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Excursion Policy

This document outlines an excursion policy for a childcare center. It discusses ensuring children's safety and wellbeing during excursions by conducting risk assessments, obtaining parent authorization, and following regulations regarding transportation and supervision ratios. The policy aims to allow excursions that enhance learning while fully complying with national quality standards and regulations.

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AstaSunt
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109 views

Excursion Policy

This document outlines an excursion policy for a childcare center. It discusses ensuring children's safety and wellbeing during excursions by conducting risk assessments, obtaining parent authorization, and following regulations regarding transportation and supervision ratios. The policy aims to allow excursions that enhance learning while fully complying with national quality standards and regulations.

Uploaded by

AstaSunt
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Excursion Policy

Excursions/Incursions enhance children’s learning by proving them the opportunity to participate in


curriculum planned activities and experiences to gain skills and knowledge in the current interest. Our
Service recognises that excursions provide opportunities for children to explore the wider community as a
group and extend on the educational program provided.

National Quality Standards (NQS)

Quality Area 2: Children’s Health and Safety


2.3.1 Children are adequately supervised at all times
2.3.2 Every reasonable precaution is taken to protect children from harm and any hazard likely to
cause injury.

National Education and Care Regulations

99 Children leaving the education and care service premises


100 Risk assessment must be conducted before excursion.
101 Conduct of risk assessment for excursion.
102 Authorisation for excursion.
168 Policies and Procedures are required

PURPOSE
To ensure that all excursions and incursions undertaken by the Service are planned and conducted in a
safe manner, maintaining children’s wellbeing at all times in accordance with National Legislation. We
believe excursions/incursions provide the children with the opportunity to expand and enhance their
skills and knowledge gaining insight into their local community.

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

IMPLEMENTATION
Excursions will be conducted with the children’s safety and wellbeing in mind at all times. We will
regularly schedule incursions and visitors to our Service, however, if we feel an excursion will benefit the
children we will adhere to the National Regulations and Service policies and procedures.

Continued:

Excursion Policy Childcare Centre Desktop / Childcare Policies / QA2


Excursion Risk Assessment
• Management must conduct a risk assessment which reflects national regulation 101 before an
authorisation is required under regulation 102 to determine the safety and appropriateness of
the excursion.
• The Service will use an Excursion Risk Assessment
• The Service will notify families about the excursion using an Authorisation for Excursion
• Families have a right to view the risk assessment prior to the excursion upon request in which the
Service must comply with ensuring all information is available.
• A risk assessment must
1. Identify and assess risks that the excursion may pose to the safety, health and wellbeing of
any child being taken on the excursion
2. Specify how the identified risks will be managed and minimised
3. Consider the proposed route and destination for the excursion and any water hazards
4. Reflect on any risks associated with water based activities
5. Contemplate the transport to and from the proposed destination for the excursion
6. Consider the ratio of adults to children involved in the excursion
7. Consider the risks posed by the excursion, the number of educators or other responsible
adults that is appropriate to provide supervision and whether any adults with specialised
skills re required (for example: life-saving skills)
8. Consider the planned activities
9. Determine the duration of the excursion
10. Consider items that should be taken on the excursion (mobile phone, emergency contacts,
first aid kit, medical plans etc)

Parent Authorisation
• The Nominated Supervisor must ensure that a child is not taken outside the Service premises on
an excursion unless written authorisation has been provided under sub regulation (4)
• The authorisation must be given by a parent or other authorised person named in the child’s
enrolment record
• The authorisation form must state
1. The child’s name
Excursion Policy Childcare Centre Desktop / Childcare Policies / QA2
2. The reason the child is to be taken outside the premises;
3. The date the child is to be taken on the excursion (unless the authorisation is for a regular
outing);
4. A description of the proposed destination for the excursion;
5. The method of transport to be used for the excursion;
6. The proposed activities to be undertaken by the child during the excursion;
7. The period the child will be away from the premises;
8. The anticipated number of children likely to be attending the excursion;
9. The anticipated ratio of educators attending the excursion to the anticipated number of
children attending the excursion
10. The anticipated number of staff members and any other adults who will accompany and
supervise the children on the excursion;
11. That a risk assessment has been prepared and is available at the Service.
• If the excursion is a regular outing, the authorisation is only required to be obtained once in a 12
month period.

Transportation for Excursion


• It is a requirement of the National Regulation that the means of transport is stated on the risk
assessment record and parent authorisation record.
• The means of transport may mean:
1. Bus
Management must ensure that the seating capacity as displayed on the compliance
registration is not surpassed. All children must sit on seats, preferably with, or close to, an
adult. Seat belt guidelines must be followed depending on the bus. If the bus has seat belts,
they must be worn at all times
2. Train
Management will be required to contact the local station prior to the excursion to inform
them of the time you will be travelling, the destination and the number of children and
adults who will be travelling.
Provisions should be made to ensure children have ample time to board the train safely and
in an unhurried way. This will allow the station to inform the train guard so that they can
hold the train for the period of time for safe boarding and descending. All children should be

Excursion Policy Childcare Centre Desktop / Childcare Policies / QA2


seated at all times, with an adult close by. All children should be seated in the one carriage, if
possible.
3. Car
Any motor vehicle that is used to transport children on an excursion (other than a motor
vehicle seating more than nine persons) must be fitted with child restraints and/or seatbelts
that are appropriate for the age and weight of each child, that conform to the Australian
Standards, and are professionally installed or checked by an authorised restraint fitter.

Insurance
• Management must review their insurance policy prior the excursion to ensure liability is
protected by the Service.

Source
• The Business of Childcare, Karen Kearns 2004
• Education and Care Services National Regulation 2015
• National Quality Standards
• Early Years Learning Framework

Review
Policy Reviewed Modifications Next Review Date

May 2017 - Minor terminology changes made May 2018

Excursion Policy Childcare Centre Desktop / Childcare Policies / QA2

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