Child Safety Statement of Commitment

Syndal Preschool places the highest priority on the care, wellbeing and protection of children.

Children learn best when they feel safe, supported and respected as individuals. Child safety is an integral part of the Syndal Preschool philosophy. Supporting each child’s cultural, linguistic, developmental and physical safety is paramount. Only then can children reach their full learning potential, supported through active participation, experimentation and play.

We recognise children’s wellbeing from birth as both a prerequisite for and an outcome of learning. Supportive relationships and active skill building with adults in their family and community are central to children’s wellbeing. 

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Syndal Preschool upholds the image of the child as a rights holder and a competent learner with capacities to learn from birth. (VEYLF)

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We recognise and respect Aboriginal cultures and their unique place in the heritage and future of Victoria.

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We celebrate the wealth of learning and experience that is available within our local community and acknowledge that every child will take a unique path in their developmental and learning journey. All children will require different levels of support, some requiring significantly more than others.

Syndal Preschool is committed to safeguarding children against sexual, physical, psychological and emotional abuse and/or neglect, and is always working to achieve this.
 

Child Safety Policies

Child Safe Environment

Delivery and Collection of Children

Emergency and Evacuation

Excursions and Service Events

Supervision of Children

Code of Conduct

Participation of Volunteers and Students

Interactions with children

Inclusion and Equity

Note.

Our policies can be found in the foyer contained in the Policy folder.  Anyone is welcome to attend the kinder and review these policies.

The Victorian Child Safe Standards 

On 26 November 2015, the Victorian Parliament passed the Child Wellbeing and Safety Amendment (Child Safe Standards) Bill 2015 (Vic.) to introduce Victorian Child Safe Standards (the standards) into law. For organisations funded by the Victorian State Government, such as kindergartens, the standards will be phased in from 1 January 2016.  

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What are the Victorian Child Safe Standards?

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The standards were publicly released on 29 September 2015 after consultation with stakeholders. They are aimed at creating child safe environments and promoting cultural change in the way organisations manage the risk of child abuse and neglect.


Child safe organisations must have:

  • strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety, including through effective leadership arrangements

  • a child safe policy or statement of commitment to child safety

  • a code of conduct that establishes clear expectations for appropriate behavior with children

  • screening, supervision, training and other human resources practices that reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing personnel

  • processes for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse

  • strategies to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse

  • strategies to promote the participation and empowerment of children.

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 In complying with the child safe standards, organisations must include the following principles as part of each standard: 

  • promoting the cultural safety of Aboriginal children

  • promoting the cultural safety of children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds

  • promoting the safety of children with a disability.
     

Student physical and sexual abuse and neglect

Children’s right to be safe are fundamental to our work. It is crucial that each child is protected against physical and sexual abuse, and neglect.

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When preschool educators form a belief that a child may be at risk of harm due to sexual abuse or physical injury that results from abuse or neglect, they have a legal responsibility to notify the Department of Human Services.

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In 2010, education and human services stakeholders established a joint protocol ‘Protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people’ to provide a unified and consistent approach that defines roles and responsibilities to protect the safety and wellbeing of all Victorian children and young people. The protocol provides information for licensed children’s services and Victorian schools to take appropriate action when it is believed that a child has suffered harm, or is likely to suffer harm, through abuse or neglect.

 

Educators follow:
 “A step-by-step guide to making a report to Child Protection or Child FIRST “
 

Developmental Referral Pathways

 

Where necessary, educators together with support from families, determine appropriate referral pathways based on the individual needs of children. Some of the organisations include:

 

  • Preschool Field Officer

  • Kindergarten Inclusion Support

  • General Practitioners

  • Speech Therapists

  • Occupational Therapists

  • Audiologists

  • Optomotrists

  • Psychologists

  • Child First

  • Department of Human Services

  • Monash Youth – Wavecare

Anaphylaxis

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Anaphylaxis is a severe and sudden allergic reaction and is potentially life threatening. The most common allergens in school-aged children and young people are peanuts, eggs, tree nuts (e.g. cashews), cow's milk, fish and shellfish, wheat, soy, sesame seeds, latex, certain insect stings and medications. 

Syndal Preschool recognises the key to prevention of anaphylaxis is education, awareness, planning, risk minimization and prevention.

Syndal Preschool has an anaphylaxis management policy.

Emergencies and Natural Disasters

 

Syndal Preschool has an emergency management plan that identifies procedures to follow in the event of an emergency. If an emergency should occur, preschool staff will enact the emergency management procedures to support and meet the needs of children and families.

 

If there is an emergency situation during the kindergarten day, the safety and wellbeing of children is our highest priority. No child’s details will be released to anyone other than those authorised on their enrolment form.

 

To assist the staff of Syndal Preschool to prepare for and manage emergencies, we ask you to:

  • ensure your child’s emergency contact details held by the preschool are always up to date

  • ensure preschool staff are alerted to any special medical or dietary requirements of your child

  • any person, other than yourself, coming to collect your child must be included on the confidential enrolment form, be over the age of 16 years and bring photo identification

Smoke Free Learning Environments

 

Smoking is banned in all preschools across Victoria. Smoking is also banned within four metres of an entrance to, all Victorian Childcare Centres, Kindergartens, Primary and Secondary Schools. This ban ensures that children and young people can enter and leave these areas without being exposed to harmful second-hand smoke.

 

Second-hand tobacco smoke is particularly dangerous to children because they have smaller airways and less developed immune systems compared to adults.

Cybersafety

Access to the online world offer children the chance to explore a virtually limitless world. It provides new opportunities for learning, but like the real world, there are dangers that exist. To address this, the State and Australian Governments have developed information brochures to assist parents.

https://www.esafety.gov.au/esafety-information/esafety-issues/offensive-or-illegal-content

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Parents Guide to Online Safety
Syndal Preschool addresses Cyber safety through our 'Information Technology Policy'. The preschool uses iPads and the Apple TV to enhance learning opportunities for children. Apps are chosen specifically for their learning value and iPads are locked so that children are only able to use the app chosen by educators.

http://www.cybersmart.gov.au/~/media/Cybersmart/Documents/Documents/Parents_guide_to_online_safety.pdf

Parent Complaints

Syndal Preschool is committed to treating everyone with dignity and respect and encourages good communication between parents and the Preschool.

 

Syndal Preschool follows the “Complaints and Grievances Policy” when managing and processing your complaint.

 

For details on how to raise a concern or make a complaint, please follow the directions noted in the Preschool Foyer.