A daily safety checklist turns the regulations into checks someone signs off each day. Before children arrive: premises, fencing, equipment and play areas are safe, clean and in good repair (r 103 to 105), shade is adequate (r 114), first aid kits are stocked and accessible (r 89), the evacuation floor plan is displayed near each exit (r 97(4)) and the roster meets ratios and first aid cover (r 123, r 136). During the day: the attendance record is signed in and out (r 158), children leave only with authorised people (r 99) and incidents are recorded and parents told (r 86, r 87). At close: every child is signed out and the premises are checked.
A ready-to-use opening, during-the-day and closing checklist, with the regulation behind each item so you know why it is there.
| Check | Why (provision) | Done |
|---|---|---|
| Walk every indoor and outdoor area: no broken equipment, sharp edges, trip hazards or debris; remove or tag anything damaged | r 103: premises, furniture and equipment safe, clean and in good repair | ☐ |
| Fences and gates intact and closed; no climbable items placed against fences | r 104: fencing children preschool age or under cannot go through, over or under | ☐ |
| Enough furniture, materials and age-appropriate equipment set out | r 105 | ☐ |
| Sandpits, soft-fall and outdoor areas checked for hazards such as animal waste, sharps, insects and standing water | r 103; your risk assessment | ☐ |
| Shade available over play areas being used; sunscreen and hats ready | r 114; sun protection policy under r 168(2)(a)(ii) | ☐ |
| Water hazards secured: buckets emptied, water play supervised, pool or water areas inaccessible | r 168(2)(a)(iii); water safety policy | ☐ |
| Chemicals, medicines and hazardous items locked away and out of reach | r 103; r 77 | ☐ |
| Toilets, nappy change and hand washing areas clean and stocked | r 77: adequate health and hygiene practices | ☐ |
| Food storage temperatures checked and food preparation areas clean | r 77: safe handling, preparing and storing of food | ☐ |
| First aid kits present, stocked and easily recognisable in each area | r 89 | ☐ |
| Emergency and evacuation floor plan and instructions displayed near each exit; exits clear | r 97(4) | ☐ |
| Roster meets ratios across the service, including breaks, with only educators working directly with children counted | r 123, r 122; roster checker | ☐ |
| At least one educator with current first aid, anaphylaxis and asthma training on site at all times | r 136; first aid requirements | ☐ |
| Responsible person present and their name displayed | responsible person | ☐ |
| Children’s medical management plans and medication for today’s attendees checked and accessible | medication administration | ☐ |
| Check | Why (provision) | Done |
|---|---|---|
| Each child signed in on arrival with date and time, by the person delivering them or an educator | r 158 | ☐ |
| Supervision positions maintained, especially during transitions, rest, meals and outdoor play | supervision plan | ☐ |
| Sleep and rest checks carried out and recorded as your policy requires | r 84B; sleep and rest | ☐ |
| Medication given only with a valid authorisation and recorded | r 93, r 92 | ☐ |
| Incidents, injuries, trauma and illness recorded; parents notified as soon as practicable and within 24 hours | r 87, r 86 | ☐ |
| Serious incidents notified to the regulator within the required time | incident report | ☐ |
| Environment free of tobacco, vaping, drugs and alcohol; no staff member impaired by alcohol or drugs | r 82, r 83 | ☐ |
| Images of children taken only on service-issued devices; no personal devices while working directly with children (centre-based) | digital technologies policy | ☐ |
| Check | Why (provision) | Done |
|---|---|---|
| Every child signed out with time and signature; attendance record matches the children who attended | r 158 | ☐ |
| Each child released only to a parent, authorised nominee or authorised person | r 99; delivery and collection | ☐ |
| Every room, toilet, cupboard, outdoor area and vehicle physically checked for children before locking up | r 99; r 115 | ☐ |
| Damaged equipment reported and hazards logged for repair | r 103 | ☐ |
| Incident, medication and sleep records completed and filed | record keeping | ☐ |
| Premises secured; chemicals and medicines locked away | r 103 | ☐ |
Opening checks of premises, fencing, equipment, shade, first aid kits, evacuation plans, ratios and first aid cover; during-the-day checks of attendance, supervision, sleep, medication and incidents; and closing checks that every child is signed out and every area is checked before locking up.
No regulation requires a document with that name, but regulation 103 requires premises, furniture and equipment to be safe, clean and in good repair, and a daily checklist is a common way to show how that is met.
Regulation 158 requires the record to show each child's name and the date and time they arrive and depart, signed at the time by the person delivering or collecting the child, or by a nominated supervisor or educator.
Regulation 97(4) requires the emergency and evacuation floor plan and instructions to be displayed in a prominent position near each exit.
WIDEN Law answers National Quality Framework questions with inline citations to the National Law, the Regulations and the NQS, so you can check the source provision yourself.
14-day free trial, no card →This page is a research summary, not legal or compliance advice. It is written in our own words from the sources linked on the page; confirm the position with your regulatory authority before relying on it for a compliance decision.