When families think about choosing childcare, the focus is often on quality, educators, and reputation. But the design of the building itself also plays a vital role in children’s safety and wellbeing.
Quicker, safer evacuation
In any emergency — fire, power outage, or evacuation drill — a single-storey building allows children and educators to exit quickly and calmly. There are no stairs, lifts, or complex escape routes to navigate. Babies in prams, toddlers still learning to walk, and children needing extra support can be guided outside in a matter of seconds, not minutes.
The challenges of multi-storey centres
In contrast, centres operating in multi-storey buildings face unique challenges. ACECQA’s Multi-Storey Buildings: Evacuations and Approvals fact sheet (2023) highlights that services must provide detailed evacuation policies showing exactly how children will be moved from one floor to another.
Some services use specialised evacuation equipment such as:
- Baby evacuation aprons or slings (so educators can carry multiple infants at once)
- Evacuation sleds or cots (to slide babies and children down stairways)
- Walking ropes (to lead toddlers safely in a line)
While these tools are ingenious, they add complexity and require constant training, more staff, and absolute discipline under pressure. Even with the best preparation, evacuation from an upper floor inevitably takes longer and carries more risks than from a ground-floor setting.
Everyday peace of mind
Beyond emergencies, single-storey design simplifies everyday routines. Children move between rooms or outdoors without negotiating stairs, and educators can supervise more effectively in calm, open spaces. It’s a safer, less institutional setting.
Supporting best practice
The National Quality Standard requires all services to ensure environments minimise risk.
While all approved centres must comply, a single-storey layout naturally reduces many risks from the start. It’s a design choice that gives families extra peace of mind.
At Dalkeith Early Learning Centre, our boutique heritage building is single-storey, surrounded by calm gardens. Families appreciate that safety and tradition are built into the very design of our service — one more reason generations of local parents trust us.
Get in touch today and discover why Dalkeith ELC combines safety, quality, and tradition for children aged 0–6.