PF309 Flooring

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Criterion PF309 Guidance

Criterion PF309

Floor surfaces in any ECE activity room are durable, safe and suitable for the range of activities to be carried out at the service (including wet and messy play) and can easily be kept clean.

Guidance

How to show you are complying

You must choose floor surfaces that are safe, durable, and easy to clean to suit the range of activities in your ECE activity room.

Using a mix of flooring types helps keep spaces suitable for different kinds of play and learning. Infants benefit from experiencing different textures, so using different flooring types can support their development.

Here are some examples:

carpet works well in quiet areas like reading or block play
mats are easy to move and clean and help create flexible learning spaces. Use items such as semi-permanent tape or rug grips to keep them safely in place
hard surfaces like wood, vinyl, tiles, or polished concrete are ideal for messy play and dining spaces
coved vinyl (which curves slightly up the wall) is best for bathrooms, laundry and kitchens, as it is easier to clean and more hygienic because it removes joins where dirt can build up.

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How we assess compliance

When assessing whether you comply with PF309

We are likely to look at, measure or count

The flooring in the activity space, other spaces such as bathrooms and kitchens.

Why this is important

Having durable, safe, and easy-to-clean flooring suitable for a range of activities helps keep the service hygienic and supports curriculum experiences for children.

Best practice: Going beyond compliance

Doing more than the minimum can shape better outcomes for children. Here are some ideas or examples you might like to consider.

Balance flooring types: aim for around two-thirds hard flooring and one-third carpet in indoor play areas. This helps manage messy materials like paint and water, which often move around the space.