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New version effective 20 April 2026
This is the new version of the licensing criterion and associated guidance.
Criterion PF127#
All-day services only#
There are suitable furniture or items (such as beds, stretchers, or mattresses) and space for children aged 2 and older to sleep or rest.
If the sleep or rest area is part of the activity space, alternative activity spaces are available for children who are not sleeping or resting.
Guidance#
How to show you are complying#
You need to have furniture or items intended for sleep or rest available for children aged 2 and over. The specific furniture or items you choose may vary, but as a general guide you may want to consider beds, stretchers and/or mattresses.
Space must be available to support children’s sleep or rest
There should be a suitable space available for children aged 2 or older to sleep and/or rest, while still enabling other children to play, access the curriculum, or take part in other experiences in the service.
The best way to support children’s sleep or rest is to provide a separate space (designated sleep room). This allows children to rest when they need to, without affecting other children’s ability to take part in other activities. Having separate areas for rest and play can also help children develop healthy sleep and rest habits.
If it is not possible to have a separate sleep space, you can create a quiet area within the activity space where children can rest or sleep as needed. If the same space is used for both activities and rest, it is important to make sure the environment is suitable for both purposes.
Consider:
- how to minimise noise to support restful and undisturbed sleep or rest
- creating some kind of barrier between the sleep or rest space and the area used for other activities
- what alternative activity space is available for children who are not sleeping or resting. Does this alternative activity space support children’s play, exploration, and a range of curriculum activities?
