Staff Supervision of Children Policy

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1. Overview

1.1 Purpose 

All children and staff need to feel safe and secure in their environment. Supervision plays a key role in consistent and responsive interactions between educators and children. Legislated ratios must be maintained and procedures followed to ensure effective supervision that optimises children’s experience at the Service

1.2 Scope

All Junior Adventures Group (JAG) People are required to comply with the provisions set out in this policy, their contract of employment and all other relevant policies, procedures and legislation.

1.3 Legislative Requirements 

Under the Education and Care Services National Regulations, Junior Adventures Group is required to have policies and procedures in place to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of the children in care.

2. Policy Statement 

JAG is committed to providing a safe and positive environment where children and young people can participate in a broad range of experiences and learning opportunities. Reasonable precautions and adequate supervision must be in place to protect children from harm and hazard. Effective and appropriate supervision supports children’s safety and wellbeing at the Service and on excursions

3. Principles

3.1 Duty of Care 

Team Members have a duty of care to ensure the safety and wellbeing of children attending the Service. As part of the group’s risk assessment process, the level of support varies for different areas to ensure the best environment for learning and exploring safely.

3.2 Supervision

Supervision is designed to support the learning and development of children attending the Service. At all times, reasonable precautions must be taken by staff to keep children free from harm and hazard. This includes identifying and pre-empting emerging hazards and acting to reduce risk while supervising children.

JAG people are required to provide active supervision of children, meaning they will engage in the program and work to ensure that children are engaged in available activities.

The staff-to-child ratio is not consistent across states and territories.

The following table presents the current ratios required:

State/territory  Education-to-child ratio
Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales   1:15
Australian Capital Territory 1:11
Western Australia 1:10 (first 12 children), then 1:13

3.3 Leading Safe Practices 

Headcounts are completed every 30 minutes to ensure all children can be accounted for. Where it is identified that a child cannot be accounted for, Team Members will immediately notify the Responsible Person in day-to-day charge and follow relevant procedures.

Boundary mapping is completed daily and is adjusted according to group size and staffing levels.

Team Members are encouraged by the Service Leaders to adhere to policies in place to keep children safe, such as wearing hats outdoors to meet sun safety requirements and appropriate clothes during outdoor play. Assisting children to adapt to their environment is part of our supervision responsibility.

3.4 Staffing 

Staffing is planned to ensure that adequate ratios are met at all times and that the team rostered on has the relevant qualifications within the ratio.

3.5 Service Responsibilities

Team Members ensure that all play areas and transitions are always adequately supervised in a manner that is sufficient to support the safety and wellbeing of children appropriate to their stage of development.

Team Members will ensure adequate supervision when children arrive at and depart the Service.

Team Members will endeavour to protect themselves and comply with the Child Protection Guidelines by avoiding being alone with children at any time in a supervisory capacity. As far as possible, Team Members will always be visible to each other (exceptions apply: refer to our Single Staff Model Policy). When Team Members are required to leave an area of supervision, they will make their intention to leave known to others and wait for approval or a replacement team member.

Team Members are aware of any visitors to the Service and are vigilant as to these persons’ access and interactions with children. All visitors will be recorded in the Visitors’ Register.
Team Members will actively engage with everyone who enters the Service and ensure that children are only released to an Authorised Nominee.

3.6 Supervision by One Staff Member

If required, team members supervising alone outside will limit children to one area of the Service environment where all children can be observed. Refer to risk management strategies as outlined in the Service Risk Management Plan. 

3.7 Transitions and Movements 

Team Members must ensure that adequate supervision is maintained throughout the service, especially throughout transitions and delivery and collection.

If an incident or concerning situation arises, Team Members must ensure that adequate supervision is maintained for all children. This is achieved by communicating their movements
with other team members.

3.8 Movement of Children between Multi-Level Service Facilities  

All children will be supervised when moving between different levels of the Service. Children will be supervised at all times if there is an elevator used to move children between levels. Elevators will only be used to assist children who have mobility assistance needs.

3.9 Child Safety   

Policies and practices reflect the relevant legislation, including the Child Safe Standards. JAG provides polices and procedures to support and equip JAG people with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to keep children safe. These practices are continuously reviewed and improved to ensure up to date practices are in effect throughout the business.

 

4. Key Terms 

 

Term

Meaning

Active supervision  Supervising while engaging the educational program, adjusting levels of supervision depending on the area in use and the skills, dynamics and size of the group of children being supervised

Authorised Nominee 

A person appointed by the enrolling parent/guardian or family member to collect the child from the care of the Service; this person must be fit for duty of care responsibility and identified upon arrival to the Service

JAG People

Any adult that governs, manages, conducts work for or provides activities to JAG in a paid or unpaid activity spanning all levels of the organisational structure. 

Service Leader

Anyone who oversees the Service in one of the following roles:

  1. The Approved Provider; if the approved provider is an individual, in other cases, a person with management or control of the Service
  2. The Nominated Supervisor of the Service
  3. A Responsible person who has been placed in day-to-day charge of the service in the absence of the Nominated Supervisor.

Team Member

JAG People who work directly with children. 

 

5. References 

Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations
Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010
Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011
Children Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010
Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations
Regulation 99 – Children leaving the education and care service premises
Regulation 115 – Premises designed to facilitate supervision
Regulation 168 – Education and care service must have policies and procedures
Regulation 170 – Policies and procedures to be followed
Related Policies
Safeguarding Children and Young People
Governance, Management and Leadership
Delivery and Collection of Children
Single Staff Model
Related Procedures
02P002 Delivery and Collection of Children Procedures
07P012 Risk Assessment Procedures
07T025 Service Risk Management Plan

Other

Quality Area 2: Elements 2.2.1, 2.23

OCG Guide to Child Safe Standards - https://ocg.nsw.gov.au/child-safe-scheme   

CCYP Child safe Standards - https://ccyp.vic.gov.au/child-safe-standards/

National Principles for Child Safe Organisations - https://childsafe.humanrights.gov.au/national-principles 

 

Version

3.0

Change History

Change Register

Date Approved

 01/07/2023

Date Implemented

01/07/2023

Document Owner

Quality Service Development

Document Approvers

CEO / Approved Provider

Next Review

12 Months