Supervision

[Sophie111]

Hi,

I want to get clarification of scenario below. Children are above 3 years old. I am certificate iii.

Scenario:
We have 3 educators with 28 children in the room. We provide indoor and outdoor program the whole day. When there were more children outside (let's say 15 children) and I was the only one outside, would it be ok to supervise the children by myself?
My understanding is if more children were outside, 1 educator needed to come out and assist me to supervise the children. Children's safety is first priority. What do you think?

Thank you

[Lorina]

Hi!

Depending on the state you are in Australia the ratio is 1:10 or 1:11. So this means by yourself you can look after for example 11 children. If there are more children then yes you need another Educator with you because you are out of ratio.

Here are the ratio requirements: Educator To Child Ratios

Hope this helps!

,
Lorina

[Sophie111]

Hi Lorina,

Yes, it helps. Thank you for your reply.

[Lorina]

You're welcome!

,
Lorina

[ijakome628]

Hi,

I want to get clarification of scenario below. Children are above 3 years old. I am certificate iii.

Scenario:
We have 3 educators with 28 children in the room. We provide indoor and outdoor program the whole day. When there were more children outside (let's say 15 children) and I was the only one outside, would it be ok to supervise the children by myself?
My understanding is if more children were outside, 1 educator needed to come out and assist me to supervise the children. Children's safety is first priority. What do you think?

Thank you

The NQF, and the regulations under it, prioritize adequate supervision. While the exact ratios vary by age group and state/territory, 1:15 for children over 3 is generally *not* considered adequate, especially outdoors. Outdoor environments present more risks (running, climbing, potential for getting lost, etc.). An outdoor environment inherently carries more risks than indoors. More children increase the complexity of risk assessment and the difficulty of mitigating those risks. You need enough educators to actively scan, supervise, and intervene effectively. Effective supervision isn't just *being* present; it's *active* supervision. This means constantly scanning, anticipating potential hazards, and interacting with children to guide their play and behavior. 15 children significantly reduces your ability to do this effectively.