An early learning centre security review of two council-managed centres produced access and safety recommendations the council can apply consistently across all of its early years facilities.
THE CHALLENGE
A Victorian council owns or manages a portfolio of kindergartens and early learning centres of different ages, sizes and designs. Over time each building had come to operate with its own level of access security, leaving the council without a consistent best-practice approach. It asked Agilient to review two early learning centres, including internal areas, yards and entry points, and to assess alarms, keys, fobs, keypads, locks and lighting. The council also wanted to know how easily codes and credentials could be changed for staff, families and other authorised users. Advice had to reflect the Child Safe Standards, the responsibilities of centre staff and co-located services, and the practical limits of each building.
OUR APPROACH
Agilient inspected both centres, reviewing the site boundaries, yards, entry points and internal areas with attention to how children, staff, families and visitors move through each building. Consultants assessed the existing access control and alarm arrangements, key and credential management, locking hardware and external lighting, and considered how flexible each system was when access needed to change. Findings were assessed against good practice for childcare and early years settings and the council’s obligations under the Child Safe Standards. The review built on an earlier council-wide building security plan prepared by Agilient, which had already set security control levels for the council’s childcare and early learning assets. This gave the review an established baseline, so recommendations could be framed as a standard for the whole portfolio rather than two individual sites.
THE OUTCOME
The council received clear direction for uplifting security across its early years facilities.
- A security and safety review report covering both early learning centres
- Detailed recommendations for access security and safety aligned with childcare good practice and Child Safe obligations
- Recommendations scoped for application across the council’s kindergartens and early learning centres, consistent with its existing security control levels
Related services: building security consultant, government security consultant, security risk assessment consultants. Sector experience: school and early learning security. To discuss a similar project, contact Agilient.