The Centre will maintain high levels of supervision of children at all times.
Staff Ratios
The staff: child ratios contained within the Community Services (Child Care) Regulations 1988 will be strictly adhered to at the Centre. These ratios are:
0-2 years 1:4
2-3 years 1:5
3-6 years 1:10
*Staff lunch release 11.45 am – 2.45 pm 60% of staff on duty
Child Care staff are called Child Care Giver or Qualified Child Care Giver. The staff who have industry specific Tertiary Education are called “Qualified”. Staff that assist the Qualified Staff are rotated each year. The system of rotation allows children who are progressing to an older age group to be with familiar staff.
Staff appreciate the room change and the challenge of a different age group. The Qualified staff change rooms less frequently and usually at the beginning of a year. Subicare also employs two and a half staff members above the licence requirements. These staff members are utilised daily by need demands.
Children will be appropriately supervised at all times. Staff will position themselves where they can see all the children under their supervision, listen carefully to what is happening and know the children individually so they can anticipate their needs. Staff will join in the children’s play and encourage them to try new experiences.
Children outdoors will be supervised in small groups for safety, however children will be given opportunities for self discovery and freedom of choice. Staff will judge when children need an adult to facilitate play or will join in at the child’s request. Children will be regularly reminded of safety procedures for fixed play equipment. Children will be encouraged to try new challenges as appropriate.
Children moving rooms
Children will be moved through the different care areas when it is appropriate. The decision to move a child up to the next room is based on a space being available and the child being ready to cope with the move. Staff recognize that all children develop at their own pace and our professional judgment and personal knowledge of the child is used to ensure that the child’s needs are put first.