The approved provider, nominated supervisor of an education and care service, and family day care educator must take reasonable steps to ensure that the sleep and rest needs of children in their care are met. In doing so, they must consider the ages, developmental stages, and individual needs of each child.
The sleep and rest policies and procedures required under regulation 168(2)(a)(v) must address:
- how children will be protected from any risks identified in a risk assessment conducted under regulation 84C
- how the sleep and rest needs of children being educated and cared for by the service are met, including how the ages, developmental stages and the sleep and rest needs of individual children are considered
- how the health care needs of individual children being educated and cared for by the service are met
- how requests from families about a child’s sleep and rest and cultural preferences are considered
- supervision and monitoring during sleep and rest periods, including:
- the method and frequency of checking the safety, health and wellbeing of children during sleep and rest periods; and
- the documentation of sleep and rest periods
- how the sleep and rest practices at the service are consistent with any current health guidelines on the best practices to adopt to ensure the safety of children during sleep and rest
- the induction, training and knowledge of staff who educate and care for children at the service in relation to best practices for children’s sleep and rest
- the location and arrangement of sleep and rest areas at the service and how this meets the sleep and rest needs of children being educated and cared for by the service
- safety and suitability of cots, bedding and bedding equipment, having regard to the ages and developmental stages of children who will use the cots, bedding and bedding equipment
- management of potential hazards:
- in sleep and rest areas
- on a child during sleep and rest periods
- management of physical safety and suitability of sleep and rest environments (including temperature, lighting and ventilation)
- in the case of a family day care service that provides overnight care, management of risks relating to overnight care at each family day care residence or approved family day care venue of the service
- communication of the sleep and rest policies and procedures to a parent.
Read the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) information about safe sleep and rest:
- Legislative requirements relating to sleep and rest
- Sleep and rest policies and procedures
- Risk assessment
- Prohibition of bassinets
- Portacots
- Prams and strollers with bassinet fittings
- What can services do
- Best practice guidance from recognised authorities (such as Red Nose Australia).
This guidance is based on evidence and is currently being updated with practical information.
Download ACECQA’s policy guidelines on Sleep and rest for children (PDF, 232 KB) to help your service develop and review your own policies and procedures.
Updated