Clothing and footwear policy.

Rationale: -

Children are encouraged to develop an awareness of changing clothing needs, in response to changes in the outside weather, and for health and safety in the environment.

To ensure children’s comfort and safety at the service they must wear clothing that is suitable for the weather, let’s them explore and play freely and minimises the risk of injury.

Aims: -

The aims of the clothing policy are to promote among children, educators, and families, awareness of varying clothing needs.

Implementation strategies: -

This policy is for implementation throughout the year. It is to ensure that children are comfortably clothed at all times of the year, whilst respecting individual children and families clothing choices.

Our strategies will include: -

A.

1. Children will wear clothing that is comfortable and appropriate for children to be involved in all day activities.

2. Babies who crawl are encouraged to wear long pants to protect their knees from 'grass burn'.

3. Children who are walking wear either shoes or bare feet so that they do not slip on the vinyl.

4. Children are clothed appropriately according to the temperature of the Centre. Loose and cool in Summer and warm enough for cold weather including outdoor play in Winter.

5. Children will wear a hat when outside.

6. Children will be encouraged to wear appropriate clothing in accordance with our Sun Protection Policy i.e., tops with collars and sleeves. Families will be made aware of this through the centre app.

B. Our Centre will: -

1. Ensure adequate supplies of spare clothing are kept.

2. Ensure children are appropriately clothed for play and sleep time.

3. Incorporate simplified information on caring for skin in the Centre's curriculum, when developmentally appropriate.

C. When enrolling a child, parents will be: -

1. Encouraged to provide a spare set of clothing for their child. Several sets if their child is being toilet trained.

2. Encouraged to provide clothing appropriate to the daily weather.

3. Informed of Sun Protection Policy including appropriate clothing requirements for outdoor play.

GOALS

The Education and Care Service will:

• Develop and maintain a sun protection policy.

• Follow the Guidelines set by Cancer Council Australia to reduce UV exposure throughout the year.

• Encourage both educators and children to wear appropriate clothing for the weather conditions, work environment and social/cultural circumstances.

• Aim to ensure the comfort, protection, dignity, and rights of the children at all times of the day by recommending appropriate clothing and footwear guidelines.

• Provide information to families about suitable clothing for play experiences, sun protection and safety.

• Respect cultural differences and individual family and educator needs when recommending suitable clothing.

STRATEGIES

The Approved Provider will

• Ensure that a sun protection policy is developed and maintained.

• Ensure that educators are provided with personal protective equipment (e.g., gloves) to facilitate cleaning and health protection measures.

The Nominated Supervisor will

• Provide information for educators about suitable clothing and footwear expectations for the education and care work environment.

• Ensure educators are aware of the sun protection policy.

• Provide information for families about suitable clothing and footwear. This information will also be available at the education and care service using a variety of communication strategies including notices, brochures, websites, posters and our centre app.

Educators will

• Consult with families about the individual needs of children with respect to different values and beliefs associated with clothing and footwear.

• Monitor children's clothing and footwear to ensure compliance with the Sun Protection Policy and to support the safety, comfort, and well-being of every child.

• Consider clothing and footwear needs associated with excursions or planned learning experiences and communicate clearly with families about the need for extra protective clothing requirements.

• Provide protective clothing, such as aprons, for messy play experiences. Children will be encouraged by educators to wear protective clothing during messy and water play.

• Encourage children to remove shoes and heavy/excess layers of clothing during rest times and to reflect the room temperature, as recommended practice by Red Nose.

• Encourage children to utilise their self-help skills as appropriate to put on and remove clothing and shoes to meet their needs. For younger children, educators will use observation and monitoring skills to ensure children's clothing and footwear is appropriate for the environment and weather conditions.

Families will be encouraged to

• Provide spare clothing in children's bags to allow for dirty or soiled clothing and changing weather conditions. Spare clothing will be available at the education and care service for emergency clothing needs. Any spare clothing that is borrowed will be laundered and then returned to the centre.

• Dress children appropriately.

• Dress their children in clothing that allows easy access for toileting e.g., elasticised pants, rather than buttons, zips, belts etc.

• Dress their children in clothing that does not restrict them or compromise their safety when playing, sleeping or resting. Footwear that is stable and supportive e.g., no thongs, clogs or backless shoes which can cause children to trip.

• Label all children’s clothing and items.

This policy is the property of Eikoh Seminar Australia Pty Limited and must not be reproduced without the consent of management.