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New version effective 20 April 2026
This is the new version of the licensing criterion and associated guidance.
Flag symbol (⚑)
A flag symbol (⚑) indicates a criterion that applies to services which include a home or homes that have children receiving out-of-school care (as defined in the glossary) in the home while the licensed home-based ECE service is being provided.
Criterion HS204#
There is a written emergency plan and supplies to ensure the care and safety of the children and educator at the home and when away from the home.
⚑ The written emergency plan must also include out-of-school care children if out-of-school care is being provided in the home.
Documentation required (written or digital) #
A written emergency plan that includes at least:
- evacuation procedures specific to the home and relevant to its location, which apply in different emergency situations and if applicable, are consistent with the building’s fire evacuation scheme;
- designated assembly areas outside the building that keep children safe from further risk;
- a list of safety and emergency supplies and resources sufficient for the age and number of children and adults present in the home and details of how these will be maintained and accessed in an emergency;
- a communication plan for families and support services; and
- evidence of reviewing the plan annually and implementation of improved practices as required.
Guidance#
How to show you are complying#
Emergency plan
You need a documented emergency plan for each home used in the service. The plan should cover potential emergencies unique to each home to prepare each home to respond and recover effectively if an emergency occurred.
When developing the individual plans, you should consider your specific location and the kinds of events that could happen. At a minimum, there should be a plan for each home about how to respond to earthquakes, fires external threats (for example a chemical spill), floods and storms, and situations where a lockdown is required. If a home is based in a tsunami zone, there should be a plan specific to tsunamis.
⚑ If providing out-of-school care, the emergency plan needs to include how all children in the home will be safely evacuated at the same time. School-aged children must not be expected to help carry non-walking children or be responsible for evacuating ECE children.
Service provider responsibilities
The service provider is responsible for ensuring there is an emergency procedure for each home.
Emergency supplies and resources
There is no prescribed list that covers the supplies and resources that you must have in an emergency. You will need to consider the number of people and their needs when deciding the supplies to keep. For example, if your service includes children under 2 years old, your emergency supplies will likely need to include infant formula, clean bottles, and nappies.
If the home does not have a landline, the educator will need to ensure they have a means of accessing appropriate help and support.
