Sleep & Rest Procedures

Our aim

To meet each child's needs for sleep, rest and relaxation in a way that is safe, responsive, and respectful of the preferences and practices of each family. Most children benefit from periods of rest during the day: it helps them grow and prepares them for meaningful learning experiences.

Roseville cares for children aged 3 to 6, so this procedure focuses on how we support rest and relaxation for preschool-age children. Other centres in the Eikoh group care for younger children, and have additional procedures specific to cots, bassinets, and infant safe-sleeping practices, those parts of the wider Eikoh policy are not covered here.

What we do to meet each child's sleep and rest needs

We are required under the Education and Care Services National Regulations to take reasonable steps to ensure children's sleep and rest needs are met, having regard to age, developmental stage, and individual needs. At Roseville, that means we:

• Conduct regular risk assessments of our rest practices and environment, in line with National Regulations.
• Follow best-practice sleep and rest guidance, including Red Nose guidelines, guidance from ACECQA, and the NSW regulatory authority.
• Work closely with families and consider their cultural practices, accommodating requests about rest where these align with safe practice.
• Define clear roles and responsibilities for educators, students, and volunteers.
• Train our team on our policies and procedures at induction and at regular intervals.
• Communicate our rest and sleep practices clearly to families.
• Keep accurate daily records of rest and sleep.
• Monitor and audit compliance, and continually look for ways to improve.

Educators take families' preferences about rest and sleep into account. If a child is showing clear signs of tiredness, we will allow them to sleep or rest for a reasonable period. Where families are concerned that a rest at the service is affecting night sleep, educators will talk through expected sleep patterns with them and adjust the child's rest time at the service where appropriate. The Nominated Supervisor and educators make the final decision about a child's sleep and rest at the service, so we can meet our obligations: for example, if a resting child falls asleep without assistance in a case where the family has requested no naps, educators may allow the child to sleep for a period they believe is in the best interests of the child.

Rest time for preschoolers (3 to 6 years)

Preschool-age children at Roseville are offered sleep or rest opportunities and given the chance to choose what they would like to do, based on their family's wishes gathered in a survey at enrolment. We respect each child's sense of agency and autonomy over their choices.

In practice, this means:

1. All children are given the opportunity to sleep, rest, or have quiet activity time during the day as required.
2. Children who have a sleep or rest during the day are provided with their own bed, a fitted sheet, and a blanket as required.
3. We encourage children to lie on their back to rest, but allow them to find their own sleeping position.
4. Beds are arranged to reduce the risk of cross infection and to allow adequate space between children.
5. Children's faces are never covered by a sheet or blanket.
6. If a child has slept or chooses to sleep, families are informed via the OWNA App.
7. Children who do not wish to sleep are provided with alternative quiet activities and experiences, while those who do wish to sleep are allowed to do so without being disrupted.
8. If a child requests a rest, or is showing clear signs of tiredness regardless of the time of day, we provide a comfortable, safe area for them to rest.
9. Opportunities for rest and relaxation are provided alongside sleep, it is important that children can simply slow down, even when they do not need to sleep.
10. Beds are cleaned every day after each child's last day at the service, and as required if soiled. Bedding is washed on the same schedule.

Supervision of children at rest

To keep children safe during rest time, our educators:

• Ensure they can always see and hear sleeping or resting children, and are not distracted by other duties.
• Conduct regular physical checks of all sleeping or resting children, paying particular attention to breathing patterns and skin colour. Checks will be more frequent if there are increased risk factors, for example a medical condition, illness, or a known sleep issue.
• Monitor the temperature of the rest environment to ensure it is not too hot or cold.
• Support children to find a comfortable rest position, laying on their back is encouraged but not forced.
• Maintain appropriate educator-to-child ratios at all times, including during rest periods. Educator breaks are structured so ratios are always maintained, no child is left unattended to conduct a rest check.
• Record rest and sleep times via the OWNA App, and provide that information to families.

