NQS

QUALITY AREA 2:  CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND SAFETY

Education and Care Services National Regulations

Purpose

Baulkham Hills Early Learning Centre has a responsibility to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of each child at all times. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children aged 1-4 years in Australia. While most drowning occurs in backyard swimming pools, it is important to be aware that children can drown in as little as 6cm of water.

Strategies

• Children will be supervised at all times in and around any body of water including water troughs, toilets, sensory trays, or any bucket or similar that holds water.

• Morning risk assessments performed to ensure no body of water is left within our environment, particularly after heavy rainfall.

• A risk assessment will be conducted prior to any excursion taking place. Particular attention will be focused upon water safety where the excursion is near a body of water. Ensure that ratios are adequate enough when around large bodies of water.

• The thermostat on the hot water system is set to a medium temperature to ensure children are not able to scald themselves when washing hands.

• Educators are not permitted to consume hot drinks or prepare any hot drinks in any area accessible to children.

• Water safety education is embedded in the educational program to help children develop lifelong safety awareness.

• Display a Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) guide near any swimming pool, wading pool, or body of water.

Responsibilities of the Approved Provider

• Ensure the service operates in line with the Children Education and Care Services National Law and the Education and Care Services National Regulations. 

• Adhere to all obligations under the Education and Care National Law and Regulations

• Ensure educators, staff, students and volunteers have knowledge of and adhere to this policy and associated procedure and are advised on how and where the policy can be accessed

• Ensure all educators, staff and volunteers participate in a comprehensive induction that includes an understanding of child safety, CPR and our Water Safety Policy 

Responsibilities of the Nominated Supervisor

• Ensure children are adequately supervised, are not subject to inappropriate discipline, and are protected from harms and hazards (National Law 166).

• Provide supervision, guidance and advice to ensure adherence to the policy at all times.

• Ensure risk assessments for excursions planned near water identify a higher staff to child ratio to ensure adequate supervision (Regulation 100, 101).

• Ensure First Aid and CPR qualifications and requirements are met at all times.

• Provide families with community messages regarding safe water practices.

• Complete detailed risk assessments that identify and assess risks associated with any water hazards and water-based activities

Responsibilities of the Educators

• Embed water safety messages into the children’s education program such as Kids Alive. 

• Ensure water troughs or containers for water play are positioned and filled to a safe level and emptied or covered securely after use. 

• Empty buckets used for cleaning immediately after use. No cleaning buckets are to be left in areas or accessible to children. 

• Discourage children from drinking grey water. Provide clean drinking water at all times. 

• Always supervise children in toilet/shower/bath facilities within the service.

• Ensure that all children are supervised while using toilets.

• Complete a daily Safety Inspection of premises to ensure that all hazards are known and minimised. When a hazard or potential hazard is detected, Educators will complete a risk assessment to address any concerns and children will be excluded from the area until the hazard has been rectified.

• Monitor all taps on the premises that children have access to and ensure they are turned off securely when not in use. Automatic timers on taps – these turn off after 7 seconds. 

• After periods of rain ensure that collections of remaining water (puddles) are either utilised as a highly supervised learning experience, or safely dispersed using a broom. In the event that the water cannot be dispersed children will be prohibited from accessing this area. 

• For water-based play experiences children must be closely and carefully supervised for the duration of the experience, with high educator to child ratios maintained. 

• Any excursions out of the service must identify water risks and a risk assessment of possible water risks must be conducted. 

• Follow emergency procedures and contact emergency Services if a child appears to be missing or unaccounted for or is involved in a serious incident or accident.

• Follow the Administration of First Aid Policy after any incident involving a water-based activity, including contacting 000 if a child is found unresponsive or has inhaled water.

• Reflect on practice and share strategies during staff meetings to maintain and improve child safety around water.

Responsibilities of the Children

Ensure that every child has an adult with them before approaching an area with water.

Responsibilities of the Families

Reinforce water safety practices with children at home.

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT/REFLECTION 

Our Water Safety Policy will be updated and reviewed annually or earlier if there are changes to legislation, ACECQA guidance or after a water-related incident. Feedback will be requested from children, families, staff, educators and management and notification of any change to policies will be made to families within 14 days.

Related Telephone Numbers

• Early Childhood Directorate – 1800619113

• Kidsafe - 02 98450890

• Emergency Services – 000

Sources

• Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. (2025). Guide to the National Quality Framework

• Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. (2023). Policy and procedure guidelines- Water Safety Guidelines

• Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics. (2016).

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

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

• KidSafe (2021). Water Safety. https://kidsafe.com.au/water-safety/

• Royal Life Saving Society Australia Toddler drowning prevention https://www.royallifesaving.com.au/families/at-home/toddler-drowning-prevention

• Victoria Government. Better Health Channel. Water safety for children.

Amendment History

This policy will be updated to ensure compliance with all relevant legal requirements every year. Appropriate consultation of all stakeholders (including staff and families) will be conducted on a timely basis. In accordance with Regulation 172 of the Education and Care Services National Regulation, families of children enrolled will be notified at least 14 days and their input will be considered prior to any amendment of policies and procedures that have any impact on their children or family

Date:

28^th January 2025

Version:

6

Last amended by:

Laura Clarke  

Next Review:

28^th January 2026

Position:

Nominated Supervisor