100% staffing for breaks

[Danika Kelly]

WA has a new regulation coming in on August 1st which will introduce the 100% staffing rule for lunch breaks etc. Just wondering if those of you in other states who have had this in place for some time now can shed some light on how you manage a roster to maintain this throughout the day? Do you have extra staff hired just to cover for breaks and if so do you have someone for each room in a long day care setting? A big change for us!!

[JNP]

Hi Danika,
I work at a Council run kindergarten and the team leader comes in the room during her planning time to cover lunch breaks.
Jules.

[Lorina]

At some centres during lunches, we've had the director cover shifts, a part time worker coming for the afternoon to cover breaks and programming time or a floater. We never went on a break all at once, it has always been scattered from 12:00 up until 2:30 until we all had our breaks and we combined rooms as well to keep in ratio(mind you these were all small centres, so this was possible). Our director always was there on hand to help with the ratio during the time although she was "off the floor" she always stepped in during lunches to cover us.

I think it's a good rule! At least it gives each educator a chance for an actual lunch break without having to run back and forth or having to go back on te floor during the middle of your lunch break...

,
Lorina

[fchaudari76]

I have always had 2 - 3 floats who always cover breaks and lunches, or I as Director covered some lunches myself.
I find covering 100% breaks is always much better even though can mean more staff.