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Sleep – PF32 to PF33 (for sessional services and all-day services)
- Furniture and items intended for children to sleep on (such as cots, beds, stretchers, or mattresses) must be of a size that allows children using them to lie flat and are of a design to ensure their safety.
- If they are to be used for more than 1 child over time, they need to be securely covered with or made of a non-porous material (material that does not allow liquid to pass through it) so that they are protected from becoming soiled, are easily cleaned and are not a suffocation hazard to children.
Sleep areas for very young children
- If a sleep room is positioned close to the infant and toddler play space(s), it's easier for teachers to regularly check children. A viewing window between a sleep room and a main play area (or other area where adults will be) can also make supervision easier, as long as it is not treated as a substitute for regular, physical checks that are required.
- If sleep rooms are located near quiet parts of the outdoor play area, it will be easier for children to go to sleep and stay asleep.
- Consider having more than one room for cots. Children need undisturbed rest and this is very difficult to provide for a child if other children are unsettled.
- At least one cot to every 2 children is needed, to ensure children are able to have undisturbed rest or sleep when they need it. However, this may not be enough, and the right number will depend on how long children attend and their ages. It's advisable to allow plenty of space so that more cots can be added if needed. Child-sized stretchers may be suitable for older toddlers.
- The space between cots needs to allow adults to easily check on children, ensure they are not too hot or cold, and check their breathing.
- Allowing plenty of space between sleeping children will enable good air flow, which limits cross infection and children disturbing others.
- Remember to allow space within the sleep rooms for door opening, storage and adult supervision (for example, an armchair for an adult) when you are estimating the space you will need.
- It may be useful to work out the size of a cot (or similar) using the scale of your floor plan. Ensure that the plan shows doors and windows, then 'map it out' to see how the cots could be organised, and if more space is needed.
- Cots should be sturdy, easily wipeable and allow good air flow. For example, wooden, well painted cots are easy to wipe clean, sturdy and allow air flow. All cots need to meet New Zealand Safety Standards. Be aware that cots that are very low to the floor can create back problems for teachers.
- If multilevel cots are used, ensure that children who sit or stand when they wake have room to do so. Children who can pull themselves to a standing position should not be placed in the top cot for safety reasons. Hint: In case of evacuation, have 1 cot by the door on lockable castors. In an emergency, several children can be put in this cot and quickly wheeled to safety. Check ventilation requirements with your local health protection officer.
You can find additional guidance for multilevel cots in licensing criterion PF29.
Sleep areas for older children
- Older children who need to rest during the day will need a quiet space away from other children. This can be a separate room or a quiet part of the play space.
- There must be space down the length of the mattress/cot to allow for adult access.
- Vinyl covered mattresses, stretchers, sleeping mats or child-sized beds work well for these children.
- As with the younger children, it is also important to allow space between sleeping children to prevent cross infection.
If children are using marae-style sleeping arrangements, remember to still use individual linen for each child and ensure that there is adequate space between children to minimise cross infection and disturbance.
Linen and bedding
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008, regulation 45 – New Zealand Legislation
- Clean bedding (such as blankets, sheets, sleeping bags and pillowslips) must be provided for sleeping or resting children that is sufficient to keep them warm.
- Linen can be washed after every use or stored separately with the child's name on it and washed as required. Some services make cloth bags or use blankets with name tags to store each child's linen. This prevents cross infection.
- Locating stored mattresses and bedding near the sleep area will make it quicker and easier for teachers and children to get ready for sleep and rest times.
- Never store bedding on mattresses.
Sleep supervision
- You must make regular physical checks of sleeping children.
- Adequate supervision is important. As with bathrooms, depending on the layout of the service, a viewing window into the sleep area helps supervision. Large viewing windows that are about 700 mm above the floor allow teachers to easily supervise sleeping children and allow adults to be seen.
Sick (isolation) area
Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008, regulation 45 – New Zealand Legislation
- All ECE services need an area (away from where food is stored, prepared, or eaten, and a safe distance from other children) for sick children to rest. These children need to be able to lie down comfortably and be supervised. Consider how your centre design can best accommodate this need.
Note: This area cannot be the under 2-year-old sleep room because this room needs to remain available for the children needing sleep or rest.
- Separate linen, and a vinyl sheet that can cover a 2-seater couch in a staff area or quiet corner, may be suitable.
