20 Premises and facilities standard

1. The premises and facilities standard requires the service provider for every certified playgroup to operate from premises that are:
   1. safe and that provide sufficient space, facilities, and equipment to support the learning of children attending the playgroup and maintain their health and well-being; and
   2. available for use by other groups in the community; but
   3. not used as a private dwelling.
2. Subclause (1)(b) does not prevent a playgroup from operating from a part of any premises set aside for the exclusive use of the playgroup, (for example, a particular room in a building) if another part or parts of the same premises are open to use by other groups in the community.

PF1 Design and layout of premises

Criteria

The design and layout of the premises supports the provision of a variety of activities and experiences with regard to the age and number of children attending.

Rationale/intent

This criterion makes sure the design and layout of the premises enables children to have access to a wide range of experiences.

Guidance

Playgroups meet in a variety of different premises, for example church halls, marae, community rooms, or school sites. Think about how spaces can be used to give children a range of different activities and experiences to choose from and support adults to play with the children.

It is important that the space is attractive, interesting and fun, as this will help the children:

• feel safe and secure
• feel more confident being involved in activities
• be more interested and so they are more likely to be involved in their own learning
• choose their own learning activities at every opportunity by providing opportunities for positive social interactions and learning through relationships.

You can use furniture such as tables, couches or moveable shelves, cushions, mats – whatever you have – to create different areas of play in the space you have available. For instance, child-sized tables and chairs can be used for different play activities (such as dough, collage or puzzles) and mats can be used to set up block play or book reading.

During a playgroup session it may be necessary to reset, or refresh play materials and equipment so that they are appealing to other children. If a child has created something purposefully then it may not be necessary to reset the resources, they have used rather just refresh the area without affecting the creation. This means children can revisit their creations at a later time.

Talk to your education advisor about the best way to do this in your playgroup.

Things to consider

• Do the equipment and facilities reflect the culture and purpose of the playgroup?
• Do the premises fit the playgroup’s needs?
• What storage facilities are available?
• How do you manage setting up and packing away if premises need to be cleared for use by other groups after each session?

PF2 Infant toddler safe space

Criteria

There are safe and comfortable spaces for infants, toddlers or children not walking to lie, roll, creep, crawl, pull themselves up, learn to walk, and be protected from more mobile children.

Rationale/intent

This criterion is intended to ensure the safety of infants and toddlers and to support their exploration, development and learning.

Guidance

Playgroups give children of all ages the chance to work and play together.

When children of different ages are together in the same space, it is very important that the environment is set up to allow infants and toddlers to explore and play safely. This can be done in ways that let them be part of the playgroup community and learn alongside other children while making sure they are safe and able to move without restrictions or limitations.

For more information about making your space safe, visit the ACC website.

Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC)

Cushions or low barriers around a carpeted area can provide a space for babies or toddlers.

Some playgroups may choose to provide an infant specific area. Talk to your regional education advisor about different ways to do this.

PF3 Variety of equipment

Criteria

A variety of furniture, equipment, and materials is provided that is appropriate for the learning and abilities of the children attending.

Documentation required

An equipment inventory maintained to at least show equipment purchased with Ministry of Education funds.

Rationale/intent

The criterion is intended to ensure that children attending playgroups have access to a wide range of suitable and safe equipment and materials.

Guidance

Children learn by interacting with people and with their environment. The furniture, equipment, and resources you provide will influence their learning and the way they view themselves and others. Your choice of furniture, equipment and resources can help you to meet the curriculum standard.

View the Ministry’s basic equipment list for playgroups.

Equipment lists

Think about how the furniture, equipment, and resources provided at your playgroup:

• reflect the Māori culture of Aotearoa New Zealand
• makes all cultures feel welcome
• encourage written and spoken language
• avoids limiting children based on their gender or ability
• supports parents and caregivers' aspirations for their children’s learning
• reflects the playgroup’s philosophies and aims
• can be used to allow children to explore attitudes and feelings
• allows children to play individually, in groups and with others
• allows children to make choices and be involved in planning and problem solving
• encourage and support a variety of learning possibilities.

