Hygiene and cleaning policy

This policy outlines Early Learning Victoria's commitment to children’s safety, health and wellbeing through effective hygiene and cleaning practices that help to minimise the risk of infectious diseases.

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Children’s safety, health and wellbeing is Early Learning Victoria’s key priority. Early Learning Victoria recognises that effective hygiene and cleaning practices help protect and minimise the risk of infectious diseases.

1. Scope

This policy applies to children, families, staff and management of Early Learning Victoria centres. This includes volunteers, students on placement and contractors or labour hire employees of Early Learning Victoria.

2. Policy statement

This policy describes procedures to be implemented at Early Learning Victoria centres to ensure:

  • a safe, clean and hygienic environment
  • effective and timely control of the spread of infection and diseases.

2.1 Requirements

Under the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (the National Law) and Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 (the National Regulations), Early Learning Victoria must ensure:

  • all centres have cleaning arrangements and service plans in place that outline daily, weekly, quarterly and annual cleaning and sanitising requirements and responsibilities
  • that new staff, as part of their induction, are provided with sufficient information and resources to implement this policy’s procedures
  • all centre staff follow adequate health and hygiene practices, and safe practices for handling, preparing and storing food
  • all centres have appropriate laundry and hygiene facilities that are clean, safe and accessible.

2.2 Background and information

Infections are common in children and often lead to illness.

Children first enter early childhood education and care services at a time when their immune systems are still developing. While it is impossible to prevent the spread of all infections and illnesses, effective illness management practices and maintaining high standards of hygiene significantly reduce the likelihood of children becoming ill.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines for the prevention of infectious disease in early childhood education and care services detail procedures that can help prevent and control the spread of infections.

These include how to:

  • clean the education and care service
  • deal with spills of blood, faeces, vomit, urine and nasal discharge
  • ensure that food is safely stored and prepared (see the Eating and drinking: Health and food safety policy)
  • perform effective hand hygiene
  • use gloves appropriately
  • change nappies and assist children in toileting.

Early Learning Victoria is committed to protecting children and adults from disease and illness by minimising the potential spread for infection through:

  • implementing and following effective hygiene practices that reflect advice from recognised health authorities, like the NHMRC
  • implementing infection control procedures to minimise the likelihood of cross-infection and the spread of infectious diseases and illnesses to children, staff and any others attending the service
  • fulfilling the centre’s duty of care requirement under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 and the Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 to ensure that those involved with the service are protected from harm
  • informing staff, volunteers, children and families about the importance of adhering to this policy to maintain a safe environment for all users and communicating that all involved have a shared responsibility.

Routine cleaning

Early Learning Victoria will put in place cleaning contracts and service plans to ensure that all areas of the premises and their fittings, furniture, equipment and resources are cleaned regularly. Service plans will outline daily, weekly, quarterly and annual cleaning and sanitising requirements and responsibilities consistent with Attachment 1 (DOCX, 255KB).

Early Learning Victoria central office will work with the nominated supervisor to establish these plans through the Department of Education’s (the department's) existing approach to metropolitan and regional cleaning contracts.

Alongside this, educators and centre staff play an integral role in ensuring centres maintain high levels of cleanliness and hygiene through regular cleaning and attending to accidents and spills as quickly as possible, in both indoor and outdoor environments.

Sustainability

Early Learning Victoria is committed to an environmentally sustainable footprint. In line with the department’s Climate Adaptation Plan and Emissions Reduction Workplan, all Early Learning Victoria centres as part of this policy are encouraged to work towards reducing waste and reducing emissions.

This includes only using single-use or disposable cleaning equipment where necessary and appropriate, and considering the water and energy used overall in cleaning. Early Learning Victoria also discourages the unnecessary use of disinfectants and detergents when neutral and biodegradable products would suffice (see the Environmental sustainability policy).

Disease outbreaks

Outbreaks require immediate attention, investigation and coordinated efforts to control the spread of the disease, including contacting the relevant Local Public Health Unit (LPHU). (See also the Infection control and immunisation policy).

3. Actions and procedures

3.1 Responsibilities of families

Preventing illness: Early Learning Victoria encourages families, where possible, to take precautions to minimise the spread of illness and infectious diseases.

The NHMRC advises that to reduce illness in education and care services, the three most effective methods of infection control are:

  • immunisation
  • effective hand washing
  • exclusion of sick children, staff and visitors.

The NHMRC has published useful resources as part of its Staying healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services guidelines. This includes advice on things families can do at home to prevent the spread of disease.

When your child is unwell: Families are sometimes asked to keep their child at home in the event of illness or disease at an Early Learning Victoria centre. This is sometimes referred to as ‘exclusion’.

The aim of an exclusion is to reduce the spread of infection. The Infection control and immunisation policy has further information about exclusion periods. The NHMRC also explains exclusion periods in its information sheet, Exclusion periods explained.

Soiled clothing: If your child soils their clothing while at an Early Learning Victoria centre, the clothing will be returned home for laundering. Families are encouraged to support sustainable practices at Early Learning Victoria centres by including a reusable waterproof bag in their child’s bag each day. This can help to minimise the use of single-use plastics, in line with the Environmental sustainability policy.

Cloth nappies: Nappies are provided for all children at Early Learning Victoria centres. However, families are also welcome to bring cloth nappies as an alternative. See the Toileting and nappy changing policy for details about this option, including families’ responsibilities.

3.2 Responsibilities of staff

4. Resources

Legislation and standards

Relevant legislation and standards include:

  • Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010
  • Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011
  • Education and Training Reform Act 2006
  • Food Act 1990
  • Labour Hire Licensing Act 2018
  • National Quality Standard, Quality area 2: Children’s health and safety
  • Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
  • Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017
  • Anaphylaxis and allergies policy and procedure
  • Child safety and wellbeing policy
  • Eating and drinking: Health and food safety policy
  • Environmental sustainability policy
  • Infection control and immunisation policy
  • Toilet and nappy changing policy

Attachments

Definitions

Cleaning: A process that removes visible contamination such as food waste, dirt and grease from a surface. This is usually achieved by using water and detergent. During this process, micro-organisms are often removed but not destroyed.

Communicable disease: A disease capable of being transmitted from an infected person or species to a susceptible host, either directly or indirectly.

Cough etiquette: The correct way to prevent the spread of infectious organisms carried in droplets of saliva is to cough or sneeze into the inner elbow or to use a tissue to cover the mouth and nose. Place all tissues in the rubbish bin immediately and clean hands with either soap and water or a disinfectant hand rub.

Disease outbreak: This occurs when the number of cases of a particular disease in an area exceeds the usual or expected number. Outbreaks require immediate attention, investigation and coordinated efforts to control the spread of the disease.

Disinfectant: A chemical agent that kills germs outside the body (for example, on surfaces).

Hygiene: The principle of maintaining health and the practices put in place to achieve this.

Infectious disease: A disease that can be spread, for example, by air, water or interpersonal contact. An infectious disease is designated under Victorian law or by a health authority (however described) as a disease that would require the infected person to be excluded from an education and care service (see the Infection control and immunisation policy).

Neutral detergent: A cleaning agent available commercially and labelled as ‘neutral’ or ‘neutral pH’.

Sanitising: A process that destroys micro-organisms. Sanitising a surface can reduce the number of micro-organisms. The process of sanitisation usually involves ensuring a surface is thoroughly cleaned with both heat and water, followed by the use of chemicals.

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