Cleaning While Supervising

[mirrorreflex]

Hi,

At my centre we do not have a cleaner. Also recently I have been working by myself with the children.
So normally I have to do the cleaning (vacuuming, sweeping, etc.) by myself with sometimes still 11 children, some of which I suspect are undiagnosed.

I don't feel like I am demonstrating a proper duty of care to child and properly supervising them because of this.

Also some of the children really act up while I am distracted with this.

Any advice on how to keep kids from acting up while trying to do cleaning?

[Lorina]

Can you gove them quiet activities to do in one part of the room that you are not cleaning? Or make a few busy bags that they can choose and complete while they are waiting. Puzzles is another good one to help keep them entertained.

,
Lorina

[Lorina]

FACEBOOK POST

When I am in the room alone with 11 children the children help me. Stack their chairs, wipe the table and sweep the floor after afternoon tea and they love to vacuum. While they sit and read books and put on their sunscreen and hats before we go outside I mop the floor, then we're ready to go. Children love responsibility, love to help, and it's teaching them good life skills for later on.

[Lorina]

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Make them clean with you! Giving children chores to complete, is a great way to make them accountable and responsible for their environment and it helps release their energy.

[Lorina]

FACEBOOK POST

Totally agree. When I worked in nursery this is just how I found time to.complete all the toys cleaning. Got a bucket of warm soapy water and 10 cloths. One for me and the rest for the children. I'd squeeze all the water out and let them go for it. Obviously they are nursery children and not doing it properly but it kept them busy so I could complete the task properly. It was amazing what skills they actually picked at such a young age.

[Lorina]

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'educators must ensure all children being educated and cared for by the service are adequately supervised at all times' - if you cannot, see , hear, account for and immediately attend to the children - cleaning should be off. BUT. We all know none of us are paid to stay after children go home and we all clean with kids in care ....

[Lorina]

FACEBOOK POST

Include them with some of it, some kids love helping

[Lorina]

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Create opportunities for the children to be included

[Lorina]

FACEBOOK POST

I'm assuming your Centre has 'ratios under the roof'. This drives me nuts!
If you are alone and a child (or you) has an accident, how easy is it for you to get help? Do you leave the room or can you get to a phone or indeed have to scream for help?
As for the cleaning, I would do the minimum you can deal with while supervising.
I agree with the other comments here. If the children are able, involve them in simple tasks, certainly not toilets though.

[Lorina]

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If someone is left by themselves, then under the roof ratio isn’t being implemented legally or effectively.

[Lorina]

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Technically within the award, we are not required to clean efficiently. We are to tidy up and general cleaning.. but actual cleaning like toilets, mopping etc is actually meant to be done by a professional. We are trained to teach and support and care for children. We are not trained in ratios of cleaning agents or in efficient cleaning methods. Technically if we clean, we aren’t even cleaning properly as we are supervising kids and not professional cleaners!

[Lorina]

FACEBOOK POST

It is not your job to do anything more then a basic cleaning, cleaning of craft or food messes, tidy toys, all of which the children should be helping with anyway. But after care cleaning should be done once the children have left and cleaning agents can be used. The only cleaning used while children are in care should be dish liquid. Other chemicals are for when the children are gone, bleach, disinfectants, deoderisers ect.

[Muppet]

Hi, I have just heard from my director that between the hours of 12 and 2, kindy staff lunches do not need to be covered as the children are over 3 years of age. If I am in the room with 21 children for a hour on my own and I still need to clean the bathroom, is this still legal. I can hear the children while I clean the bathroom but I need to stop cleaning the bathroom and move to actually see the children. I thought I saw something about cleaning in the regs, but I am unable to find it now. Please help clarify this for me

[Lorina]

First off, you are under ratio! You cant look after 21 children by yourself for over an hour! So, already your centre is not maintaining proper ratio requirements. As a sole educator you need to adequately supervisor to be counted towards ratio, meaning you need to be able to see children at all times...


Lorina

[Muppet]

Thanks Lorina,
So I take it, you haven't heard anything about educators not needed to be covered between the hours of 12 to 2 if the children in the room are all over 3 years of age?? Also, do you know if supervision and cleaning is mentioned in the regs or the childcare act??
I like to have paper proof when I speak to my director. Lol

[Lorina]

No I haven't never heard of such a thing!

Ratios should be covered at all times even during the hours of 12 - 2pm!

In the Regulations it does mention Rest Pauses but that is only for 10 minutes or less only:

299F Educator to child ratios when educator, early childhood teacher or suitably qualified person on rest pause

(1) A centre-based service is taken to meet the relevant educator to child ratio while an educator, early childhood teacher or suitably qualified person is on a rest pause if—

(a) the rest pause is not more than 10 minutes duration; and
(b) the educator, early childhood teacher or suitably qualified person has not already taken more than one rest pause that day; and
(c) there is a specified person present at the education and care service premises during the rest pause who is—
(i) not working with children; and
(ii) able to attend to children immediately if required

As per Ratio requirements, in the Regulations it states:

Educator to child ratios—centre-based services

(1) The minimum number of educators required to educate and care for children at a centre-based service is to be calculated in accordance with the following ratios—
(a) for children from birth to 24 months of age—1 educator to 4 children;
(b) for children over 24 months and less than 36 months of age—1 educator to 5 children;
(c) for children aged 36 months of age or over (not including children over preschool age)—1 educator to 11 children;
(d) for children over preschool age, 1 educator to 15 children.

For your reference: National Regulations

,
Lorina

[katebrownell86]

Hi,

At my centre we do not have a cleaner. Also recently I have been working by myself with the children.
So normally I have to do the cleaning (vacuuming, sweeping, etc.) by myself with sometimes still 11 children, some of which I suspect are undiagnosed.

I don't feel like I am demonstrating a proper duty of care to child and properly supervising them because of this.

Also some of the children really act up while I am distracted with this.

Any advice on how to keep kids from acting up while trying to do cleaning?

Hey, that sounds really challenging and definitely a lot to handle on your own. It’s tough to balance cleaning duties with proper supervision, especially with a group that size. One idea is to turn cleaning into a group activity—make it fun by involving the kids in age-appropriate tasks like “helping” to tidy up or playing a game where they mimic sweeping movements. This keeps them engaged and within view. If possible, set up safe, contained activities they can do independently while you tackle quick cleaning. But honestly, it’s worth bringing this up with your management to see if support or adjustments can be made to better ensure everyone’s safety and care.