Criterion PF309#

Floor surfaces in any ECE activity room are durable, safe and suitable for the range of activities to be carried out at the service (including wet and messy play) and can easily be kept clean.

Guidance#

How to show you are complying#

You must choose floor surfaces that are safe, durable, and easy to clean to suit the range of activities in your ECE activity room.  

Using a mix of flooring types helps keep spaces suitable for different kinds of play and learning. Infants benefit from experiencing different textures, so using different flooring types can support their development.

Here are some examples: 

• carpet works well in quiet areas like reading or block play
• mats are easy to move and clean and help create flexible learning spaces. Use items such as semi-permanent tape or rug grips to keep them safely in place
• hard surfaces like wood, vinyl, tiles, or polished concrete are ideal for messy play and dining spaces
• coved vinyl (which curves slightly up the wall) is best for bathrooms, laundry and kitchens, as it is easier to clean and more hygienic because it removes joins where dirt can build up.