Physical Environment Policy

Fencing and security

At FIRST IDEA FAMILY DAY CARE SERVICES, we ensure that any outdoor space used by children at a family day care residence or venue must be enclosed by a fence or barrier that is of such a height and design that children of preschool age and under, cannot go through, over or under it.
Family day care educators should ensure that the placement of any outdoor play equipment or permanent structures (such as a shed) in relation to the fence or barrier, nothing that some equipment may provide potential foothold to scale a fence.
Where possible the fence should be designed to allow children to view the outside world. The construction of the fence should be appropriate to any additional safety concerns

Furniture, materials and equipment

At FIRST IDEA FAMILY DAY CARE SERVICES, Service we ensure that each child at our service has access to sufficient furniture, materials and developmentally appropriate equipment, whilst ensuring the safety, age appropriate equipment and materials.

GLASS SAFETY

If a glazed area of a family day care residence or venue is accessible to the children, and situated 1 metre or less above the floor level, the following is required

• Safety glazing, if required by the Building Code of Australia, or
• Treatment with a product that prevents glass from shattering if broken (such as safety film),or guarding with barriers that prevent a child from hitting or falling against the glass
• Family day care educators should ensure placing easy-to see stickers at adult and child height on glass panels or doors, and ensure that glass areas are well lit

INDOOR SPACE REQUIREMENTS

• We ensure that the specified indoor play space for family day care children must be exclusively available to the children while they are being educated and cared for, to facilitate a safe environment free from overcrowding, and reduces the likelihood of health risks associated with cramped and confined spaces
• We ensure that the indoor space must be well ventilated, has adequate natural light, be maintained at a temperature that ensures the safety and wellbeing of children
• We ensure that adequate and appropriate hygienic facilities are provided for nappy changing, including adult hand washing facilities within the nappy changing area.

LAUNDRY AND HYGIENE FACILITIES

We ensure that laundry facilities at the family day care residence or venue or access to laundry facilities for dealing with soiled clothing, including access to hygienic facilities for storage prior to laundering or disposal

OUTDOOR SPACE REQUIREMENTS

• The outdoor space must be enclosed by a fence or barrier that is of a height and design that children pre-school age or under cannot go through, over or under it.
• Ensuring that the outdoor space includes adequate shaded outdoor play space to protect children from harmful exposure to the sun
• Ensure adequate supervision even if there is a corner in the outdoor play space
• Have barriers or enclosures around stairways, ramps and balconies to ensure that the children cannot become trapped, fall through or climb up

TOILET AND HYGIENE FACILITIES

We ensure that adequate, developmentally and age-appropriate toilet, washing and drying facilities are located and designed to enable safe and convenient use by children.

National Quality Framework

Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010	Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011	National Quality Area	National Quality Standards
161-175	30, 103, 104, 105, 106, 109, 110, 116, 117, 169	3	3.1.1, 3.1.2, 3.2.1,
		7	7.2.2, 7.3.1, 7.3.5

RELATED RESOURCES

• Children’s Health and Wellbeing Act 2009
• Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005
• Children, Youth and Families Act 2005
• Disability Discrimination Act 1992
• Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic)
• Public Health and Well Being Act 2008
• Health and Safety Act 2004
• Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cwlth)
• Information Privacy Act 2000
• Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
• Working with Children Act 2005

RELATED POLICIES

• Assessment of Educators, Assistants, and Persons Residing at the Family day care Residence Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Code of Conduct Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Complaints and Grievances Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Emergency and Evacuation Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Engagement or Registration of Family day care Educators Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Mentor, Support and Supervise Educators and Assistants Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Sun Protection Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Visitors to Family day care Residences Policy and Procedures V3.2016
• Water Safety Policy and Procedures V3.2016

REVIEW

POLICY REVIEWED	July 2018	NEXT REVIEW DATE	July 2019
MODIFICATIONS	Policy created for First Idea Family Day Care Services, inclusive of changes to the National Quality Standards and Education and Care National Regulations