POLICY CONTENT

Traffic related injuries remain one of the leading, preventable causes of death and serious injury for young children. Driveways, car parks, unfenced yards, private roads, and farms are particular danger areas and many young children, predominantly toddlers, are killed or injured each year in their own home driveway (Kids and Traffic, 2014; Kidsafe, 2018). Our duty of care as an Early Childhood Education and Care Service, is to provide children with an adequate level of care and protection to safeguard their health, safety and wellbeing at all times. Our School is committed to providing road safety education to help children become responsible road users as pedestrians, passengers and users of bikes, scooters, skateboards and other wheeled toys. 

NATIONAL QUALITY STANDARD (NQS)

QUALITY AREA 2: Children's Health and Safety

2.1.2	Health practices and procedures	Effective illness and injury management and hygiene practices are promoted and implemented.
2.2	Safety	Each child is protected.
2.2.1	Supervision	At all times, reasonable precautions and adequate supervision ensure children are protected from harm and hazard.
2.2.2	Incident and emergency management	Plans to effectively manage incidents and emergencies are developed in consultation with relevant authorities, practised and implemented.

  

PURPOSE

Our School will ensure best practice guidelines are implemented to ensure that children are kept safe whilst travelling as pedestrians, cyclists, and passengers in vehicles. As educators, we encourage families to participate in road safety education with their children to support them to become safe and responsible on and around roads.  
 

SCOPE 

This policy applies to children, families, staff, management, and visitors of the School. 
 

IMPLEMENTATION 

To comply with National Law and National Regulations, Early Childhood Schools are required to protect children from harm and hazards likely to cause injury. To ensure compliance, management and educators of the School will ensure best practice is adhered to, maintaining children’s health and safety.  
 
Management and Nominated Supervisor will ensure: 

• road safety education is embedded in the program supporting children’s understanding and knowledge (Kids and Traffic, Vic Roads Primary School roads information) 
• the Educational Leader educates staff about the importance of road safety 
• educators have access to regular professional development and training in road safety, complying with National Regulations and National Quality Standards 
• a comprehensive written risk assessment is undertaken prior to excursions, including the safest route for travel, method of travel, type of vehicle, required restraints, proposed pick up and destination, process of embarking the means of transport including how each child is to be accounted for upon embarking and disembarking the vehicle [Reg. 101] 
• a comprehensive risk assessment is conducted for regular outings and regular transportation at least every 12 months or whenever the risks of that transportation change- [Reg: 102C] 
• educators only allow a child to participate in an excursion or any regular outing or regular transportation with the written authorisation of a parent/guardian, in accordance with National Regulations (Refer to Excursion Policy and Safe Transportation Policy) 
• the correct use of seatbelts and/or child restraints are implemented when using a bus or car to transport children 
• there are ample helmets for children to be able to ride bikes and scooters in the outdoor environment safely 
• helmets meet Australian/New Zealand Standard 2063 and are fitted correctly 
• there are visible signs to remind families about keeping children safe including: 
  • where to park their car safely 
  • hold their child’s hand at all times 
  • listen for traffic
• parents and guardians are provided with specific road safety information, including: 
  • parking safely  
  • locking their car  
  • local area speed limits
• parents are provided with general road safety information about transporting children to and from the School, including: 
  •  driveway safety 
  • child restraint information 
  • using the kerb side door to access the car and  
  • the importance of role modelling safe road and car park use.  
  • parents have a clear understanding about our policies in order to keep children safe 
  • the Car park safety checklist is carried out on a regular basis and items requiring attention promptly rectified
• the regulatory authority is notified within 24 hours of becoming aware of a serious incident (Regualtion:12)

Nominated Supervisor / Responsible Person will ensure: 

• to regularly assess and evaluate risk assessments to facilitate continuous improvement  
• a risk assessment is completed prior to excursions to ensure the safest route and minimise or manage any potential risks 
• children participate in excursions or regular outings/ regular transportation, only if they have written parent permission 
• children are adequately supervised at all times 
• children’s attendance is checked against an accurate attendance record showing when children are within the care of the School. The record of attendance must record the time that the child arrives and departs the School and signed by the nominated supervisor or educator 
• compliance with first aid requirements of Regulation 136 is met at all times  
• adequate supervision of children is always provided 
• educator to child ratio requirements are maintained at all times, including when children are being transported as part of the School activity 
• educators remain current with roads and traffic professional development 
• educators have a clear understanding and comprehension of National Regulations and National Quality Standard in regard to keeping children safe in and around traffic 
• road safety is embedded into the program, supporting children’s understanding and knowledge 
• appropriate road safety expectations are discussed with families including: 
  • not leaving children in the car 
  • intoxication whilst driving 
  • child restraints are fitted correctly for the size and age of their child
• educators are aware of their duty of care obligations and understand how to address a situation where they observe parents/families putting children at risk of harm or injury due to unsafe practices for road/car safety- 
  • travelling in a car unrestrained 
  • parent appears unfit to drive (intoxicated, drug affected) 
  • children riding a bike without a helmet 
  • parent not supervising children crossing roads 

