Sleep and rest policy and procedure

This policy sets out how Early Learning Victoria centres support children’s health, wellbeing, and development by meeting their sleep, rest, and relaxation needs.

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Early Learning Victoria ensures children have good opportunities for safe, comfortable sleep and rest.

Early Learning Victoria staff share a duty of care to keep children safe while they sleep or rest. This includes creating safe environments and using safe practices.

Sleep is essential for children’s learning and development. It gives their bodies time to rest and recuperate, so they are ready to learn and play.

Sleep needs and practices vary based on age, culture, ability and personal preferences. Early Learning Victoria respects this diversity. We support families’ preferences, as long as they meet the Red Nose Safe Sleeping guidelines.

Red Nose Australia is the national authority on safe sleeping practices for infants and children. It's Safe Sleeping guidelines reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

1. Scope

This policy applies to children, families, staff, management and visitors 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 outlines Early Learning Victoria’s approach to sleep and rest. This helps to ensure:

  • children at Early Learning Victoria get enough sleep, rest and relaxation for their health, wellbeing and development
  • sleep and rest practices consider the needs, rights, preferences and autonomy of each child
  • centre staff build and maintain strong relationships with families to understand their child’s individual relaxation and sleep needs.

This policy also ensures Early Learning Victoria complies with the Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 (the National Law), Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011 (the Regulations) and Red Nose guidelines.

It should be used together with the Sleep and rest procedure.

2.1 Requirements

Under the National Law and Regulations, Early Learning Victoria must ensure that:

  • all staff prioritise the health, safety and wellbeing of children and take every reasonable step to protect them
  • each child has enough opportunities to sleep, rest and engage in quiet play
  • all centres maintain clear policies and risk assessments for sleep and rest
  • all centres review their sleep and rest policies regularly
  • all centres provide an environment that promotes the physical safety of educators and complies with WorkSafe Victoria’s Children’s services occupational health and safety compliance kit
  • this policy is always available for inspection at the centre.

3. Actions and procedures

3.1 Responsibilities of families

Families are responsible for communicating with educators and the nominated supervisor about their child’s needs, routines and medication conditions. They are also responsible for making sure that any items needed for sleep and rest comply with Red Nose guidelines.

3.2 Responsibilities of staff

Early Learning Victoria central staff, the nominated supervisor and educators share responsibility for safe sleep and rest at Early Learning Victoria centres. They must understand this policy and the associated Sleep and rest procedure as relevant to their role.

Educators

Educators must follow the steps in the Sleep and rest procedure. They must tell the centre director of any reason that would prevent them from doing so.

Educators are also responsible for supervising agency educators, volunteers and students on placement when children are sleeping and resting. This includes helping them to understand their responsibilities in supporting safe sleep and rest.

Nominated supervisor

Nominated supervisors are responsible for putting in place and overseeing safe sleep environments and practices at their centre. This includes monitoring and reviewing risk assessments, actions and workflows, and that staff training is up to date.

Nominated supervisors must take reasonable steps to ensure educators, volunteers and students on placement know their responsibilities. They must tell Early Learning Victoria central office of anything that would hinder the implantation of this policy or the Sleep and rest procedure.

Approved provider

The approved provider is responsible for ensuring that policies, procedures and resources at each centre and across the organisation enable enough safe sleep and rest for all children attending Early Learning Victoria centres. This will depend on children’s ages, development, needs, abilities and preferences.

Early Learning Victoria is responsible for ensuring others mentioned in this policy and the related Sleep and rest procedure know their obligations.

4. Resources

Legislation and standards

  • Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Act 2012
  • Australian Consumer Law and Fair Trading Regulations 2012
  • Australian/New Zealand Standard – Cots for household use – Safety Requirements (AS/NZS 2172:2010)
  • Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010
  • Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011
  • National Quality Standard, Quality area 2: Children’s health and safety
  • Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004
  • Occupational Health and Safety Regulations 2017.
  • Sleep and rest procedure
  • Emergency management and evacuation policy
  • Enrolment and orientation policy
  • Hygiene and cleaning policy
  • Incident, injury, trauma and illness policy
  • Protecting children policy
  • Supervision of children policy.

Definitions

Infant: A baby under 12 months of age. Infants are more vulnerable during sleep compared to older children and adults. This is because they have:

  • smaller, more easily compressed airways. An infant’s airway has a similar diameter to a drinking straw
  • large, heavy heads relative to the size of their body
  • a protruding back of the head, which causes their head to tip forward, even when lying on their back on a flat surface
  • a more easily compressed chest wall
  • less respiratory stamina
  • reduced temperature control
  • reduced sleep arousal to increases in carbon dioxide
  • if lying prone (on their tummy), a reduced ability to lift their face away from any obstruction, such as a mattress.

Red Nose Australia (formerly SIDS and Kids): This is the recognised national authority on safe sleeping practices for infants and children.

Relaxation: Relaxation or other activity for bringing about a feeling of calm in your body and mind.

Rest: A period of inactivity, solitude, calmness or tranquillity, which can include a child in a state of sleep.

SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome): The sudden and unexpected death of an infant under one year of age with an onset of a fatal episode occurring during sleep and that remains unexplained after a thorough investigation. This includes a complete autopsy and review of the circumstances of death and the clinical history.

5. Authorisations and review

This policy is the responsibility of Early Learning Victoria. Contact: ELV@education.vic.gov.au

It was approved by the CEO, Early Learning Victoria on 17 December 2025.

Early Learning Victoria regularly reviews its policies and procedures. This policy is due for review on 17 December 2027 unless changes in legislation or Department of Education policy require it to be reviewed sooner.

Reviewed by Director, Early Learning ELV and Director, Quality ELV.

Education & training

Updated

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