Yard Duty and Supervision Policy
Aprroved by: Principal
Date of Review: October 2026
Page Contents
Purpose, Scope
Purpose
To ensure school staff understand their supervision and yard duty responsibilities.
Scope
This policy applies to all teaching and non-teaching staff at Templestowe College, including education support staff, casual relief teachers and visiting teachers.
Policy
Appropriate supervision is an important strategy to monitor student behaviour and enables staff to identify and respond to possible risks at school as they arise. It also plays a vital role in helping schools to fulfil their duty of care to students.
The Principal is responsible for ensuring that there is a well organised and responsive system of supervision and yard duty in place during school hours, before and after school, and on school excursions and camps and other school activities.
School staff are responsible for following reasonable and lawful instructions from the Principal, including instructions to provide supervision to students at specific dates, times and places. Supervision should be undertaken in a way that identifies and mitigates risks to child safety.
Before and after school
Templestowe College grounds are supervised by school staff from 8.45am until 3.30pm. Outside of these hours, school staff will not be available to supervise students except in the following specified areas. The Hub is open from 7:30am every morning until 4:30 pm Monday to Thursday. On Friday it closes at 3:30pm. The Resource Centre (RC) is open 8:00am - 4:00pm Monday to Thursday and 8:00am - 2:30pm on Friday.
Yard duty during recess and lunch
Rostered staff at Templestowe College are expected to assist with yard duty supervision and will be included in the weekly roster.
The Daily Organiser/Assistant Principal is responsible for preparing and communicating the yard duty roster on a regular basis. Staff will be designated a specific yard duty area to supervise for every session.
Yard duty areas
Gate (Front and Back) – Front of the school to ensure parents are not stopping in no standing zones. Stop students leaving during the day if they are not grads.
Canteen – In the Canteen. The staff member on this area does not serve behind the counter in the canteen. It is essential to be out on duty in the first 10 minutes to assist with student management when the canteen is busy. Once the initial rush is over staff should roam.
Library – monitor the library space and ensure a tranquil environment.
Central – Astro Turf, behind the canteen and External C wing.
Corridor A & B – Roam through A and B wings and Rose Garden.
Corridor C & Art – Roam through C wing, supervise Art Hub.
The HUB – This is an ‘active duty’ area requiring staff to actively move around the area and engage with students. Supervising staff are asked to assist with kitchen supervision and rubbish.
Lower – E wing and D wing. Move through D wing corridor as well as external areas. Walk through permaculture and along under croft area.
Oval & PAC – Movement from front gate to back gate, via the PAC, Oval and Portables. Currently students are not permitted in the portables at recess and lunch unless actively working with a teacher
Sport Centre – Actively supervise sport that is on
East – Actively supervise sport that is on and walk around the back of the sport centre carpark.
Side Gate – This new area will cover the side gate/rear of SWING area. Make sure students trying to leave the school grounds have been signed out on compass.
S Wing – This is an ‘active duty’ area requiring staff to actively move around the area and engage with students. Supervising staff are asked to assist with kitchen supervision and rubbish.
Yard duty responsibilities
Both teaching and non-teaching staff at TC may be allocated Yard Duty as determined by the Principal. Failing to complete an allocated Yard Duty is a significant issue that can put students at risk and put the staff member concerned at risk of disciplinary and legal action. Staff yard duties will be uploaded into compass.
It is important that staff on Yard Duty:
Are punctual in terms of arrival at the designated area.
Methodically move around the designated area ensuring active supervision of all students.
Are a visible presence to students in the area - this is best achieved by moving throughout the designated area.
Actively encourage and support students in keeping the yard clean.
Where safe to do so, approach any unknown visitor who is observed on school grounds without a clear legitimate purpose, and check that they have a visitor pass and have signed in (excluding drop off and collection periods) or directing them to do so.
Do not put themselves in a position of danger but should contact the General Office to ask for assistance if there are problems with students or ‘outsiders’. Staff members are encouraged to take their mobile phone on Yard Duty.
Are clear about which area they are responsible for. The College grounds have been divided into supervision areas.
Ensure that students who require first aid assistance receive it as soon as practicable and report any incidents or near misses as appropriate via Compass or Teams.
Are aware of their own OHS, in particular being Sun Smart when outside.
Staff who are rostered for yard duty must remain in the designated area until they are replaced by a relieving staff member.
If being relieved of their yard duty shift by another staff member (for example, where the shift is ‘split’ into 2 consecutive time periods), the initial staff member must ensure that a brief but adequate verbal ‘handover’ is given to the relieving staff member in relation to any issues which may have arisen during the first shift.
If the supervising staff member is unable to conduct yard duty at the designated time, they should contact the staff member in charge of daily operations with as much notice as possible prior to the relevant yard duty shift, to ensure that alternative arrangements are made.
If the supervising staff member needs to leave yard duty during the allocated time, they should contact the staff member in charge of daily operations but should not leave the designated area until the relieving staff member has arrived in the designated area.
Students will be encouraged to speak to the supervising yard duty staff member if they require assistance during recess or lunchtime.
Classroom
The classroom teacher is responsible for the supervision of all students in their care during lessons
If a teacher needs to leave the classroom unattended at any time during a lesson, they should either contact the staff member in charge of Daily Operations or seek assistance from a staff member in a neighbouring classroom.
School activities, camps and excursions
The Principal and leadership team are responsible for ensuring that students are appropriately supervised during all school activities, camps and excursions, including when external providers are engaged to conduct part or all of the activity. Appropriate supervision will be planned for school activities, camps and excursions on an individual basis, depending on the activities to be undertaken and the level of potential risk involved, and will follow the supervision requirements in the Department of Education and Training Excursions Policy.
Digital devices and virtual classroom
Templestowe College follows the Department’s Cybersafety and Responsible Use of Technologies Policy with respect to supervision of students using digital devices.
Templestowe College will also ensure appropriate supervision of students participating in remote and flexible learning environments while on school grounds. In these cases, students will be supervised. Students will work in The Hub when undertaking virtual and remote learning while at school in order for the appropriate supervision to be provided by on-site staff members.
When students are participating in remote and virtual learning from home parents are responsible for the appropriate supervision of students accessing virtual classrooms:
Student attendance will be monitored every class by TC staff
Any wellbeing or safety concerns for the student will be managed in accordance with our usual processes – refer to our Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy and our Child Safety Responding and Reporting Policy and Procedures for further information.
Students requiring additional supervision support
Sometimes students will require additional supervision, such as students with a disability or other additional needs. In these cases, the Principal or delegate will ensure arrangements are made to roster additional staff as required. This may include on yard duty, in the classroom or during school activities.
Workplace learning programs
When students are participating in workplace learning programs, such as work experience, school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, and structured workplace learning, the safety and welfare of the student is paramount. Organising staff are required to follow all applicable Department of Education and Training policies and guidelines in relation to off-site learning, including policy and guidelines on the safety and wellbeing of students. Refer to:
Private Study
Students with Private Study sessions are required to sign in and spend that session in The Hub or other designated room. They are not permitted to leave the grounds.
Graduating students are expected to attend all timetabled classes but are not mandated to be on site when they do not have classes. This is communicated to them and parents at the start of the year via email.
Supervision of student in emergency operating environments
In emergency circumstances our school will follow our Emergency Management Plan, including with respect to supervision.
In the event of any mandatory period of remote or flexible learning our school will follow the operations guidance issued by the Department.
Communication of this policy
This policy will be communicated to our school community in the following ways:
Available publicly on the school website
Included in staff induction processes
Annually referenced in Next Week @TC
Hard copy available from school administration upon request