ECD Norms and Standards: Health and Safety Requirements Checklist

If you're preparing for an inspection or just want to know whether your centre would pass one today, this is the checklist worth working through. The national norms and standards are what every inspector measures you against, so knowing them properly before someone arrives saves you a second site visit.

What the Norms and Standards Are

The national norms and standards for ECD centres come from the Children's Act and are used during inspections to assess whether an ECD centre is safe and suitable for children. They're not a suggestion or a best-practice guide — they're the measure your registration depends on. For the full registration journey these feed into, see our guide on how to register an ECD centre.

Space Requirements

Your physical space is one of the first things assessed, and it shapes your setup from day one — if you're still in the planning stage, see how to start a creche. The broad guidelines work out to:

Toilets and Washbasins

Provide one toilet and one washbasin for every 20 children. This is a hard ratio, so if your enrolment grows past a threshold, your facilities need to keep up.

Food Preparation

Food preparation areas should be separated from children's play areas and include hygienic, washable surfaces and safe storage. Even a partition rather than a full separate kitchen can satisfy this, as long as prep and play are clearly divided.

Health and Safety Requirements

Beyond space, inspectors check a range of health and safety measures. Make sure you have all of these in place:

• Medical clearance for staff.
• First aid training for relevant staff.
• A stocked first aid kit, easy to reach.
• Child Protection Register clearance for every adult on site.
• Secure fencing around the premises.
• A displayed emergency evacuation plan.
• Safe drinking water.
• Adequate lighting and ventilation.

The Inspection Checklist

Before anyone arrives, walk your space and tick off each of these:

• Indoor space compliant
• Outdoor space compliant
• Toilets available at the right ratio
• Kitchen separated from play areas
• First aid kit stocked
• Child Protection Register clearances complete
• Hazards removed
• Emergency plan displayed

If You Fall Short

If your walk-through turns up gaps, address structural, health and safety, and documentation issues before progressing with registration. It's far cheaper to fix these on your own timeline than to fail an inspection and wait for a repeat visit.

Quick Answers to Common Questions

What are the ECD norms and standards? The minimum health, safety and operational standards required for registered ECD centres, drawn from the Children's Act.

How many toilets are required? One toilet and one washbasin for every 20 children.

Do staff need medical clearance? Yes. Medical clearance for staff is part of the health and safety requirements.