The Management and Staff of Riverton Childcare will ensure that there is a system in place for monitoring sleeping children. The following guidelines will be followed:

1. Wherever and whenever children are sleeping there must be a member of the staff detailed to monitor the sleeping child/ren.

2. The staff to child ratio must be maintained, whilst children are resting and sleeping, including staff lunch breaks, during all times when Riverton Childcare is open for business.

3. Parents and/or caregivers endorse this policy on enrolment, by signing to say they have read and approved of the policy.

PROCEDURE

Children who are to have a sleep are put into a cot or onto a mattress. Staff will check on sleeping children on a regular basis.

•  We provide a separate area, the sleeping room, for Under 2 children who need to sleep or rest while in the Centre.

•  Older children requiring a rest may do so in a quiet area of the playroom or, if they still sleep in a cot, they may sleep in an available cot in the sleeping room.

•  A 'Sleep Monitor' will be appointed for the day and will be responsible for monitoring all sleeping or resting children.

•  The 'Sleep Monitor' will check each child no less than every 5 minutes. Children in cots will be visually checked to ensure that they are breathing comfortably are warm and settled. Any older children sleeping or resting in other places will also be checked every 5 minutes.

•  Children will not have access to fluids, while they are in bed, sleeping or resting. (Reg 26 (f)).

•  The 'Sleep Monitor' will complete a 'Sleep Monitoring Sheet' for the time period that there are any children sleeping or resting. The sheet will have times listed and the ‘sleep monitor' will initial every 5 mins as the children are checked. A timer will be set to remind the ‘Sleep monitor' of five-minute intervals.

Monitoring Standard

Children Under 24 months of age: each child's face to be checked visually to ensure they are breathing comfortably and that they are warm and settled, no less than every 5 minutes.

Children Over 24 months of age: each child will be settled so they are resting comfortably and not disturbing others.

During the time they are sleeping, they will be checked no less than every 5 minutes to ensure they are still in their bed, resting comfortably and not disturbing others.

This policy is to be reviewed once a year.

Reference: Education (Early Childhood Centres) Regulations 1998 Clause 21 (4)

Policies: Statement regarding the curriculum; Acceptable use of computer/software; Complaints and grievances; consultation; equipment; monitoring sleeping children; nappy changing procedure; open door; pest and vermin; accidents and illnesses; food and drink; health and safety; laundry; prosocial behaviour; preventing child abuse; shady childcare; smokefree.