Licensing criteria for home-based ECE services

Section 10 of the Education and Training Act 2020(external link) defines home-based ECE services as the provision of education or care, for gain or reward, to children who are under the age of 5 years, or who are aged 5 years but not enrolled at school, in:

  • the children’s own home; or
  • the home of the person providing the education or care; or
  • any other home nominated by a parent of the children.

These services are licensed in accordance with the Education and Training Act 2020 under the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008(external link), which prescribe minimum standards that each licensed service must meet. Licensing criteria are used to assess how the services meet the minimum standards required by the regulations.

For each criterion there is guidance to help services meet the required standards.

The publication of the criteria on its own can be downloaded as a PDF [PDF, 1.3 MB] and printed.

The licensing criteria were last updated in September 2022.

PF18 Body wash facilities

  • Criteria
    • Criteria

      Premises and Facilities criterion 18

      There is a plumbing fixture (such as a shower, shub, or bath) for washing sick or soiled children.

      Rationale/Intent:

      To ensure that there are suitable facilities and practices for washing children who vomit or soil themselves while attending the service, so that the risk of cross infection is reduced.

  • Guidance
    • Guidance

      Any examples in the guidance are provided as a starting point to show how services can meet (or exceed) the requirement. Services may choose to use other approaches better suited to their needs as long as they comply with the criteria.

      Sometimes children at the home will need to have all or part of their bodies washed. This might be necessary, for example:

      • at nappy change time – if wipes are not enough to ensure the soiled child is cleaned thoroughly
      • if a child has vomited over themselves
      • if a child has had a toileting accident
      • if children become very dirty during play.

      Every home will have at least one type of body wash facility available. Showers and shubs are preferred and are more hygienic as a child is not sitting in dirty water. However, if these are not available, fixed baths or baby baths are also suitable for washing sick or soiled children in the home.

      Because home bathrooms are not designed for the exclusive use of attending children, educators need to think about how children using these facilities can be kept safe. Cleaning procedures also need to be implemented to ensure body wash facilities are hygienic before and after use.

  • Things to consider
    • Things to consider

      Specific considerations should include the following:

      • How readily can educators provide for the safe and comfortable washing of a sick or soiled child?
      • How will body waste and waste water be disposed of safely and hygienically?
      • How will the educator supervise other children while washing a sick or soiled child?