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

CHAPTER 4: NAEYC AND OTHER STANDARDS
4.1.4 Staff Qualifications and Development:
GOAL: The program is staffed by adults who understand child development
and who recognize and provide for children’s needs.
The quality of a center’s design can play an important role in attracting and
retaining skilled staff who spend so much of their time in classrooms. A
properly designed center can improve staff attitude, reduce stress, and
minimize the effort of the teachers. It can also integrate appropriate
acoustical treatment and separation of active and quiet areas to reduce
noise levels. The appropriate arrangement of the diapering areas to allow
easy supervision makes the staff’s job easier. Classroom features should
be considered to reduce the effort required for teachers to perform their
tasks. Conference space must be adequate to allow for staff training
sessions and regular staff meetings. A separate lounge with lockable
storage space for staff personal belongings provides staff members with a
quiet break area. The lounge should include ample storage space for
resources and equipment. It is also highly desirable to have space to
prepare large materials and learning activities.
4.1.5 Administration:
GOAL: The program is efficiently and effectively administered with attention
to the needs and desires of children, parents, and staff.
The placement of the director’s office space should facilitate frequent contact
with the children, parents, and staff. Adequate space must be available for
parent orientation sessions. Adequate work space and file storage must
be provided to support a center director in the performance of administrative
tasks. The arrangement of office space should be studied to ensure the
adequate amount of storage space and efficient placement of equipment.
4.1.6 Staffing:
GOAL: The program is sufficiently staffed to meet the needs and promote
the physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development of children.
The size of classrooms must allow for the optimal supervision ratio between
staff and children. Table 4.1 establishes the permissible staff-child ratios
and group sizes for Federal child care centers. The center must also comply
with local licensing regulations.
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4.1.7 Physical Environment:
GOAL: The indoor and outdoor physical environment fosters optimal growth
and development through opportunities for exploration and learning.
The physical environment supports the operational quality of a center and
profoundly affects the behavior and development of children, as well as
the efficient functioning and sense of well being in adult caregivers. A
pleasant functional environment is bound to influence the way caregivers
react to the children. Likewise, when we consider that young children do
not yet talk, or do not talk with adult sophistication, we can appreciate the
power of the cues the environment gives them. The ideal environment is
intriguing, rich and challenging to children, but is not over-stimulating or
“flashy.” It is rich in subtle visual and tactile experience, incorporating natural
elements to the maximum extent possible. The center must have sufficient
activity space, storage, and curriculum materials for the children. Outdoor
and indoor space must be provided, with both quiet and active play areas.
The criteria set forth by the NAEYC in this category are embodied in the
standards of the Guide.
4.1.8 Health and Safety:
GOAL: The health and safety of children and adults are protected and
enhanced.
The center’s design must comply with the requirements of the latest edition
of GSA’s Facility Standards for the Public Buildings Service. The building
security assessment, available through the regional FPS, is an essential
guide to security requirements for specific locations. It must also comply
with Federal, state, and local codes and standards which may apply. The
center design must facilitate both teacher supervision and ease of
maintenance. Because centers must be cleaned much more frequently
than office space, for example, design details should be considered with
this in mind. Properly designed, well located toilet and hand washing facilities
are essential. Lockable storage must be provided for poisonous materials
in each classroom, kitchen and laundry area.
4.1.9 Nutrition and Food Service:
GOAL: The nutritional needs of children and adults are met in a manner
that promotes physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development.
The center design must provide ample space for the storage and preparation
of food. Space requirements will depend on whether food is catered, prepared
PBS-140 - July 2003