Quality Checklists

Child Care Facilities: Quality Issues To Be Considered

School-Age Programs: Quick Tips for Identifying Appropriate Sites

Child Care Facilities
Quality Issues To Be Considered

Color:

In selecting colors for finishes, including wall paint or wallpaper, floor and ceiling finishes, cabinetry, millwork, etc., select a neutral, muted palette of colors.  The furnishings and toys which you introduce into the rooms generally come in vibrant, primary colors.  The furnishings will provide a lot of color.  Other decorating (children's art projects, notices, billboards, etc.) will also provide color.

Furnishings / Equipment:

When equipping the classrooms and support rooms, buy the best furniture and equipment you can afford - inexpensive furnishings do not last long.  Well-built and designed furnishings and equipment can periodically be cleaned or refinished, will last for years, and will remain stylish.

Create a plan for furnishing each room, even if you can't afford to purchase everything at once. Set priorities for equipment purchases, and make sure the future purchases fit into the plan. Measure spaces and think about the size of equipment before ordering it. Create a scale drawing of the classroom to make sure everything will fit.

Don't "over-furnish" the classrooms.  Allow space for comfortable circulation and floor space for play.

Classrooms:

General

Water: If possible, provide access to water in each classroom. Separate sinks which are accessible to children and adults allow independence for the children and convenience for the teachers. Child accessible water will cut down enormously on the time teachers have to spend providing water for activities or hygiene.

Teacher workstations: Incorporate well-designed and ergonomic workstations in each classroom for the teachers. Workstations can easily be incorporated into cabinetry layouts. Be sure to include a writing surface, telephone/intercom station, storage for administrative supplies and paperwork, computer terminal, if appropriate. Provide task lighting at work station. Provide comfortable seating for teachers.

Lighting: Allow for as much natural light as possible. Create zoned lighting for flexibility. Mix incandescent and fluorescent lighting.

Floors: Mix floor finishes to complement activity - carpet/rugs for play and sleep areas, vinyl for areas which get wet or have high traffic.

Storage, storage, storage:  Build storage into each classroom.  You can never have enough storage space.  Also build larger storage areas outside of the classrooms for larger items and general supplies.

Teacher lounge / resource room:  Provide a pleasant and private place for teachers to use for breaks, lunch, meetings, curriculum planning, etc.

Construction details:  Pay attention to corners on counters (round corners or enclose in an alcove).  Wall corners may need protection to avoid chipping, cracking and wearing out.

Maintenance:  Provide for mechanical rooms and janitor closets.

Infant / Toddler Rooms:

Create a number of different levels and locations for young children, including safe, soft spaces for crawlers and early walkers.

Make diapering and toileting convenient, comfortable and easy to sanitize - think about changing table placement which allows staff to see into classroom rather than having their backs to the classroom.

Provide comfortable adult seating so that teachers can hold and rock babies.

Preschool Rooms:

Provide for child-height sinks and toilets to encourage independence for the children and less exhausting "bathroom management" time for the teacher.

Make bathrooms which are accessible from each classroom and which can be supervised by the teacher without leaving the classroom.

School-Age Rooms:

Create a quiet, well-lit area(s) dedicated to homework, tutoring, and reading pleasure.

Storage, storage, storage: Ample, built-in storage is ideal.  Portable storage units on wheels can supplement.  Also, think vertical, with storage units placed both above and below.

Site / Playgrounds:

Site:

Provide a safe place for drop off and pick up. Ideally, where parents can park, remove children from cars, walk into center and depart, without tying up traffic.

Provide parking for staff.

If you provide transportation, provide a place for buses to drop off children and to park when not in use.

Provide water for exterior maintenance and landscaping.

Playgrounds:

If possible, provide for easy access to and from all classrooms.

Safety is paramount.

Equipment should be designed for age group using it and should be placed on the best resilient surface you can afford.

Make sure staff can see children on play equipment and they can reach them in a hurry.

Consider play value of various structures - does a piece of equipment support a number of different activities?

Provide access to water on the playground, both for play and for drinking.

Make sure the playground is secure.

Provide seating for adults.