Aussie Childcare Network Forum

Hi guys
If there is two staff with eight children in a room, is it ok during sleep or when children sitting at table having meal, one staff leave the room to check laundry, or get more nappies...

Is it ok 2 staff with 9 children including one child orientation, parent leave the room but still in the building.

Thanks

Hi dear Lorina,
It is mixed 1-3 years room. Under 3.

Bcs educators in the room feeling stressed. Eg,If when They do both indoor and outdoor, one child poo need nappy change, it takes one staff in bath room, and the other staff feeling stressed. And if they need take bin out, etc, educator not feeling comfortable stay by herself with 8 sleeping children.
Cheers

Hi, I understand how you feel. I am in room with 3 -4s. Just yesterday I had 15 children, 13 which needed to sleep, 6 which needed sleep time nappies, 3 who were under 3, no 4 year olds as yet, and 5 who are toilet training but should still be in nappies as they can not go to the toilet at all without help. No nappy change facilities in the room so we have to go down to the babies room if there is a poo to change, otherwise the children have to stand as we take nappies off, and my second staff person went on lunch with no lunch coverage so I had to do the rest time routine by myself.
I was looking forward to the change in ratios this year, but with the new ratios came concessions for the licensees, so they can now fill the centre 'under the roofline' (although that term is not used anymore), as long as the numbers across the whole service are not more than the licence, the licensee is ok to do what they want.
We are now being told that we have to only take a 30 minute break, because they do not have to be covered, which is why I was by myself with 15 children.

I contacted the Department of Education, Training and Employment in regards to the under the roof guidelines and this is the response I received. I have highlighted in bold and italics the information regarding what I believe to be "under the roof":

Thank you for your email enquiry dated 13 September 2014 regarding ‘under the roof’ ratios.

The Department of Education, Training and Employment (the Department) is the Regulatory Authority responsible for the regulation of education and care services in Queensland under the National Quality Framework (NQF). The NQF comprises the Education and Care Services National Law (the National Law) and the Education and Care Services National Regulations (National Regulations) that apply to education and care services including most long day care centres, pre-Prep, outside school hours care services, family day care and kindergartens. Whilst most services in Queensland are regulated under the NQF, a small number of services are captured by the Queensland Education and Care Services Act 2013.

The NQF includes the National Quality Standard (the NQS) intended to promote continuous quality improvement in education and care. The Department’s website at provides useful information and resources tailored to support the implementation of the NQF in Queensland.

The Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) is the national entity overseeing the NQF in education and care services in Australia. Valuable resources including copies of the National Law and National Regulation are available on the ACECQA website.

Educator to child ratios and qualification requirements
Under the National Law, an Approved Provider of a centre based service must comply with staffing arrangements outlined in Part 4.4 of the National Regulations. This includes educator to child ratios outlined in regulation 123 and qualification requirements outlined in regulations 125 to 135, which are dependent on the size and nature of the service. In addition, Queensland also has some specific transitional provisions that also currently apply. Attached is a fact sheet which outlines the staffing requirements and qualifications in Queensland including time frames for any transitional provisions.

In accordance with regulation 121, the minimum number of educators and their qualification requirements are calculated across the service, regardless of the individual room configuration. This means that ratios are not calculated on the number of children and educators present in a ‘room’ or ‘group’. This flexibility in calculating ratios allows services the ability to tailor the operation of their service to meet the needs of families and children enrolled.

The ratio required is always calculated according to the youngest age of the child allocated to an educator for the purposes of calculating ratios. Under regulation 122 the educator must be ‘working directly with children’ at the service. Regulation 13 of the National Regulations defines ‘working directly with children’ as being both physically present with the children and being directly engaged in providing education and care to the children. Please note that an educator is still considered to be working directly with children for the purposes of the educator to child ratio requirements if they are taking a rest pause or are briefly absent in accordance with Regulations 313-317.

Adequate supervision
The educator to child ratios outlined in the National Regulations provides the minimum requirements which education and care services must meet. The Approved Provider needs to consider the size and composition of groups for educators to achieve quality education, health, safety and wellbeing outcomes for children. Beyond complying with the minimum ratios, under section 165 of the National Law, the Approved Provider and Nominated Supervisor must ensure that children being educated and cared for by the service are adequately supervised at all times.

National Quality Standards
The NQF also introduces the National Quality Standard (NQS) which is intended to promote continuous quality improvement in education and care. Services are assessed and rated against the seven quality areas of the NQS.

When considering ratios and the NQS, Approved Providers are also required to refer to the following Quality Areas within the NQS:
- Quality Area 2 – Children’s Health and Safety;
- Quality Area 3 – Physical Environment;
- Quality Area 4 – Staffing Arrangements; and
- Quality Area 5 – Relationships with Children.

Additional resources
An illustration of how ratios may be applied across a service is available on the ACECQA website.

A podcast which explains about how ratios can be applied across a service is available on the Department’s website.

It should be noted that while there are resources available, it is prudent for approved providers to seek their own legal advice to ensure that they are complying with the legislation.

I hope this information is of assistance.

Just wanted to share this information with you all,

,
Lorina

Thanks very very much. It is very clear.

Appreciated

Hi Everyone,
It sounds like the new educator to child ratios is just a big scam and the only services that have to comply with it literally is Family Day Care.
One of my new families has a sister who has a baby in a centre, when she arrived early in the day to pick up the educator was sitting on the floor in the room on her own with 8 babies around her drinking bottles etc. She asked me how on earth could this be allowed, I had no idea till I read this...... sounds like all the above information explains that scenario Its very sad
Linsaa fdc

Don't forget that in Queensland many of the older long day care services have Rest Period conditions on the service approval, and also a continued toddler ratio of 1 educator to 5 children for children aged 15 months to 2 years.. That's what the Department meant in their response by 'transitional provisions' may apply. It certainly does get confusing! As well as the ratios, don't forget that you also have to meet the educator qualification requirements, ie 50% of educators working towards or holding a Diploma level qual or higher.