Guidelines
The application of Universal Design (UD) thinking to Early Learning and Care (ELC) settings recognises the diversity of ages, abilities, needs and preferences that these environments must accommodate.
An Early Learning and Care setting should place children at the heart of the community. The location and site design should provide an optimum environment for children, while promoting positive relationships between children, families, practitioners and the wider community.
Entering and moving around an ELC setting should be easy and enjoyable. Circulation spaces should be accessible, understood and easily used. It should provide stimulating social spaces for discovery, play, engaging with others, and interacting with the environment.
Children interact with elements and systems in an intense manner, through playing, running, crawling, lying on the floor, and investigating their world. Therefore, these must be carefully considered as part of a Universally Designed Early Learning and Care setting.
The Self-Audit tool can be used by anyone concerned with how the Early Learning and Care (ELC) setting built environment (indoors and outdoors) meets the needs of all users. Owners, managers, practitioners or architects can use it to examine and reflect on the environment, indoors and outdoors.
