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MOUNT ST THOMAS PUBLIC SCHOOL

Revised  June, 2005

 CARE & SUPERVISION OF STUDENTS POLICY

RATIONALE:

The duty of care owned by the Department of Education & Training through its staff to students arises directly from the special relationships between teachers and students.

The duty of care is a duty to take reasonable measures to protect children against risks of injury, which reasonably could have been foreseen.

OUTCOMES:

• Students will be protected from known hazards and also those that could foreseeably arise
• Adequate arrangements and playground supervision will be carried out by teachers in such a way that students are, as far as can reasonably be expected, protected from harm.

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GUIDELINES:

• A teacher’s duty of care will arise wherever there is a teacher / student relationship and not just when the teacher is assigned for supervision.
• A playground supervision roster exists and is displayed in all classrooms and staffrooms  (yellow roster – fine weather, blue roster – wet weather).
• Supervision involves actual teacher presence in playground.
• Playground behaviour expectations / rules are taught at the beginning of each school year in each class and assemblies etc.  Students are instructed as to what constitutes unsafe activities.
• Students are taught in class, appropriate behaviour in traveling to and from school through programs such as Road Safety, Bus Safety, Safety House, Bike Safety etc.
• Parents have a responsibility in promoting and developing appropriate standards of behaviour for students when traveling to and from school.
• Students have a responsibility to behave in appropriate ways and to ensure both their own safety and that of other students whilst traveling to and from school.
• Parents are encouraged to be particularly responsible in and around school grounds when collecting and dropping off students.  Care should be taken to only park in appropriate parking zones, observe reduced speed limits near schools, not to call young children to them whilst across the road, only use specified pedestrian crossing areas.
• Schools are not responsible for the supervision of students any earlier than half an hour before normal school classes commence.  Parents are therefore requested not to allow children to come on to school grounds prior to 8.30am.
• When normal classes finish in the afternoon at 3.00pm it is expected that students will immediately and safely depart the school.

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IMPLEMENTATION:

Teachers’ Responsibilities:

 All teachers will:

• Be punctual to playground duty, move around and check all areas and be consistent with regard to school rules.
• Be positive toward correct conduct, remain on duty until relieved and avoid conducting parent interviews, using the phone etc.
• Teacher on duty is responsible for supervision of lines.
• Arrange for exchange of duties if unable to carry out rostered duties, e.g. excursions.
• Take care that punishment given is appropriate to the situation.

SCHOOL SUPERVISION PLAN:

1. Children supervised in playground between 8.30 – 8.55am, 11.00 – 11.50 am and 1.10- 1.40pm on the normal playground duty roster.
2. An alternate wet weather roster exists for inclement weather.
3. Students are informed how and when to seek assistance.
4. Playground Rules are implemented consistently between staff.
5. Play activities are provided e.g. library, sports equipment, fixed playground equipment.
6. Ensure Sun Safe Policy is enforced all year round (No hat, play in the shade).

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PLAYGROUND ROUTINE:

Morning

8.30 – 8.53a.m.           Children are to be seated until 8.30 am.

                                    Move to verandahs to store bags and/or equipment.

                                    All children move to Southern Quadrangle (in front of Administration).

                                    Order lunches if necessary.

                                    Play restricted games (handball).

                                    No children to enter classrooms without teacher supervision.

8.55a.m.                       All classes assemble in Southern Quadrangle.

Lunch

11.00a.m.                     KEIRA & OUSLEY BLOCKS

                                    Children to sit on a seat in bicentennial courtyard.

                                    Children are not to sit on the garden surrounds.

If weather is too hot, wet or windy, duty teacher may direct all children to sit under COLA.

Children must remain seated until directed by duty teacher to put rubbish in bin and proceed to play area or to purchase at canteen.

                                    NEBO & KEMBLA BLOCKS

                                    Teacher on duty as soon as possible.

                                    Children sit on stage or logs to eat.

                                    Children are only allowed to put rubbish in bin when dismissed.

Children not finished lunch to walk to courtyard area. Children purchasing to walk in line to canteen.

Children line up and walk with teacher to bottom oval.

11.10 a.m.                   Children dismissed to the playground.  Children are allowed to choose where they  

                                    would like to play, i.e. the TOP or BOTTOM playground.

                                    Team or organized games may be played.

11.30 a.m.                   2^nd Lunch duty commences. Play continues.

                                    All pupils may visit the Library on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

11.45 a.m.                   Bell to signify the cessation of play, visit toilets, line up and return sports equipment to the sports shed.

11.50 a.m.                   Children to be assembled in class lines.

Recess

1.10 – 1.35 p.m.          Teachers direct children to seating areas.

                                    Children are to: sit to eat for first 10 minutes, dismissed by teachers on duty at 1.20pm, line up in courtyard to go down to the back playground, avoid walking through car parks or grass / banks near library, put all rubbish in bins before leaving the area.

1.35 p.m.                     A bell to cease play and line up.

1.40 p.m.                     Assembled children enter classrooms.

3.00 p.m.                     Children dismissed and are to go straight home.

WET WEATHER DUTIES:  Children eat in their own rooms.  Teachers follow alternative “wet weather” roster.

BUS TRAVEL

• Children to leave class early to catch a local bus. Children can only do so following receipt of a permission note signed by the parents.
• Whilst waiting at the bus stop, children are to stand or sit quietly, with no play activities.
• Children are to be seated on bus, with appropriate behaviour to ensure their own and other people’s safety.

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