Our highest priority as educators of young children is to keep them safe. This requires effective and consistent supervision. The 6 basic principles of supervision:
1. Prepare
Make sure the height and arrangement of furniture and equipment allow effective monitoring and supervision.
Scan for potential safety hazards.
Ensure equipment is organized for play.
Teach children appropriate and safe use of each piece of equipment. (For example, using a slide correctly – feet first only – and teaching why climbing up a slide can cause injury.)
Have clear and simple rules for children. (Example: walking feet inside.)
Know and follow the daily schedule.
Know and maintain staff/child ratio.
2. Position
Place yourself so you can see and hear all the children.
Make sure there are always clear paths to where children are playing, sleeping, and eating so you can react quickly.
Stay close to children who may need additional support.
3. Communicate
Listen closely to children to identify signs of potential danger. Specific sounds or the absence of them may signify reason for concern.
Pay attention to the sounds of the environment.
Maintain communication both inside and outside the facility.
Inform a new teacher/assistant entering the classroom of the headcount and any medical restrictions or safety concerns.
4. Scan and count
Maintaining accurate head counts of the children in our care is critical to preparedness. Conducting frequent head counts allows us to identify a missing child and take immediate action. No child should ever be outside the classroom without adult supervision.
Know the number and names of children present. Identify children by name to face before and after transitioning from one area or activity to another.
Continuously scan the entire environment so you know where each child is and what they are doing.
Keep the WEEKLY SIGN IN AND OUT and EMERGENCY CONTACT SHEETS on the same clipboard.
Notify any new staff member covering in the classroom (including breaks) of the current count.
Enter the time on the sign in and out sheet IMMEDIATELY when a child arrives/departs.
Do a headcount before leaving the room with the entire class, and again upon reentering the classroom.
If one staff member is taking a small group of children out of the classroom, ensure the remaining educator knows how many and which children are with whom (“I have x number, you have x number”). If necessary, write down the names and cross them off when they return.
5. Anticipate
Know each child’s abilities and anticipate children’s behavior.
Know who is in charge.
Review supervision procedures with facility staff and parents.
Be sure you know First Circle’s emergency preparedness plan.
6. Engage and redirect
Provide individualized, responsive caregiving and intervene when children are unable to problem-solve on their own.
Focus on the positive to teach what is safe for the child and other children.
Assist or redirect according to each individual child’s needs.
Classroom safety
We expect you to use common sense and good judgment when performing your duties. Follow these basic safety rules:
Prohibited objects
We do not allow latex balloons, glass/ceramic objects, or pushpins in the classrooms.
Toys in the classroom must be developmentally appropriate and not a choking hazard.
Keep out of reach at all times
educators’ belongings, including backpacks, and pocketbooks
scissors, pens, and pencils
sanitizer bottles and cleaning materials
sunscreen, ointments, and medications
hot items (above 110° F), including coffee (Coffee must be kept in a travel thermos (can be provided by First Circle) on the microwave or on top of the cubbies. Do not walk around the classroom with hot liquids.)
electrical cords
Safety practices
Conduct daily safety checks and remove hazardous or dangerous objects.
Wipe up liquid, sand, or other spills from floors immediately.
Keep a First Aid kit and a CPR mask in the classroom.
Lift heavy objects or children properly by bending your knees.
Use a stepstool, not a chair when reaching for overhead items.
Wear gloves on both hands when diapering or helping children with toileting or first aid.
Know and follow evacuation procedures (a copy of our Evacuation Routes is posted in each classroom) and assist the children in a safe and comforting manner.
Take care handling equipment, cribs, or other cumbersome items.
Be wary of strangers in the building and feel comfortable asking strangers their business.
Safety rules for children
Children may not climb stairs with toys, stuffed animals, etc. in their hands.
Children must sit when eating or drinking.
Playground safety
Teaching teams should work with the children in your class to establish cooperative play and safety “rules” for the playground. The rules you create and communicate to the children should include the following:
Prohibited objects
Blankets, pacifiers, stuffed animals, and inside toys are not allowed outside.
Children may not wear jewelry or clothing with strings or laces that could become entangled or wedged in playground equipment and present a strangulation hazard. If worn, you must tie or remove them, or have the child change their clothes.
