Water Safety Policy

NQS

QUALITY AREA 2: CHILDREN’S HEALTH AND SAFETY

2.1.2	Health practices and procedures	Effective illness and injury management and hygiene practices are promoted and implemented.
2.2	Safety	Each child is protected.
2.2.1	Supervision	At all times, reasonable precautions and adequate supervision ensure children are protected from harm and hazard.
2.2.2	Incident and emergency management	Plans to effectively manage incidents and emergencies are developed in consultation with relevant authorities, practiced and implemented.

Education and Care Services National Regulations

101	Conduct of risk assessment for excursions
115	Premises designed to facilitate supervision
122	Educators must be working directly with children to be included in ratios
126	Centre based services-general educator qualifications
168	Education and care service must have policies and procedures

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.
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.

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 (National 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.

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.

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.

Definitions, Terms & Abbreviations

Term	Definition
CPR	Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

Related Statutory Obligations & Considerations

Related Telephone Numbers

Early Childhood Directorate – 1800619113
Kidsafe - 02 98450890
Emergency Services – 000

Amendment History

Version	Amendment	Date
002	Grammar errors fixed Formatting NQS & Regulations Added	January 2020
003	Added excursion water risk assessment	January 2021
004	Formatting NQS updated	January 2022
005	No changes	January 2023
006	Added Morning Risk assessments	January 2024
007	Added timer on taps	January 2025

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:

Last amended by:

Laura Clarke

Next Review:

28^th January 2026

Position:

Nominated Supervisor