Consider a balance between natural products and man-made equipment and materials. Quality is an important consideration when you are choosing equipment and materials. Think about the following in relation to the equipment you use:

• How useful is it?
• Can you store it?
• Can it be cleaned easily?
• Is it safe?
• Is it sufficient for the numbers and ages of the children?
• Does it encourage children to play?
• Will it stand the ‘test of time’ – is it durable?
• Is the furniture comfortable for adults as well as children?

Although plastic products can be cheaper and easy to clean, they may not last as long or have the same aesthetic appeal as products made from natural materials. Buying quality materials at the start will save money in the long run.

The type and quantity of furniture, equipment, and materials will differ from one playgroup to another. Children should be able to access equipment and materials that support their interests, skills and abilities.

Display materials in boxes, containers or baskets and group similar materials together so that children can quickly choose between them. Label containers clearly so that adults know where to put equipment. When setting up a playgroup session, create areas for the different activities and interests of the children, and set them up so children can move easily from one activity to the next.

Things to consider – outdoor equipment

When you are thinking about the type of outdoor equipment to provide for children, keep in mind that the outdoor area at your playgroup does not serve the same function as a public playground. Equipment will need to engage and challenge children for greater periods of time and be flexible enough for children to construct their own learning. Flexible, moveable equipment allows children choice and control over how their learning environment is set up. Moveable equipment also encourages co-operation between children and provides opportunities for problem solving.

Documentation required

The documentation required for this criterion is an inventory. An inventory is a list of items owned by the group. For easy use the inventory can be divided into areas: for example, furniture, books, indoor equipment, creative play, music, outdoor equipment and kitchen equipment.

Groups should check their inventories regularly – at least annually. Lost or broken equipment needs to be recorded as part of an inventory check and follow-up action noted.

An example of an inventory list can be found at the bottom of this section.

If a playgroup closes, they will need to identify equipment purchased with Ministry of Education funds. The inventory can be used to maintain a record of these purchases.

An up-to-date inventory can help you when you are buying new equipment.

You may need to keep track of equipment for insurance purposes. It is useful to check with the owner of the playgroup venue to see if playgroup equipment is covered by their insurance policy.

Insurance is a specialised topic. Each playgroup will have different insurance requirements and you should seek independent legal advice about yours, particularly for matters relating to public liability. Playgroups can undertake their own risk assessment to guide their insurance decisions. The following questions can be useful starting points for discussion:

• What are possible/potential occurrences at playgroup that could result in loss/damage/injury? Can we mitigate against these through Health and Safety policies and practices?
• What is the value of the playgroup equipment? How much would it cost to replace?
• What is the potential for significant damage or loss?

PF4 Toilet and handwashing facilities

Criteria

There is a toilet and hygienic handwashing and drying facilities suitable for the use of children attending.

Rationale/intent

This criterion is intended to ensure that there are hygienic handwashing, drying and toileting facilities for children.

Guidance

The buildings that playgroups meet in may not have toileting and handwashing facilities designed for young children. If children can’t easily use these facilities by themselves parents and caregivers will need to help them.

The following may make it easier for children to use these facilities:

• A moveable step, and/or a toilet seat insert can be helpful for young children learning to use the toilet. They can also be easily removed when an adult needs to use the toilet.
• Paper towels or individual hand towels are more hygienic than a single communal towel.
• Liquid soap (rather than a communal bar of soap) can be less messy and is more hygienic.
• Careful supervision is necessary for young children if there are hot taps in the bathroom to prevent scalding. Older children can be taught about hot water safety.

If the hand basins are too far away from your main meeting room and you want the children to wash their hands (after painting, or before eating, for example), you might consider using a soapy flannel (that you rinse after each child has used it) or wet wipes. Do not provide a single container (like a bucket or basin) filled with water for all the children to use as this is not hygienic.

PF5 Nappy change facilities

Criteria

Where children wearing nappies attend, there is a space (away from the play space and any food preparation areas) available for changing nappies.

Rationale/intent

The intent of this criteria is to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of children is maintained.

Guidance

Think about the space available in your building for nappy changing.

