PBS 140 Child Care Center Design Guide - The Whole Building ...

CHAPTER 3: ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN THE CENTER
3.2 Staff
3.2.1 Teachers:
Teachers care for and supervise the children. In a quality program, they
promote learning and developmental activities through a curriculum
designed for stimulation and development. Curriculum activities occur not
only in classrooms, but in play yards, multiple-purpose spaces, and on
excursions outside the center. Teachers are responsible for the children
while at the center, including greeting them and their parent when they
arrive. Teachers ensure that only authorized individuals pick up the children
at the end of the day.
Teachers also prepare curriculum materials and projects for the children
and confer with the parents and administrators. Teachers need time away
from their classroom in a separate lounge, which may double as a workroom.
They need adequate storage areas, not only for curriculum materials and
supplies, but also to lock up their personal effects. Because their job is
demanding, the designer should focus on creating organized arrangements
so that teachers may focus more easily on the children. This is one of the
core challenges in designing a center. The design can facilitate the needs
of teachers by providing:
� Ample elevated wall hung storage (above children’s level but also located
to avoid the possibility of adults striking their heads on it). All elevated
storage should be designed to avoid the possibility of items inadvertently
falling on children below.
� Elevated electrical outlets for equipment such as audio devices. (There
should also be CD and tape storage.) Locations should be coordinated
with the RCCC and with the provider (if possible).
� Planning and designing the center so that location of outlets is convenient
to elevated electronic equipment.
� Conveniently located, accessible adult toilet(s), complying with ADAAG.
� Convenient storage for teachers’ outer garments and items such as boots,
etc.
� A comfortable and private place to confer with parents.
� A resource room where teaching materials and equipment can be stored
in an orderly and highly visible fashion.
� Locked space to store personal belongings.
� A comfortable lounge which teachers can use for breaks, lunches, and to
prepare teaching plans and materials.
� Adequate shelving or counter space for teachers to display teaching materials
within the center.
3-2
� An easy means of displaying children’s art projects at children’s level.
3.2.2 Administrators:
Also referred to as directors, these individuals are responsible for managing
the center, supervising the teaching staff, and communicating with parents,
boards of directors and the GSA Regional Child Care offices. In small
centers, the administrator may also assume a teaching role for part of the
day. In large centers, the director will usually have a secretary or assistant
to help with the administrative workload. The needs of the Center
Administrator can be met by providing:
� An optimal amount of visibility, particularly to easily observe those approaching
and entering the facility.
� Locked space for personal belongings.
� An adequately sized office with room for a desk, an office chair, at least
two visitor chairs, filing cabinets, space for equipment (unless it is located
elsewhere) including a personal computer, printer, copier and fax
machine.
If provider personnel, including the administrator, are consulted during
design, their input about work flow, filing and equipment needs can be very
valuable. However, the designer should be aware that the provider works
under a GSA license. The provider, in effect, is the tenant and GSA is the
owner or controller of the space. Therefore, provider’s guidance should
not be interpreted as a directive, especially when it contradicts elements of
this Guide or the direction of GSA personnel charged with control of the
space.
3.2.3 Service Personnel:
Centers require food, laundry, janitorial service, delivery, waste and refuse
removal, and general maintenance services. The design must provide
space and controlled access for personnel or contractors performing these
services.
Some of the centers located in GSA-owned or controlled space purchase
catered food service, but the baseline facility should contain an in-house
preparation kitchen with heavy-duty equipment and a cooking staff.
Laundry services will typically be performed by the teaching staff. Infants
and toddlers generally use disposable diapers provided by parents. All
soiled diapers are contained and processed separately from other waste
PBS-140 - July 2003