The Department for Education’s new Early Years Design Guidance (July 2026) provides an important insight into how nursery environments within schools may be designed in the future. However, before considering its implications, it is important to understand the scope of the document.
This guidance has been developed specifically as a design primer for school-based nurseries and is intended to support schools, academy trusts, local authorities, governing bodies and their design teams when establishing or expanding nursery provision on school sites. It is not a new statutory standard for all nurseries and does not directly apply to the wider private, voluntary and independent (PVI) nursery sector, unless those providers are operating from or developing provision on school sites.
While the guidance does not introduce new legal requirements for toilet and washroom provision, it does signal a significant shift in design thinking, one that places hygiene facilities at the heart of the nursery experience rather than treating them as purely functional spaces.
A New Vision for School-Based Nurseries
The DfE’s guidance is built around a child-centred approach to design. It encourages project teams to consider how children experience every stage of their day, from arrival and play to outdoor learning, personal care and departure.
Within this context, washrooms are no longer viewed simply as support spaces. Instead, toilets, handwashing areas and changing facilities are presented as environments that help children develop independence, confidence and self-care skills.
For architects and education planners working on school-based nursery projects, this represents an important change in emphasis.
Direct Access from Playrooms
One of the strongest messages within the guidance is that washrooms should be directly accessible from nursery playrooms. The document states that children should be able to move easily between learning spaces and toilet areas without disrupting activities and illustrates arrangements where washrooms sit immediately alongside play environments.
This approach encourages:
- Dedicated nursery washrooms.
- Classroom-connected toilet facilities.
- Reduced reliance on shared school toilet blocks.
- Improved supervision and accessibility.
For school-based nursery developments, this may influence both the layout and space allocation of future projects.
Supporting Indoor-Outdoor Learning
A key theme throughout the guidance is the importance of free-flow movement between indoor and outdoor environments. The DfE promotes nursery settings that encourage exploration, outdoor play and nature-based learning experiences.
As a result, the guidance recommends that washrooms should be within easy reach of outdoor play areas and that children should have easy access to toilets from external spaces.
This could lead to washrooms being positioned closer to outdoor learning areas and influence how designers plan circulation routes within nursery settings.
Designing for Independence
The guidance also emphasises the importance of helping children develop independence through the design of their environment. Accessible and age-appropriate toilets, basins and changing facilities are encouraged, alongside sanitaryware sized specifically for younger users.
The accompanying technical recommendations include indicative dimensions for toilet pans, basins and dispenser heights for 2–3-year-olds, reflecting a growing focus on child-centred washroom design.
Changing Facilities Become More Integrated
The expansion of provision for younger children is another important consideration. The guidance acknowledges the need for changing facilities within nursery environments and suggests that larger settings may require dedicated changing areas alongside toilet provision.
This reflects the reality that many school-based nurseries are now catering for younger age groups than has traditionally been the case and therefore require more integrated hygiene facilities.
No New Regulations – But Clear Design Direction
Perhaps the most important point for education providers, architects and washroom manufacturers is that the document does not introduce new regulations.
There are no changes to:
- EYFS toilet requirements
- Toilet ratios
- Building Regulations
- Existing statutory standards for nursery washrooms
Instead, the guidance provides a clearer picture of the DfE’s preferred approach to the design of school-based nursery environments and the role that washrooms play within them.
What This Means for the Sector
Although the guidance applies specifically to school-based nurseries, it is likely to influence discussions around future nursery design more broadly. DfE guidance frequently shapes project briefs, funding-supported developments and architectural approaches across the education sector.
For manufacturers and specifiers, the document points towards increased demand for:
- Direct-access nursery washrooms
- Child-height sanitaryware
- Integrated changing provision
- Washrooms connected to indoor-outdoor learning environments
- Designs that promote independence and self-care
Conclusion
The DfE’s 2026 Early Years Design Guidance is not a new standard for all nurseries, nor does it introduce new regulatory requirements. Its focus is specifically on the planning and design of school-based nurseries.
However, the guidance clearly signals a shift in design philosophy. For new school-based nursery projects, washrooms are increasingly being viewed not as separate support facilities but as an integral part of the learning environment, supporting independence, wellbeing, hygiene education and seamless movement between indoor and outdoor play.
The result is a more child-centred approach to washroom design, one that is likely to influence the next generation of nursery developments on school sites across England.
See our Washroom Guide for School Based Nurseries here.