Things to consider

To make nappy changing space as safe, comfortable and hygienic for everyone as possible, consider the following:

• Will the playgroup provide a changing table or mat for everyone at the playgroup to use, or will the group agree that each person brings their own portable mat if needed?
• Where is the most hygienic place to change nappies?
• How are babies kept safe from other children while they are being changed?
• How do parents and caregivers keep the area/mat/change table clean between nappy changes?
• What about handwashing afterwards for parents and caregivers? Would hand sanitisers be useful?
• It is important that nappies are not changed in any part of the building that is used for food preparation.

Talk with your regional education advisor about the best way to manage nappy changing at your playgroup.

PF6 First aid kit

Criteria

There is a first aid kit containing basic first aid supplies for minor injuries that may occur at the group. The kit is:

• easily recognisable and readily accessible to adults and
• inaccessible to children.

Rationale/intent

The intent of this criteria is to make sure there are adequate provisions for the treatment of minor injuries and that the first aid kit is accessible to adults but inaccessible to children.

Guidance

A first aid kit needs to be readily available to adults at the playgroup, but not children – you will need to consider where to store your kit.

The size and contents of your kit will depend on how big your group is, where you meet, and how far away you are from professional medical assistance in an emergency. In most cases, a basic pre-prepared kit will be sufficient (you can get them from chemists or supermarkets), or you can have a look at the first aid kit contents required for licensed services.

Appendix 1: First aid requirements for Criterion PF28

It is important to keep the first aid kit well stocked so that it is always ready to use when needed. Check the kit regularly (once a month is a good idea) to make sure used items or items past their expiry date are replaced. Giving someone the job of maintaining the first aid kit is a good way of making sure this task is not forgotten. Or you could share the responsibility around – draw up a roster with the dates of when the first aid kit checks need to happen and put different parents and caregivers and caregivers’ names beside them.

PF7 Outdoor activity space

Criteria

If any outdoor space is used by the playgroup, it is either:

• enclosed by structures and/or fences and gates that are maintained so that children cannot leave the premises without an adult’s help; or
• systems are in place to ensure children’s safety while outside.

Rationale/intent

This criterion aims to keep children safe by ensuring that measures are in place to secure the outdoor environment.

Guidance

Giving children the opportunity to play outside (if a suitable area is available) can increase their chances of having a range of different experiences. If children are playing outside at playgroup, you will need to make sure they are safe. Adequate fencing allows parents and caregivers to be more involved in their children’s play rather than concentrating on supervising the edge of the area (so that children don’t leave unsupervised).

It can be helpful to write down a list of ‘outside supervision rules’ to let all the parents and caregivers know what they need to do when they are outside with children.

Children’s safety should always come first. If fencing is less than ideal, (for example a wire fence that children could easily climb through, or a very low wooden fence), or non-existent, you need to consider how easy it is for children to reach potential hazards (such as roads, rivers, or animals) and decide how best to address these concerns. If permanent fencing is not possible, temporary fencing that is put up and taken down each time the playgroup meets could be considered.

Playgroups should work with their education advisor to find satisfactory solutions.

PF8 Opportunities for active play

Criteria

If outdoor space is not available, alternative arrangements are made to provide children attending with opportunities for gross motor (physically active) play.

Rationale/intent

This criterion is intended to make sure children can benefit from engaging in physically active play when no outdoor area is provided.

Guidance

An outdoor area is not a requirement for certification of a playgroup; however, being active and physically healthy is important for a child’s wellbeing.

Children gaining confidence in, and control of their bodies, and developing an understanding of how to keep physically healthy, is an important aspect of learning which playgroups are required to support.

You will need to think about how you can provide children with other opportunities for ‘large muscle’ play if your group doesn’t have access to outdoor space.

Visit the Sport New Zealand website for more ideas.

Sport New Zealand

Some ideas to consider:

• Furniture or equipment can be set up indoors to make small challenge courses for children.
• Have some throwing and catching games with soft balls or small bean bags.
• Sand and water play can be brought inside (with some careful planning and supervision).

Think about how children can move freely without hurting each other. If children are climbing or sliding or jumping, make sure that there is enough cushioning on the floor for safe landing.