“It’s our polite nudge in the ribs to help you and your team stay organised and on task.”
This week’s subject is Delivery and collection of children.
Element 2.2.1: At all times, reasonable precautions and adequate supervision ensure children are protected from harm and hazard.
How does your Service ensure and promote awareness of strategic practices for the safe delivery and collection of children from the Service including the safe arrival and departure of children who travel between an education and care service and any other education or early childhood service?
The approved provider of an ECEC service must ensure that any child being educated and cared for by the service will only leave the service in accordance with regulation 99.
Services should ensure a current record is maintained of authorised nominees for collection of children from the Service. Ensure this list is regularly reviewed by educators and staff and kept easily accessible for quick reference. Communicate regular reminders to your families to ensure their authorisations are up to date.
Have you created/reviewed your Safe Arrival of Children Policy and Procedure to ensure it reflects the recent requirements for the safe arrival and departure of children who travel between an education and care service and any other education or early childhood service?
The new legislative requirements that came into effect in October 2023 state that the approved provider must:
-
- ensure the service has policies and procedures in place for the safe arrival of children who travel between an education and care service and any other education or early childhood service.
- conduct a risk assessment at least once every 12 months, and as soon as practicable after becoming aware of any circumstance that may affect the safe arrival of children travelling between an education and care service and any other education or early childhood service. The safe arrival policy and procedure will be informed by the risk assessment.
- ensure that if a risk relating to a child’s travel is identified in the risk assessment, the approved provider will make any necessary updates to the safe arrival of children policies and procedures as soon as practicable and keep a record of each risk assessment conducted.
The safe delivery and collection of children are critical components of ensuring children’s overall safety and wellbeing. Adhering to the Education and Care Services National Law and Regulations, maintaining clear communication between parents and providers, and implementing robust policies and procedures are essential steps to ensuring compliance and meeting the minimum requirements of the National Quality Standard for 2.2; safety.
Resources:
Active Supervision: Ensuring Safety and Promoting Learning
Safe Arrival of Children Policy Guidelines
Within System7 go to Quality Area 2/ Modules 17 & 18 to submit self-assessment notes and if required, open a QIP issue if you identify any areas of improvement.
The Childcare Centre Desktop has a range of resources to assist services with supervision and delivery and collection of children. These include Safe Arrival of Children Policy, Safe Arriva of Children Procedure, Delivery of Children to, and Collection from Education and Care Service Premises Policy, Safe Arrival of Children Risk Assessment and much more.
Resources, NQS Element, Regulation and System7 links:
Childcare Centre Desktop – Childcare Centre Desktop
National Quality Standard – QA 2/ 2.2.1- Supervision
National Regulations – 99, 102, 102AAB, 102AAC, 102D
System7 Module – QA 2/ Modules 17 & 18
If you have any questions send us a note via the Contact page here!
