screen time’ according to Australia's Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines
ensure documentation showcases physical activity experiences and opportunities with families
participate in professional development to support children’s physical health and wellbeing.

IN RELATION TO FAMILIES OUR OSHC SERVICE WILL:

ensure the Physical Activity Policy is available to be viewed and reflected upon
provide information and ideas about physical activity to promote children’s physical health and wellbeing
encourage families to share information about cultural backgrounds in relation to physical activity, language, traditional games and their child’s sleep requirements
provide information about recommended screen time for children and support families to understand the negative effects of exposure to digital technology before sleep time
collaborate with families to ensure children with additional needs have equitable access and are supported in all areas of the learning program.

THE AUSTRALIAN 24-HOUR MOVEMENT GUIDELINES- 5 TO 17 YEARS

Being active every day has many social, emotional, intellectual and health benefits. All children and

Young People (5 to 17 years) should get the right mix of physical activity, inactivity and sleep in each 24-hour period.

Physical activity

Children and young people should spend 60 minutes or more of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day involving mainly aerobic activities
Activities may include- football, basketball, bike riding, scooter riding, swimming, dancing
Provide opportunities for several hours of a variety of light physical activities

Include activities that are vigorous, as well as those that strengthen muscle and bone at least 3 days per week
activities such as – running, swinging on monkey bars, climbing, yoga, sit ups, push ups are good muscle strengthening activities
light physical activities throughout the day are encouraged- such as walking to school, playing handball, helping around the house

Sedentary behaviour

Screen time should be limited to no more than 2 hours per day
Children should avoid sitting for long periods

Sleep

9-11 hours for children aged 5-13 years, with consistent sleep and wake up times

Source: Australian Government. Department of Health and Aged Care. Physical activity and exercise guidelines for all Australians. For children and young people (5 to 17 years). (2021)

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT/REFLECTION

The Physical Activity Policy will be reviewed on an annual basis in conjunction with children, families, staff, educators and management.

SOURCES

Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. (2023). Guide to the National Quality Framework.

Australian Government Department of Health. (2014). Australia’s Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour

Guidelines

Australian Government. Department of Health and Aged Care. (2021). Physical activity and exercise guidelines for all Australians. For children and young people (5 to 17 years)

Early Childhood Australia Statement on young children and digital technologies. (2018).

Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010. (Amended 2023).

Education and Care Services National Regulations. (Amended 2023).

Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth).

NSW Government. Department of Education. (2020). Live Life Well @ School.

NSW Government Health. (2020). Eat Smart Play Smart.

NSW Government Health. Good for kids good for life

Western Australian Education and Care Services National Regulations