Topic 3 Plan & Monitor Supervision

8/22/2019 Topic 3 Plan & Monitor Supervision

1/13

Plan & MonitorSupervision


2/13

IntroductionIn this section, you will look at:

activities that require more vigilant supervision

development of supervision plans

reviewing, updating, and implementing the Services Policies and

Procedures on supervision

requirements for travel and excursions outside the childrens service

development of policies and procedures for travel and excursions.


3/13

Why Supervise? The children in our care become our responsibility when their

parent/guardian signs them into our care. As workers paid to delivera quality programme, we have a duty of care to ensure that allforeseeable risks are minimised. Duty of care is a roleacknowledged in law.

Our knowledge of child development tells us that children learn bydoing. They are inquisitive, love to explore and enjoy trying newexperiences. Young children cannot evaluate danger, as adults do.For example, they cannot judge car speeds accurately and they areunable to determine when it is safe to cross a road. Even olderchildren are easily distracted when with their peers.

As an adult caring for children, you accept the role of ensuring theirsafety. You are legally responsible for their well-being.


4/13

When Should WeSupervised?

As you have already discovered, you must supervise AT ALL TIMES.

This supervision means constantly assessing the group and thewhereabouts of each member of the group. You will need an

understanding of the groups dynamics to know when certain mixes of

children may provoke a dangerous situation. At this time, active

intervention will be required, and children can be redirected into

alternative activities that have less risk.


5/13


6/13

Children must always be closely supervised when on a

change table (never leave them alone), in bathrooms,

when eating and drinking and when engaging in climbing

and active physical activities, such as running and

climbing.

To assist with supervision, you need to consider the

setting up of the environment and the set up ofparticular experiences which require additional

supervision (such as water play or cutting) to ensure

the whole area to be supervised by the number of staff

that are present with the group. This applies indoors,

outdoors and outside of the centre on excursions.


7/13

Other safety considerations, while supervising, are:

having effective communication between yourself and

other staff so that you let other staff know if you have to

leave an area (eg. you go into the bathroom to assist a

child). This informs them of the necessity to supervise

the whole area.

working out a supervision plan for the playground thatdenotes staff position, so that the whole area is

supervised

having a higher staffing level for the more active areas

of the playground (the higher risk areas would beclimbing equipment, swings, bikes, slopes, water

areas)

releasing children only to the person authorised to

collect them


8/13

arranging your daily routine to allow fortransition times and individual childrens time

needs for toileting, eating and completing

activities

the age spread of the children in your care -are there toddlers with 6 year olds who may

knock the younger children over?


9/13

Setting Limits &Guidelines

You must look at your environment and work out the risk factors andhow to control them. These control measures may include theguidelines and limits that you set for young children, such asclimbing only when a staff member is available to closely supervisethis activity.

Older children can assist with setting limits and rules for their play.When children are involved they take ownership of the guidelines,and often use peer tutoring to reinforce these guidelines with eachother.

Activities that have a higher risk factor need additional supervisionand guidance. Every activity of the day should be assessed, asafety plan written and guidelines communicated to all staff andchildren.


10/13

Excursions

Taking a group of children on an excursion can greatly expand their

understanding of the world around them. Excursions enable children tolearn more about their local community and gain knowledge about the

broader world. There are, however, many risks attached to excursions

and you need to be aware of these risks, when planning to take

children away from the service.


11/13

ImplementingImprovements

It is the responsibility of the Service Manager/Licensee to ensure that allstaff, visitors and families are aware of the Policies and Procedures for yourservice. Improvements must be planned with licensee, staff and parentinput.

Where the service has difficult areas to supervise (for example, a

playground that is L-shaped, with one area around a corner), the serviceshould have a plan to improve the situation. This may be a fence and gateat the end of the building, with the fenced area only used when you havesufficient staff numbers. The service may have short-term and long-termplans to rectify difficult environmental issues. The plan should clearly statethe improved outcome to be achieved, the timeframe and who will beresponsible for completing the plan.

You have looked at how your service shares information and, perhaps,listed some ways to improve the communication methods at your service.Policies must be monitored and evaluated. This forms the basis forimprovements to policies, procedures and how staff implement them.


12/13

Summary You are obligated to supervise children at all times while they are in

your care. This is defined as duty of care, which is a state

recognised in law. Children must be within sight or hearing of staff.

Part of our responsibility in supervising is to get to know andunderstand the children in our care and become familiar with their

capabilities, and ensure that the environment that we set up for them

is appropriate for their stage of development. When we offer

activities that have a higher risk of injury, we must supervise more

closely to minimise that risk.

Within play areas, staff should work out a supervision plan, so that

all areas are covered and no high risk area is forgotten.


13/13

Supervision considerations flow on to travel and excursions

outside of the normal daily environment. Because thedestination is often unfamiliar, extra precautions must be

taken. Thorough planning is the key. This may include a

pre-visit to an area to assess possible risk areas, facilities,

etc.

As with all areas, the policies and procedures that cover

supervision, travel and excursions must be reviewed and

updated annually with feedback from staff, families and

experts in the community, where possible.

Documents

Topic 3 Plan & Monitor Supervision