16 NovExcursions and Service Events Policy
Children learn more about their environment when they are out and about in their community. Community outings provide children with a variety of advantages in addition to an exciting change of scenery. The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework states that “Participating in their communities strengthens children’s sense of identity and wellbeing” (Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world). One of the most important things children will learn when attending excursions is road safety. ELAA’s Road Safety Education and Safety Transport policy is a valuable resource in ensuring children are safe while travelling as pedestrians, cyclists or passengers in a vehicle.
Excursions are a key way to develop a child’s confidence as they explore and begin to understand the real world. Excursions allow children to become familiar and confident in participating in a range of community activities. These could include watering the community garden, visiting the local bakery, the library, aged care homes and local services like the fire department, which will have a positive impact on their development and progression in education.
When planning excursions and service events, it is important to ensure that they are inclusive of all members of the service community. Additional expenses and family financial capacity must be considered. In addition, care must be taken to ensure that all children, regardless of their capacities, special requirements, or health issues, can attend.
A risk assessment must be carried out for each excursion to determine any risks to children’s health, safety or wellbeing before permission is sought from parents/guardians (Regulations 100, 101). The risk assessment must identify each risk and specify how the risk will be managed and/or minimised (Regulation 101). Written authorisation for the child to attend the excursion must be obtained from a parent/guardian or person named in the child’s enrolment record before the child can be taken outside the service premises.
Road safety education can help to reduce the risk of serious injury and death among young children by assisting them to develop skills, knowledge, and behaviour about the safe use of roads. Under duty of care obligations, services must develop appropriate procedures to guide staff to address situations where a child is observed to be at risk while being transported to or from the early childhood service. This may include instances where a child is observed to be:
- travelling unrestrained
- travelling in an inappropriate restraint
- riding a bicycle or wheeled toy without a helmet
- instances where a parent/guardian is in an unfit state to drive due to intoxication or impairment.
Does your service have an up-to-date Excursions and Service Events policy and Road Safety and Safe Transportation of Children policy?
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