Contents

Supervision & Welfare of Students Engaged in Sport & Physical Activity
Responsibilities of Principals
Supervision of Students Engaged in Specific Sports, Physical Activities and Outdoor Recreation Activities
Supervision of Students While Engaged in Activities Conducted Under the Auspices of the School
Guidelines for Billeting Students
Supervision at Major Events
Supervision Out of School Hours
Activities at Camps Organised and Conducted by the NSW Department of Sport and Recreation and Other Agencies
Small Group Activities
Unscheduled Activities
Liability
Physical Contact With Students

Principals are responsible for the development and implementation of a student supervision plan for school sport and other physical activity programs.

The plan should clearly indicate the supervision arrangements and responsibilities at the various
physical activity locations and venues and include where appropriate supervision of student travel
to and from these venues and locations.

Principals should assess a number of factors in determining the level and type of supervision which needs to be provided during a particular activity. Aspects which should be considered in this assessment are:

• nature and location of the activity (prior inspection of the location may be required to identify potential dangers)
• number of students involved
• age and maturity of students
• qualifications and experience of the adult supervisors.

For sport activities, specific focus programs (eg. aquatic activities) and physical activities conducted outside the school grounds, the school must inform parents or caregivers about the location, costs, mode of travel and supervision arrangements, activities to be undertaken and dismissal times, where it is appropriate, before permission is obtained.

This would include regular weekly sport, integrated sport in the secondary school, zone and higher representative sport competitions, fixtures and carnivals, outdoor recreation activities, as well as any other school-sponsored occasion.

Consent may be obtained for a block of a particular sport or activity, provided details of the duration of the block are provided and any variations are notified to parents/caregivers. The block sport note should indicate permission for no longer than a school term.

Principals, as part of the overall sport and activity supervision plan, should also ensure the adequate supervision of students while travelling to and from sport and physical activities.

The level and type of supervision needs to be determined, i.e. which students need and demand
direct supervision.

Aspects which should be considered in this assessment are:

• age, maturity, and the number of students involved
• method of travel (including walking)
• the distance to travel and the route to be taken
• parental approval

Note:

APPENDIX A contains sample parent/caregiver information and consent forms which
may be adapted for use in a range of activities.