2.1 ENVIRONMENT
REVIEWED:
October 2005
SOURCED: Jim Greenman,
Ann Stonehouse 1998.
Trusting Toddlers,
The Australian Early Childhood
Association.
_______________________________________________________________________
POLICY
Bayside
PROCEDURE
The Childcare Act 2002 requires family day care to be conducted within a family home environment
Children are provided
opportunities to develop social and living skills based within a family home.
The Carer provides children with opportunities to engage with members of their
family and the community in ways that promote confidence, understanding, and knowledge
of living harmoniously within a family, neighbourhood and community setting.
Children will have access to appropriate living,
sleeping, and eating areas of the family home
The home environment will have:
·
Sufficient space and
comfort for children to feel at home indoors
·
Appropriate
sleeping facilities for each child
·
Outdoor play area
that extends children’s physical competence
·
Children’s
furniture for activities
·
Adequate fencing
·
Safe environment
free from hazards
The environment must
be inviting and comfortable for children.
Children should have easy access to cosy areas such as sofas, and lounge
chairs with rugs and cushions.
Provision must be made to ensure that temperature, ventilation and
lighting is appropriate so that children are not exposed to the discomfort of
extreme weather conditions. For example:
·
Shaded areas with
air flow in summer
·
Rugs placed on
uncarpeted play areas in winter (e.g. tiled areas)
Play space for
children will be presented in creative and inviting
ways that encourage children to enjoy, relax, explore, use their imagination and
have fun.
The home environment will be used to undertake everyday simple activities with
children such as exploring the garden to discover, plants, insects, birds, etc;
and counting or sorting the pegs as we hang items on the line. The home
environment provides an abundance of learning opportunities both indoors and
outdoors.
Indoors:
Carers provide:
·
Safe indoor space
that allows for easy supervision
·
Spaces for
children to store their items brought from home in a manner that is easily
accessible throughout the day
·
Access to
materials, books, games appropriate to age
·
Provide a wide
range of play materials that children can use in creative and imaginative ways
·
A sense of
belonging by displaying within the family home an example of the child’s art,
craft, photographs of the child and their family, and/or their construction
work
·
Materials that
help children explore feeling and differences
·
A space to store
children’s work in progress
Outdoors:
Carers provide:
·
A safe outdoor
environment
·
Shaded areas for
play
·
An appreciation of
and engagement with the natural environment
·
Outdoor equipment
that can be moved and adapted to create stimulating play spaces for children
·
Play equipment
that provide choice, interest, variety and challenge for children
·
Opportunities for
gross motor activity
Approval of Residence:
When a Carer is registered with the service both the Carer and their home
is approved to conduct a family day Carer business from that property.
Therefore, continuation of the certificate of approval is not automatic when a
carer moves to new premises. The new home environment must be
approved by the service, therefore, a Carer who changes residence, will
be required to undertake the re-approval process. If a home is not suitable and
safe to offer quality experiences based on family life then the certificate of
approval will be withdrawn.