As an RECE, the well-being, learning and care of children under your professional supervision is your primary responsibility. Providing safe and appropriate professional supervision of children depends on a number of factors that are often connected and may impact one another. To navigate potential challenges and adequately supervise the children under your care, key factors to consider are communication, transitions, physical environment, staff and professional knowledge. Read on for more about each of these factors below, with links to relevant resources, case studies and scenarios to support your learning.
Communication
Clear, collaborative communication is vital to providing appropriate professional supervision of children. Information and circumstances related to the children, families and colleagues or the learning environment change over time, making communication essential to prepare for or adjust to situations that might require additional attention for appropriate supervision.
Effective communication allows you to:
- obtain complete and current information about children and families;
- anticipate and prevent problems; and
- learn from past supervision challenges.
Learn more: Case Scenario: Communication and collaboration
Transitions
Planned, organized transitions make it easier to supervise and support children. To ensure a smooth transition to a new room or environment, RECEs can implement some of the following strategies to ensure sufficient time for safe and supportive transitions while maintaining supervision at all times:
- confirming attendance before, during and after transitions;
- increasing the adult-to-child ratio when required;
- paying particular attention to new or unfamiliar environments and routines;
- clearly communicating any relevant information or changes related to the group of children and adults, or the environment;
- transitioning in small groups that reflect children’s ages and capabilities; and
- conducting regular environment scans, attendance checks and head counts.
Physical Environment
Safety is always a top priority. As an RECE, you ensure that the environment complies with safety, health and accessibility legislation and avoid exposing children to harmful or unsafe situations. Positioning yourself where you can see and hear children while they are engaged in activities supports positive and professional supervision.
RECEs must pay close attention to the way the physical environment is arranged and understand the importance of knowing:
- the benefits and limitations of physical environments;
- how to provide engaging environments; and
- how to minimize potential hazards.
Learn more: Supplementary Resource: Professional Supervision: Reducing Risks in the Environment
Staff
When an RECE has a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities they make well-informed decisions. New or supply RECEs have a responsibility to seek out information and ask questions. RECEs with more experience support colleagues who are new to the practice setting by:
- working closely with them to ensure they are familiar with routines and relevant information about the children (i.e. allergies, interests and capabilities);
- establishing and clearly communicating realistic expectations regarding responsibility; and
- answering questions they have about their role and responsibilities.
Learn more: Case Study 3: No Qualified Staff
Professional Knowledge
RECEs provide appropriate professional supervision of children based on their age, development and environment.
Ongoing learning deepens an RECE’s knowledge about child development, current pedagogical approaches and other relevant information related to professional supervision of children.
RECEs are expected to know and understand:
- current practices, legislation, workplace policies and procedures that are relevant to professional practice and to the care of children; and
- workplace policies related to transitions, evacuation procedures and attendance protocols.
Learn more: Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice for RECEs in Ontario
Additional resources
- Professional Advisory: Practices that harm children
- Podcast: Can We Talk?: Conversations In The Early Years