The rest environment

The Nominated Supervisor conducts regular safety checks of our rest environment and equipment. These checks ensure:

• Rest spaces are quiet and calm, with enough light for educators to see each child properly.
• There are comfortable spaces for children who are not sleeping or resting to engage in quiet activities.
• Hanging cords or strings (from blinds, curtains, mobiles, or electrical devices) are kept well away from beds and stretchers.
• Heaters and electrical appliances are not placed near beds or stretchers.
• No furniture in the rest area can be pulled over or collapse onto a child.
• Stretcher beds and sleeping mats are cleaned daily with detergent and warm water, and stacked neatly when not in use. They are made up with clean linen as they are placed out for the rest period.
• Sheets are checked regularly for tears or loose elastic and replaced as needed.

In the event that any equipment is subject to a product recall, we immediately stop using it and arrange a compliant replacement. Our team conducts a six-monthly check of equipment against current standards and Product Safety Australia (productsafety.gov.au) recall notices.

Working with families

We want families to feel respected and heard when discussing their child's rest preferences. The Nominated Supervisor provides an opportunity at orientation and enrolment for families to discuss their child's rest arrangements, and we share this Sleep and Rest Policy with every family at that time.

Families can help us by:

• Letting educators know about changes to their child's rest patterns at home, either in person or through the handover section in the OWNA App when signing in.
• Letting us know when their child has not slept well during the night, so we can adjust the day as needed.
• Providing written authorisation from a medical practitioner if their child has a medical condition that prevents educators from following the usual practices, for example, if the child cannot rest on their back. This is added to the child's Medical Management Plan.

We are respectful and considerate of families' cultural practices around rest. If a family's preferred practice conflicts with current Red Nose Safe Sleep Guidelines, the Nominated Supervisor and educators will discuss the guidelines with the family and explain that we must comply with them at all times, unless we receive written authorisation from a medical practitioner.

Educator training

Our educators are encouraged to complete safe sleep and rest training through Red Nose (rednose.org.au), typically every 12 months. New educators are given a copy of this policy at induction and are mentored in its use. The Nominated Supervisor checks in at regular intervals to make sure new team members are familiar with, and following, our safe rest practices.

Daily handovers between educators, verbal and written, pass on any changes to a child's rest routine. Any permanent changes (for example, a family asking that their child have only a 45-minute nap) are recorded on a chart in the room for all educators to see. Families can also record changes in the OWNA App when they sign in.

Risk assessments

We conduct a risk assessment of our sleep and rest procedures at least once every 12 months, and again as soon as practicable after becoming aware of anything that may affect the safety, health, or wellbeing of children during rest. A record of every risk assessment is kept. We use the Sleep and Rest Risk Assessment Template developed by ACECQA.

Each risk assessment considers:

• The number, ages and developmental stages of the children in our care.
• Each child's rest needs, including health care needs, cultural preferences, individual sleep and rest patterns, and requests from families.
• Staffing arrangements and how children can be adequately supervised and monitored during rest (ratios, specific skills, defined roles, and the method and frequency of checks).
• The level of knowledge and training of staff supervising rest periods.
• The location of rest areas and the arrangement of beds within them.
• The safety and suitability of beds and bedding for the ages of the children using them.
• Potential hazards in the rest area, for example unsecured furniture, curtains, blind cords, or electrical equipment, and how children might access other parts of the space as they wake.
• The physical safety and suitability of the rest environment overall: temperature, lighting, ventilation.

If circumstances change and create new risks, we update the risk assessment and this Sleep and Rest Policy as soon as practicable. New risks and how we plan to manage them are communicated to staff and families. Staff and families can access our current risk assessments at any time.

Comforters, dummies, and jewellery

Comforters

Children may bring a small comforter or soft toy for rest time if it helps them settle. Educators monitor children with comforters closely, and ensure that the child's face is never covered. We discuss safe rest practices with families and will remove a comforter if there is any concern for the child's safety.

Dummies

If a child uses a dummy at rest, it will not be replaced into the child's mouth if it falls out during sleep. We ask that dummies are not on chains or clips, as these can be a choking hazard.

Amber teething necklaces and jewellery

Based on Australian Government product safety warnings, we do not allow children to wear amber teething necklaces or bracelets at our service. This is to minimise the risk of choking on beads if the necklaces or bracelets break apart.