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Policy 

HSOLC uses Active Supervision throughout our agency to provide children a safe and supportive environment, prevent accidents and injuries, and ensure that caregivers are responsive to child needs. Oregon Rules for Certified Child Care Centers and Head Start Performance Standards require that programs ensure that children are supervised at all times.  

Active Supervision requires focused attention and intentional observations at all times. 

Teaching staff will enforce a system of health and safety practices that ensure children are kept safe at all times. Staff will maintain safety practices for infants, toddlers, and preschool children, in classrooms, outdoors, field trips, and buses. 

Procedure 

  1. Head Start staff will maintain adult child ratios in accordance with licensing rules at all times. Classroom teaching staff must know which adults are counted in ratio and ensure that children are not left with adults not authorized to care for them. Children must never be left unsupervised with volunteers. Substitutes must meet the qualifications/requirements of the person for whom they are subbing to ensure ratios are maintained.  
    1. Children who are removed from the classroom for a short period of time to receive services (e.g. special education, speech) must be signed in and out of the classroom. Personnel providing services to a child under an IFSP and mental health providers delivering services to a child with the parent’s consent may be alone with the child while services are provided. 
  2. Classroom staff will ensure that children have the full attention of the required number of staff at all times who must: 
    1. Be aware of what each child is doing; 
    2. Know and take into account the age of each child, the child’s individual behaviors, interests, and abilities, the layout of indoor and outdoor space, and any potential hazards or risks from activities children are engaged in; 
    3. Be in close proximity to children to assist and respond when needed;
    4. Be within sight and sound of children at all times including toileting. 
    5. Not participate in personal activities that could interfere with supervision, such as visitors, phone calls, or electronic device use; and  
    6. Must position themselves following the zoning plan and/or arrange indoor and outdoor equipment to allow supervision of children while playing on all equipment. 
    7. Provide sufficient light in any room where children are napping or resting so that staff can clearly see each child’s face from any point in the room. 
  3. Regional teams will support classroom staff with developing site specific active/zoning supervision plans each fall and will update and/or review plans semi-annually and as needed. Classroom plans should include but are not limited to the following: 
    1. Where child sign-in and sign out will be kept 
    2. Where staff sign-in and sign out will be kept
    3. Where & how the team will track the current count of children present 
    4. Staffing matrix and zoning map for classroom and playground
    5. Transition plan(s) for moving children to/from playgrounds, buses, bathrooms, cafeteria, etc. that includes face to name procedures
  4. All Head Start staff will receive an introduction to Active Supervision practices during the on boarding of new employees.  Training will also be given to all employed teachers annually. 
  5. Regional staff will share active supervision plans with families at Orientation and will give families information on how they can support active supervision during pick up and drop off. 
  6. Regional Managers and support staff (ARM, ECEC, or FSC) will monitor active supervision implementation through classroom visits and observations.   
    1. Additionally, supervisors will complete classroom monitoring annually at a minimum using the Active Supervision Classroom Monitoring Tool in Child Plus.  Supervisors will discuss observation with Head Teacher and other relevant staff. 
      1. An action plan will be made for any item scored as a “concern” and corrected within 30 days. 
  7. In the event that a child is left unsupervised:
    1. Classroom staff will conduct a thorough search of locked school building.
    2. Site supervisor/Regional Manager and the child’s parents will be notified immediately as soon as child is located.
    3. Head Start/EHS Director and Operations Director or their designee will be notified as soon as safely possibly and no later than the end of the day.
    4. Region X Head Start and licensing will be notified in accordance with Head Start and state licensing rules. 

This policy complies with Head Start Performance Standard 45CFR Section 1302.47(b)(5)(iii), 1302.90(c)(1)(v), and 1302.102(d)(1)(ii). 

This policy complies with Oregon Certified Child Care Licensing rule 414-305-0500, Supervision of Children.

Policy Council approved: August 2024 

 

REVIEWED:  

REVISED: