PF215 Toilet and handwashing facilities

There is a toilet and hygienic handwashing and drying facilities suitable for the use of the children attending.

How to show you are complying

Each home must have a toilet, handwashing and drying facilities which are suitable for children to use. The handwashing and drying facilities must include a handbasin, with warm running water, soap, and ways to dry hands effectively.

Make sure children can access the facilities safely

Children who use the toilet independently must be able to access the toilet, handwashing and drying facilities without adult help. If there is a door, children must be able to open it easily. A moveable step and/or a toilet seat insert can be helpful for young children just learning to use a toilet. They can also be easily removed when an adult needs to use the toilet.

Handwashing

Liquid soap (rather than a communal bar of soap) can be less messy and is more hygienic when there are several children attending.

The hot water temperature from household taps can present a scalding hazard to children. Careful supervision is necessary for young children, and older children can be taught about hot water safety.

Hand drying

There are a number of ways children can dry their hands, but some are more hygienic and easier to use than others. Viruses and bacteria spread easily from one child to another when they share the same towel. Getting hands dry is important. Damp hands create damp surfaces, which encourages survival of bacteria, viruses and organisms like Giardia.

Recommended options include the following.

Disposable paper towels

There is a cost involved, but they have several advantages:

• they are easy to use

• they do not spread infections

• they are easy to replace

• they can be used for other cleaning purposes.

Individual towels

Individual towels for the children attending are preferable to a single communal towel for drying hands. Different colours can be used so that young children can identify ‘their’ towel.

Potties

Some families may use potties. If a potty is used, contents must be disposed of in the toilet and the potty cleaned and sanitised after each use.