Pest prevention for Sydney childcare centres: a practical room-and-outdoor checklist

Check rooms at child height

During routine opening or closing checks, look along skirting boards, behind low shelving, around door thresholds, under sinks and beside storage tubs. Notice gaps, damaged screens, loose weather strips, leaks, condensation and clutter that makes cleaning difficult. Check nap rooms and quiet corners as well as kitchens: warmth, crumbs and undisturbed storage can create different conditions in different rooms.

Keep children out of any area being inspected if a hazard is present. Do not ask educators to climb, move heavy appliances or reach into concealed voids. A photo of a repair issue, recorded with the room and date, is more useful than trying to seal an unknown gap during a busy session.

Keep food areas protected

Store ingredients and snacks in clean, closed containers where practical, and clean spills promptly. Check delivery cartons before they enter food storage, especially when packaging is torn, damp or visibly compromised. Keep bins closed, remove waste on the centre’s normal schedule and leave enough space around appliances and shelving for cleaning and inspection.

The NSW Food Authority’s guidance for children’s services says food must be protected from pests and vermin. Pest prevention supports food safety, but it does not replace the centre’s own food-safety procedures, cleaning records or council requirements. Keep food handling and pest-management records easy to find and consistent with the service’s policies.

Review outdoor play areas

Walk the perimeter of sandpits, play equipment, garden beds, sheds and outdoor eating areas. Remove standing water where appropriate, keep food waste contained and note overgrown edges, rotting timber, leaking taps or gaps under gates and doors. Store toys and equipment so they can be checked and cleaned rather than leaving piles against walls.

Do not disturb a nest, lift unknown objects, handle wildlife or spray while children are nearby. If repeated activity is found near an entrance or play area, temporarily keep children away from that specific location and follow the centre’s incident and escalation procedures.

Make records useful

• Write the date, time, room or outdoor zone and what was actually seen.
• Record whether food, waste, moisture, a gap or damaged packaging was nearby.
• Add a clear photo only when it can be taken safely and without showing children.
• Note the immediate action, who was notified and whether the issue returned.

Use one agreed log so educators, centre leaders, cleaners, building managers and contractors are not working from separate assumptions. Repeated sightings in different rooms, activity around food storage or signs that a building repair is involved deserve a coordinated review.

Plan safe professional help

When professional advice is sensible, share the centre layout, access rules, operating hours, records, food-preparation areas, children’s routines and any known allergies or sensitivities relevant to the service’s own risk planning. Ask for a written scope, preparation steps, restricted areas and re-entry instructions. Schedule work so the technician can access the relevant area without disrupting supervision.

Any chemical product must be registered for its intended use and applied exactly according to the current label. The APVMA registered-product search is an official reference. Never place baits or apply products where children can access them, and do not use homemade mixtures or off-label treatments.