 Educator will:

• take every reasonable precaution to protect children from harm and from any hazard likely to cause injury  
• communicate excursion requirements with the Nominated Supervisor and Management to ensure they have a clear understanding about policy and procedures  
• ensure written parental permission is received before children leave the School premises for regular outings, regular transportation or excursions (walks to the library or park) 
• have a comprehensive understanding of the National Regulations and National Quality Standard  
• educate children about the importance of road safety, obeying the rules, listening to families, holding hands, pedestrian safety, car safety etc. 
• embed road safety guidelines into the program for children to gain a clear understanding and knowledge required to stay safe around roads and traffic 
• discuss road safety expectations and guidelines with families, including making families aware of young children’s limited capacity to judge distances and speeds of travelling vehicles 
• follow appropriate procedures in the event of a vehicle accident including children, educators or families, including informing management at the earliest possible convenience 
• adhere to their duty of care to protect children from harm and keep children safe 
• follow guidelines/procedures for discussing concerns with parents/families or reporting this concern to the Approved Provider or Police (see below)

NOTIFICATION  

Parents will be notified as soon as practicable but within 24 hours if their child is involved in an accident at the School or while under School care. Details of the incident/accident will be recorded on an Incident, Injury, Trauma and Illness Record and parents will be required to acknowledge the details upon collection of their child. 
 
If the incident/accident, situation or event presents imminent or severe risk to the health, safety and wellbeing of the child, or if an ambulance was called in response to the emergency (not as a precaution) the regulatory authority will be notified within 24 hours by the Nominated Supervisor or Approved Provider. 

Families are responsible for:

• reading, signing and dating permission forms prior to excursions to confirm they agree to the excursion conditions 
• providing written authorisation for regular outings and regular transportation at least annually 
• ensuring their child/children travels in an appropriate and approved restraint suitable for their age and weight when arriving and departing the School 
• being aware of and complying with road and car park safety requirements when arriving and departing from the School (see: Carpark safety management sheet) 
• never leaving a child/children and/or animal in the car alone at any time 
• using the ‘safety door’ when arriving and departing the School  
• being aware of the School policy relating to safe transportation of children to and from the School 
• communicate any concerns relating to their child’s wellbeing or safety to an educator or nominated supervisor.

DUTY OF CARE

All educators have a duty of care to ensure the safety of children at all times. Where a parent or guardian is observed demonstrating unsafe behaviour such as: not securing a child in a suitable restraint, parking incorrectly or driving erratically, not providing a bike helmet for the child to wear on a bike or scooter, crossing roads incorrectly, educators should- 

• talk to the parent about their concerns calmly 
• provide a copy of this policy to the parent 
• provide information to the parent about safe transportation of their child 
• provide information on car restraints and Schools to install these in the local area 
• provide information about the use of helmets when riding to the parent 
• inform the Nominated Supervisor or Approved Provider  

If the parent/guardian arrives at the School and does not appear fit to take care of the child (intoxicated or under the influence of drugs), educators should: 

• discuss their concerns with the parent  
• suggest that another parent or authorised nominee collects the child  
• contact an authorised nominee to collect the child 
• notify the police or child protection if they have any concern for the child’s safety 
• contact the Nominated Supervisor and/or Approved Provider 
• document the actions for evidence

USEFUL RESOURCES

Child Road Safety: childroadsafety.org.au 
Kids and Traffic: kidsandtraffic.mq.edu.au/ 
Kidsafe Inc: kidsafensw.org/road-safety/ 
Kids and Traffic- Early Childhood Road and Safety Education Program  
Road Safety Education Victoria Teaching Resources Early Childhood roadsafetyeducation.vic.gov.au/teaching-resources/early-chil... 
Transport for NSW Centre for Road Safety roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/aboutthecentre/resources/inde... 
Transportation of children with Additional Needs ELAA elaa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Sa... 
 

SOURCE

Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority. (2014).  
Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment. (2009). Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia. 
Early Learning Association Australia  
Education and Care National Regulations. (2011). 
Education and Care Schools National Law Act 2010. (Amended 2018). 
Guide to the Education and Care Schools National Law and the Education and Care Schools National Regulations. (2017). 
Guide to the National Quality Framework. (2017). (Amended 2020). 
Kids and Traffic: Early Childhood Road Safety Education Program. (2014): kidsandtraffic.mq.edu.au/ 
Kidsafe: Child Accident Prevention Foundation of Australia. (2018): kidsafe.com.au/statistics-2/ 
Revised National Quality Standard. (2018).