Group Size and Ratios For 3 to 4 Year Olds

[Tracymay]

Our centre has grouped the three to four year olds in one room with two diploma trained staff. There are 20 children in this group. Should we be having more help?!

[panga38]

Is the room approved capacity up to 20 children?
What ratios are you going by? How old is the youngest and oldest child?
Have you talked to your Line about your concerns, could be you just need the operational ratios explained to you. It is your right to ask and as an educator in the room, you must be able to explain the ratios in operation, so ask please!

[Tracymay]

The room is plenty big enough, the children are all over 3 there is nobody under 3 and the oldest is 4. We are concerned that when we go out to change a child after they have had an accident for example, there is only one member of staff left there with all the children.

[Lorina]

As of January 2016, the ratios are changing for each age group since you are in Sydney the ratios for children 36 months old till preschool age is 1:10 which is what it is currently, so you are not out of ratio with only 2 educators for 20 children. When an educator has to step out of the room to deal with an incident, it is OK for you to be left alone with the children for less than 5 minutes but more than that you need to have another educator be with you until the other educator gets back. However, if you are left alone with the children, other staff need to be aware and need to be able to "jump in" if you need help while the staff member is gone. If you are outside, I wouldn't recommend you being by yourself as you need more supervision requirements.

One way to deal with this though if a educator has to step out of the room is to gather all the children together and quickly play a quick game such a musical statues. The children can be where they are and you can keep an eye on them from where you are. Even though this may disrupt their play, it may be easier to handle and it shouldn't happen to often during the day. I mean not every time the educator leaves the room, only when you're by yourself for longer periods of times while one of you is dealing with incidences etc.

Hope this helps,

,
Lorina