Supplies
Have emergency phone information and the attendance list with you on the playground.
Bring water outside for children every day—remember to bring it in when you come in.
Bring basic first aid items outside, including gauze pads, band aids, and tissues for runny noses.
Bring outside the child’s EpiPen for any child requiring an EpiPen for insect bites.
Safety practices
Be sure children’s clothes are weather appropriate; if not, borrow from the extra clothing located above the kids’ sinks.
Confirm safety mats remain in each fall zone.
Supervise and “spot” children when they are on climbing structures.
Stay close when the children are on the swings; they can easily fall off.
Circulate and monitor all areas of the playground.
Notify another staff member if you are taking a bathroom break, bringing in a child for first aid or to the bathroom.
Follow established cleaning guidelines for the playground.
Safety rules for children
No crashing bikes into the gates, doors, or each other.
No kicking or throwing balls toward the building or fences.
No standing on the swings.
No climbing with anything in children’s hands.
No playing near the doors or gates on the playground.
Identify which objects (man-made and natural) stay on the ground, and which can be thrown or tossed
Field trip safety
Prior to departure for each field trip, the Director confirms appropriate preparedness is in place. See APPENDIX for full details.
Supplies
Take a first aid kit in all vehicles on all field trips, and emergency supplies such as water, snacks, tissues, sunscreen, medicines, emergency consent forms, etc.
Be sure you have any emergency EpiPens or Benadryl for children with allergies.
Bring current emergency contacts for all children in attendance including contacts and telephone numbers.
Have a working cell phone available.
Safety practices
On each field trip, we have a Transportation Coordinator in charge in case of emergency. The Transportation Coordinator will designate a co-teacher to assist.
We maintain EEC staff-to-child ratios.
Each child must wear a distinctive t-shirt to immediately identify them as a child with a First Circle field trip.
Each child must wear a wristband with First Circle’s address and phone number.
Emergency
If an accident or acute illness occurs while on a field trip, the Transportation Coordinator will take charge of the emergency, assess the situation, and administer first aid as needed, as well as determine the method and urgency of transportation for the child to receive medical treatment, based on the severity of the emergency or illness. If necessary, call 911. The Transportation Coordinator will also make the necessary communications (911, First Circle, parents, etc.).
The Transportation Coordinator must notify Administration as soon as possible of the nature and extent of the injury and the proposed plan of action.
WORKERS’ COMPENSATION INSURANCE PROCEDURE
If you are injured or ill, you are responsible for letting Administration know if you think the injury or illness may cause you to seek medical attention or lose time from work. The procedure must be followed for your medical bills – if any – to be covered by our Workers’ Compensation (WC) insurance:
Staff member (or witness) reports injury to member of Administration.
We complete a FORM 101 (Employer’s First Report of Injury or Fatality), including as much detail of the injury as possible, within 5 days of the injury.
We give the injured employee the following information to be provided to the health care provider: Our insurance carrier’s name, phone number, and policy number as well as the newly assigned case number. Any additional questions should be referred to the Business Manager.
If the injury results in just medical bills, or fewer than 5 full or partial calendar days of disability, we will report it to our WC carrier, supplying them with all pertinent information from the form and receiving an assigned case number.
If the injury results in 5 or more full or partial calendar days of disability, we will report the injury to the DIA (Department of Industrial Accidents) as well as our WC carrier within 7 days of the injury.
All initial medical bills will be covered through our Worker’s Comp Insurance.
The employee will be paid only for hours worked, and the day of the injury is considered the first calendar day of disability.
The insurance company has 14 calendar days from the date they receive the Employer’s First Report of Injury or Fatality – Form 101 to either:
mail a check and the Insurer’s Notification of Payment – Form 103 to the employee;
or contest the claim, by sending a certified letter denying compensation via an Insurer’s of Denial – Form 104.
The caseworker assigned to the claim will contact the injured employee and all subsequent reasonable and necessary medical treatment needs will be approved.
You should start getting a check (60% of total gross average weekly wage) within 3 to 4 weeks after your injury or illness. You will receive compensation for lost wages for any days you are disabled after the first 5 full or partial calendar days. (You are not compensated for the first 5 calendar days of incapacity unless you are disabled for 21 calendar days or more.)