Policies and Procedures Document

Date Policy and Procedures Established: June 16,2017
Date Policy and Procedures Updated: March 20,2025

General

The childcare centre will ensure that there are enough play materials available that are appropriate for the children’s age and learning and developmental needs during outdoor play.
The maximum capacity of the playground will not be exceeded at any time.

Playground Inspections/Checks

Outdoor play space, fixed play structures and surfacing checks will be conducted on a daily, monthly and annual basis.
All playground inspections will be documented. All documentation and reports will be filed by the supervisor in the playground inspection binder.
The licensee will ensure that where the playground has fixed equipment, the certified playground inspection is conducted by a third-party inspector who:
- Has declared non-conflict of interest including declaration of non-affiliation with playground equipment and protective surface manufacturers, suppliers and/or other contractors involved in the retrofit, upgrade or repair of the playground equipment and protective surfaces.
- has proof of current Professional Errors and Omissions insurance coverage; and
- has proof of playground inspector certification.

Repairs and Maintenance

All items identified in the checklists as requiring repair will be documented in the repair log and repaired or addressed in a timely manner (the form in Appendix C may be used for this purpose). Note: the amount of time required will depend on the scope of the work and who is required to conduct the repairs.
Documentation on the repair log will also include:
- the date the issue was identified;
- documentation of what steps and efforts have been taken to address any identified items which cannot be repaired immediately due to circumstances out of the child care centre’s control; and
- the date the related repairs were completed.
Where outdoor space or playground repairs cannot be completed immediately, the area or space requiring repairs will be sectioned off to prevent children from using that area in order to protect their safety and reduce the risk of injury. Children will be supervised at all times during outdoor play to ensure that they do not approach or use spaces that are sectioned off pending repairs.
Any repairs requiring alterations or renovations to the playground premises will not begin until site or playground plans are approved by a Ministry of Education Director.
Compliance with the CSA Standards
Any outdoor play space, fixed play structure or surfacing under those structures that is constructed or renovated will meet the requirements set out in the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standard CAN/CSA-Z614-14, “Children’s Play spaces and Equipment”.
Written confirmation of compliance with the CSA standard will be obtained from a Certified Playground Safety Inspector, upon completion of any repairs or renovations which have resulted in a non-compliance with the CSA standard as outlined in a playground inspection report.
Supervision
Children will be supervised at all times during outdoor play.
Staff will position themselves throughout the playground and rotate their position where required to ensure children can be visually supervised while engaging in play.
Staff to child ratios will be maintained on the playground at all times.
Reduced ratios will never be used on the playground.
Infant and toddler children will be separated from other children during outdoor activities.
Staff will ensure that there all gates are securely closed at all times.

Documentation and Report Retention

All documentation and reports related to the outdoor space or playground will be:
Kept for three years from the date they were created and/or updated (whichever date is most recent); and
Made available for Ministry of Education staff to review at all times.
Playground Safety Procedures

Timeline	Steps to Follow
Daily: before using the outdoor play space/ playground	Supervisor must: Walk around the entire outdoor play space or playground to look for and identify hazards and defects as indicated in the daily playground inspection checklist (the form in Appendix A may be used for this purpose); Remove any garbage, hazards or defects using gloves; Complete the playground inspection checklist, sign and date it; and File the playground inspection checklist in the playground inspection folder. Where hazards or defects cannot immediately be removed or repaired, Supervisor must: Report the hazards or defects to the owner who will log and maintain the information in the repair log and take appropriate action to initiate any repairs. Section off the area with the hazard/defect if it poses a hazard to children. In preparation to exit the child care centre to use the outdoor play space or playground, Supervisor must: Ensure all emergency medication accompanies children, where applicable; Ensure all emergency contact information is readily available for children; Ensure the attendance record is readily available; Ensure that the allergy and dietary restriction lists are readily available; Ensure appropriate steps related to environmental factors have been implemented (e.g., children are appropriately dressed for the weather, there are no entanglement risks, bug nets are in place, etc.); and Conduct head counts prior to leaving the indoor play activity area, and while transitioning them to the outdoor play space or playground.
Daily: while using the outdoor play space/ playground	Staff must: Position themselves in areas that ensure that all children and areas of the playground can be properly supervised at all times; Ensure that there is access to drinking water at all times; Complete head counts of children every 5 minutes; Implement the goals and approaches of the program statement, such as engaging with the children in play; and Refrain from using personal cellular phones (except in emergency situations) or using outdoor time to socialize with other staff, students or volunteers during outdoor play. Where a child is injured on the playground, staff must: Administer first aid, where appropriate; Contact emergency services, where appropriate; Notify the parent of the child; Complete an accident report and provide a copy to the child’s parent; and Follow the serious occurrence policy and procedures, where appropriate.
Daily: When returning from the outdoor play space/ playground	Staff must: Conduct head counts prior to returning indoors from the outdoor play space or playground, while transitioning indoors, and upon returning to the indoor play activity space. Ensure that attendance records, emergency medication and children’s emergency contact information is brought indoors with the group.
Monthly	Supervisor must: Walk around the entire outdoor play space or playground to look for and identify hazards and defects as indicated in the monthly playground inspection checklist (the form in Appendix B may be used for this purpose); Remove any hazards or defects, where possible; Complete the monthly inspection checklist (including verification of seasonal issues), sign and date it; and File the playground inspection checklist. Where hazards or defects cannot immediately be removed or repaired, Supervisor must: Report the hazards or defects to Supervisor who will log and maintain the information in the repair log and take appropriate action to initiate any repairs. Section off the area with the hazard/defect if it poses a hazard to children. Supervisor must: Review outdoor injuries and accidents that have occurred to look for trends; Take appropriate action to prevent similar injuries and accidents from happening in the future. supervisor must: Review the repair logs and follow up on any outstanding identified issues still requiring repair.
Annually	Where the playground has fixed equipment, supervisor must: Ensure a certified playground inspector conducts an annual playground inspection; Discuss the findings of the playground inspection with the certified playground inspector, including items that need to be repaired or replaced; and Obtain a copy of the playground inspection report. Where the playground does not have fixed equipment supervisor must: Walk around the entire outdoor play space or playground to look for and identify hazards and defects as indicated in the annual playground inspection checklist; Remove any hazards or defects, where possible; Complete the annual inspection checklist, sign and date it; and Develop a written plan to address any hazards and/or defects, including a timeline to address the issues identified during the inspection. Where hazards or defects cannot immediately be removed or repaired, supervisor must: Report the hazards or defects to Supervisor who will log and maintain the information in the repair log and take appropriate action to initiate any repairs. Section off the area with the hazard/defect if it poses a hazard to children.

Glossary

Canadian Standards Association (CSA): a non-profit, voluntary association engaged in standards development and certification activities. The current standard in Ontario for licensed child care centre playgrounds is CAN/CSA Z614-14 – Children’s Playspaces and Equipment. This standard specifies design and maintenance criteria to reduce the risk of injury.

Certified Playground Inspector: An individual who holds a current certification with the Canadian Playground Safety Institute.

Fixed play structure: a structure anchored to the ground that is designed for children to climb on (e.g. a climber).

Licensee: The individual or corporation named on the licence issued by the Ministry of Education responsible for the operation and management of the child care centre.

Staff (Employee): Individual employed by the licensee (e.g. program room staff).

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