Polykids - Child Sleep

To support children’s learning and development. To promote an environment where children’s health, both emotional and physical is nurtured.

Licensing criteria (2008) :  Reg 46: HS9; HS10; HS11  Reg 45: PF 29; 30; 31; 33; 34; 37; 38

National guidelines: Te Whariki – Mana-whenau:

• Learning Goal 1: They feel comfortable with the routines, customs and regular events.
• Learning Outcome: Understanding how things work here and adapting to change.

NELP: Objective 1: Learners at the Centre: Learners with their whānau are at the centre of education.

Priority 1.  Ensure places of learning are safe, inclusive and free from racism, discrimination and bullying.

Priority 2. Have high aspirations for every learner/ākonga, and support these with partnering with their whānau and communities to design and deliver education that responds to their needs, and sustains their identities, languages, and cultures.

• The teacher who is assigned to sleepers will ensure that the sleeping children are checked every 5 minutes for warmth, breathing, and general well-being.
• The Daily Sleep Chart is initialled in each 5-minute block by a Polykids Staff member.
• Sleep room temperatures will be monitored to assure that they are at (or exceed) Ministry of Education regulations. The current regulated temperature for indoor play environment is 18 degrees.
• Parents may provide special sleeping toys for their child.
• For the purposes of sleep and settling pacifiers may be used- children are not encouraged to engage in play activities with pacifiers in their mouths.
• As children wake, teachers ensure that they are adequately dressed for play and the climate.
• Adequate space is provided for children’s beds and cots to ensure safety and hygiene.
• Adults have clear access to stretchers and cots. Cots and stretchers are not to block fire exits.
• Linen is laundered weekly or more often if required. If linen is wet or soiled or a child is unwell, then linen is laundered immediately and the stretcher/mattress disinfected,  or if the child has a cold or cough, then the linen is laundered, and the mattress/stretcher is disinfected when the child wakes. Mattress/stretchers are regularly disinfected with a suitable cleaning solution and dried.
• In accordance with regulations, children do not have access to food or liquids while in bed.
• Children will not be left in prams to sleep but will be transferred into a cot (prams are used only for the transportation of a child).
• If a child is still sleeping when it is soon time for them to go home, the teacher rouses the child quietly and prepares them to go home before the parents arrive to pick him/her up.  Alternatively, teachers can check with the parents to see if they would like their child woken and ready to go home.
• For reasons of cultural sensitivity, children on stretchers are positioned head to head rather than head to feet if sleeping alongside each other.
• Due to the different developmental and physical requirements of each of the different age groups, both Manawa (over 2) and Whetū (under 2) have differing procedures for children who rest and sleep - please familiarise yourself with the procedures for the different environments.

Manawa: Child Sleep Procedure Over 2 Age Group

• A supervised sleep or rest period is provided after the lunchtime routine. Commencing at 12:00 noon pm and finishing at the latest by 1:30pm.
• The minimum amount of sleep for a child (age 2 - 4.5 years) is 45 minutes prior to being woken.  This is based on research and theory around circadian rhythm and REM sleep cycles – please see teachers for readings.
• Children will have outer clothing layers removed so that they are more comfortable while they sleep.
• Teachers must maintain sleep records of children. All children in the sleep rooms will be recorded on the Daily Sleep Chart.  Their resting or sleeping patterns will be recorded according to their, resting periods, sleeping periods and the time they woke or exited the rooms.
• A teacher will remain in the sleep room with the older children until they are all asleep.
• Children who sleep after lunch have their own individual linen and sleeping space.
• Linen is laundered weekly on a Tuesday.
• Each child’s bedding is stored in a Kete between uses and is only for that child.

•  Room temperature is recorded when the first child goes to the sleep room and again when the last child gets up.

• Sleep spaces are positive and peaceful. Quiet relaxation music may be played to settle children to sleep.
• If a child is still sleeping when it is soon time for them to go home, the teacher rouses the child quietly and prepares them to go home before the parents arrive. Alternatively, teachers can check with the parents to see if they would like their child woken and ready to go home.
• For reasons of cultural sensitivity, children on stretchers are positioned head-to-head rather than head to feet if sleeping alongside each other.

Whētu: Child Sleep Procedure Under 2 Age Group

• Teachers must maintain sleep records of children.
• All children in the sleep rooms will be recorded on the Daily Sleep Chart.  This shows their resting and/or sleeping patterns will be recorded according to their, entry into the rooms, resting periods, sleeping periods and the time they woke or exited the rooms.
• Room temperature is recorded when the first child goes into the sleep room and again when the last child gets up.
• The use of sleep sacks, sleep swaddles and sleep toys are permitted.  These need to be laundered weekly and is the responsibility of the parents.
• Sheets are provided by Polykids and laundered weekly.
• Infants and toddlers are able to sleep at any time during the day while in the whetu area.
• If children have a bottle prior to sleep, they will have this in the play area while being supervised by a teacher.
• White noise is played in each sleep room.
• Children have nappies checked and or changed prior to going to bed and outer clothing is removed, this includes socks.

This Policy has had full consultation with parents and Polykids Staff.