Certification criteria for playgroups

Section 10 of the Education and Training Act 2020(external link) defines a playgroup as a group that meets on a regular basis to facilitate children's play and in respect of which—

  1. no child attends for more than 4 hours on any day; and
  2. more than half the children attending on any occasion have a parent or caregiver present in the same play area at the same time; and
  3. the total number of children attending on any occasion is not greater than 4 times the number of parents and caregivers present in the same play area at the same time.

Playgroups include Puna Kōhungahunga, cultural playgroups and community language playgroups.

Playgroups are certificated in accordance with the Education and Training Act 2020 under the Education (Playgroups) Regulations 2008(external link), which prescribe minimum standards that each certificated playgroup must meet. Certification criteria are used to assess how playgroups meet the minimum standards required by the regulations.

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

The publication of the criteria on its own can be downloaded as a PDF [PDF, 1.1 MB] and printed.

The certification criteria were last updated in September 2022.

PF5 Nappy change facilities

  • Criteria

    • Criteria

      Premises and facilities criterion 5

      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 well being of children is maintained.

       

  • 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.

      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 hand washing 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 local MOE advisor about the best way to manage nappy changing at your playgroup.