The “under the roof” rule allows childcare centres to meet staffing ratios by counting all educators on-site, regardless of whether they are physically present in rooms with children. This means a centre may appear compliant on paper, even if individual rooms are understaffed.While originally intended to offer flexibility, educators say it’s now being used to cut corners—leaving children without adequate supervision and educators stretched beyond capacity.
A recent survey conducted by the United Workers Union (UWU) has revealed a troubling reality in Australia’s early childhood education sector: 77% of childcare workers report that their centres operate below minimum staffing levels at least once a week, with 42% saying this occurs daily.
According to respondents to a 7.30 inquiry, a technique at early childhood services known as "under the roof"—which determines the ratio of Educators to children—is being misused.
Children need safe and positive environments to learn and grow. To ensure this, services and educators need to ensure effective supervision at all times. The following article provides information on the different aspects of supervision, ranging from regulatory requirements and principles to practice strategies.
The Educator To Child Ratio Posters includes the educator to child ratios in a centre-based service for each age group and in a mixed age group. Minimum educator-to-child ratios and purposeful for services to highlight the importance of the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and for Educators to effectively supervise children within the environment. These posters will be good to display within the service for Educators and families to view.
The Staff Ratios and Adequate Supervision information, for NSW early childhood services, has been revised and updated by the NSW Regulatory Authority, NSW Department Of Education.
In a mixed age group of children, an educator who is caring for one age range of children can also be counted against another age range of children, as long as the ratio for each age range is maintained and adequate supervision is maintained at all times.
For centre-based services, some centres calculate ratios across the whole service, not by individual rooms. The term used is "under the roof".
Minimum educator-to-child ratios and purposeful for services to highlight the importance of the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children and for Educators to effectively supervise children within the environment.
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