Good morning, I am enquiring about safe sleep transitioning in an early childhood education and care setting. we currently have a Nursery room for children aged between 6 week and 15 months. I have had a look at all of the resources on your website and am just enquiring about when it is safe to move a child from a cot to either a cot mattress on the floor or a low stretcher bed on the floor. our current practice involves first consulting with families around their preferences for their children and if they are comfortable we are then moving children onto the cot mattress or toddler stretcher bed on the floor once they are standing or walking. Is there a specific age you recommend they stay in a cot? or can you confirm that if they are 12 months of age and able to hold themself up they are safe to transition to a cot mattress on the floor or stretcher bed?

The question in relation to transferring from cot to bed is not always clear cut, in relation to age.

For safety reasons, when a young child is observed attempting to climb out of a cot and looking like they might succeed, it is time to move them out of the cot. This usually occurs when your toddler is between 2 and 3 ½ years of age but could be as early as 18 months.

The statement above refers to when most children tend to start climbing & attempting to get out of cot.
This age range is generally accepted as a guideline by most safety organizations like Kidsafe/Raising Children Network & others.
However, there are some children who will attempt to climb from the cot before 18mths of age.

There are no specific recommendations as to what age a child must or must not be moved from a cot. It’s about reducing risk of injury to the child, & if the child is at greater risk of harm or injury by being moved from a cot, then this should not happen - whether this is in home or any form of child care service.

ACECQA information
https://www.acecqa.gov.au/resources/supporting-materials/infosheet/safe-sleep-and-rest-practices
Babies and toddlers  

Babies or young children should not be moved out of a cot into a bed too early; they should also not be kept in a cot for too long. When a young child is observed attempting to climb out of a cot, and looking like they might succeed, it is time to move them out of a cot. This usually occurs when a toddler is between 2 and 3 ½ years of age, but could be as early as 18 months  

If child is attempting to climb from a cot & looks like being successful, then child needs to be moved to floor mattress (or similar) to reduce the risk of falling from cot, regardless of age. 

If a child younger than 18mths is being slept on a mattress/floor bed, consideration needs to be given as to where this child is slept, what risks are there in the child’s environment (what do they have access to now they are no longer in a cot) & what supervision is being provided.
https://rednose.org.au/article/making-your-home-safe-before-moving-a-child-from-a-cot-to-a-bed
Download Cot to Bed Safety Brochure