Sun protection

• Educators and staff will consider the availability of shade(s) when planning and implementing outdoor activities and excursions (where applicable).
• Educators and staff will check on the UV index prior to outdoor activities on a daily basis.
• Educators and staff will apply sunscreen, which is at least SPF 30+ broad spectrum and water resistant, at least 20 minutes prior to commencing outdoor play. Sunscreen will be reapplied for afternoon play periods when required.
• Educators and children are required to wear a sun-safe hat that protects their face, neck and ears, and clothing that covers as much of the skin as possible – especially the shoulders, back and stomach.
• Educators and staff will act as role-models and demonstrate sun-safe behaviour.
• Educators and staff will ensure that children have access to safe drinking water throughout the day, in both indoor and outdoor settings.
• Sun protection will be incorporated regularly into the service's programme, thus providing children with opportunities to learn and develop skills for life.

Tobacco, drug and alcohol-free environment

• The service has a duty of care to provide a safe and healthy environment for all the stakeholders - by ensuring that the licensed environment is free from the use of tobacco, illicit drugs and alcohol.
• The service does not permit the smoking of any substances in any licensed area utilised by educators, staff, families or the children. This includes the building, outdoor play areas, garden, pathways and car park.
• Educators, staff, volunteers and community visitors must not consume alcohol or drugs (including prescription medications) that may impair their capacity to provide education and care to children at the service. This does not mean that persons who require prescription medication will be excluded, but rather that consideration be given as to whether that medication will affect the person's capacity to provide education and care to the children.
• Educators and staff will work collaboratively with one another, families and community to become actively involved in maintaining a healthy environment and lifestyle.

Child protection

• The service is committed to child protection, and providing a child-safe environment, and in which, children are made to: 
  - Feel safe and protected from harm.
  - Be heard.
  - Be respected and have input into planning and activities.
  - Have their best interests considered and upheld.
• The service has a duty of care to ensure that all persons are provided with a high level of safety and protection during the hours of operations.
• The service's goal is to ensure that every reasonable precaution is taken to protect children being educated and cared for by the service from harm. The service has a responsibility to defend children's right to care and protection to ensure their safety, welfare and wellbeing, and a responsibility as Mandatory Reporters to report any children at significant risk of harm.

Child, parent and visitor safety

• Educators and staff respect and invite visitors from the community; and are respectful to the rights and obligations of Authorised Officers and Auditors from the regulatory departments, and to allow them to enter the premises. However, with this open and inviting environment, educators and staff have a duty of care and responsibility to protect the health and safety of each individual present at all times, and from unexpected or unwelcome persons who attempt to enter the premises.
• Unknown and/or uninvited visitors will be asked to identify themselves and their purpose. Educators and staff reserve the right to request Identification.
• All adults are responsible for ensuring internal doors and gates are shut after opening, and if they require the access of any area, which has a child-proof lock on it (such as the adult bathroom and kitchen), then this lock is to be securely closed afterwards. Any potentially dangerous products used by anyone must be kept out of children's reach whilst in use and returned to locked areas after use.
• Adults are asked to maintain and be consistent with the service's rules and limits, and to assist and encourage the children to play safely and be respectful of one another.
• If a person is going to be working directly with, or as a direct carer or supervisor of a group of children, they will be asked to provide proof of their working with children check status.
• Educators and staff will consistently maintain the environment, to ensure that the health, safety and wellbeing of children being educated and cared for are protected.
• If educators and staff become aware of an unknown stranger, loiterer or unauthorised collection person around the premises, and they feel they may cause a concern or a threat to the safety for themselves or the children, they have the right to deny their access into the premises.

Arrival and departure

• As indicated on the Enrolment Package, parents or guardians need to provide a list of authorised nominees who are permitted to collect the child from the service, and to ensure this information is kept updated.
• In the event where there is an unavoidable emergency, and no one from the authorisation list is available, then the parent must contact an educator or staff and provide full details of a nominated person. The nominated person will need to provide photographic identification on arrival and follow the service's sign-in and sign-out procedures.
• The person collection to the child must produce photographic ID if requested by an educator or staff.
• The transport provided must appear to be safe and in accordance with current laws, recommendations and standards (this includes child restraints, bike helmets and vehicle safety.
• Educators and staff will manage confrontation that arises over custody and a non-legal parent who is attempting to collect a child. Educators and staff will make every effort to keep the child at the service, while attempting to contact the legal parent, guardian or authorised nominee. If the confrontation becomes aggressive, and children and/or educators and staff are at risk, the educators and staff will allow the collector and child to leave (to ensure the safety and wellbeing of others in their care). The incident will immediately be reported to the Police Department, and the Regulatory Authority. Educators and staff will make every effort to contact the legal parent as soon as possible. Documentation and ongoing update of information will be made and kept with the children's files.

Acceptance and refusal of authorization

• The service is guided by and need to give consideration to the Children (Education and Care Services National Application Law) Act 2010 and Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011. Educators and staff will ensure that any actions will be in accordance with the correct authorisations as described in these regulations.
• Provide all stakeholders with a clear procedure for correct authorisations for actions such as administration of medications, collection of children, excursions and providing access to personal records.
• A waiver of the compliance is applied where a child requires emergency medical treatment for conditions such as anaphylaxis or asthma, or other accident and emergency, which are deemed to require immediate emergency services. Educators and staff can administer medication without authorisation in these cases, provided that the parent, guardian or authorised nominee is contacted as soon as is practicable afterwards.

Child supervision

• Educators and staff will be aware of the different ages, personalities, behaviours and characteristics of the children in their care. How children interact, communicate and play with one another is dependent on the educators and staff building relationships with children to learn about who they are, how they react in certain situations and discover their interests. These are vital skills to develop as they assist educators and staff to predict children's play patterns, which affects how educators and staff plan and establish environments and coordinate supervision strategies to maximise children's safety and ability to play free from harm or injury.
• Active supervision is a combination of listening to and watching children play, being aware of the environment and its potential risks, the weather conditions, the time of day, managing small and large groups of children, and an understanding of child development including theories about how children play.
• Educators and staff will interact with the children without disturbing the flow of free and creative play. However, as outdoor play is asocial experience for all children, any inappropriate behaviour will be addressed as soon as possible.

Storage of dangerous substances and dangerous equipment

• The service will reduce the use of dangerous products within the environment by introducing eco-friendly cleaning options.
• The service endeavours to provide a safe environment where the use of chemicals and hazardous equipment are minimised, and if used, these are safely stored away from children and handled appropriately.
• All potentially dangerous chemicals and products will be stored and made inaccessible to the children, either in a locked cupboard (such as in the nappy change area, laundry, kitchen and children's bathrooms) and/or out of reach.
• All potentially dangerous chemicals and products will be stored in original and/or clearly labeled containers and where possible, have a child resistant lid or cap in place. For example, toxic paint, petrol, insecticides etc will be kept in the locked outdoor shed and clearly labeled.
• The service will display and discuss with the children the 'Stay out' hand symbols. Safety and potential dangers around the service will be discussed with the children regularly within the programme and spontaneously throughout the daily routine. Educators and staff will intentionally scaffold the children's understandings of danger and why and how these materials or equipment might be dangerous.
• It is the aim of the service to minimise the use of toxic products where possible, without jeopardising health and safety within the service. Educators and staff will use the least hazardous product for each particular job – attempting to use bio-degradable alternatives and environmentally friendly options where possible
• Disposal of unwanted chemicals, medication, substances or equipment, is to be done safely and in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, WHS regulations, local council regulations or Department of Health advice as relevant.