Soft Play Hygiene Policy: A Template for Nurseries and Playgroups
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Quick answer: A soft play hygiene policy for a nursery, preschool or playgroup can fit on two pages. It needs eight sections: purpose and scope, who is responsible, daily cleaning, weekly and deep cleaning, ball pit balls, illness and exclusion, spills and bodily fluids, and records and review. Write it around what your staff actually do, link it to your existing infection control and health and safety policies, and review it at least once a year.
Nurseries and playgroups often ask Soft Play Market for "a hygiene policy for the soft play corner" when they add a ball pit or foam set. Most settings already have an infection control policy, so the soft play policy doesn't need to repeat it. It needs to say who cleans what, how often, with what, and what happens when a child is ill or there's a spill. Below is a template structure you can adapt, with example wording for each section.
Does a nursery need a separate soft play hygiene policy?
Not always. Many settings add a soft play section to their existing cleaning or infection control policy, which is perfectly fine. A separate short policy makes sense when the soft play area is large, shared between rooms, used by visiting groups or run by volunteers, such as a church hall playgroup, because people who don't know your main policies still need clear instructions.
Whichever you choose, it should sit alongside your duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and, for registered early years settings, the EYFS requirements on health and hygiene. This is general guidance, not legal advice.
What sections should a soft play hygiene policy include?
| Section | What it covers |
|---|---|
| 1. Purpose and scope | Which areas and equipment the policy covers |
| 2. Responsibilities | Named role responsible, who does daily checks |
| 3. Daily cleaning | Before, during and after sessions |
| 4. Weekly and deep cleaning | Covers, seams, mats, under equipment |
| 5. Ball pit balls | Washing method and frequency |
| 6. Illness and exclusion | When children shouldn't use the area; closing it |
| 7. Spills and bodily fluids | Step-by-step response |
| 8. Records and review | Cleaning log, review date, sign-off |
What should the purpose, scope and responsibilities sections say?
Keep these short. Example wording:
- Purpose: "This policy sets out how we keep the soft play area, ball pit and foam equipment clean and hygienic, to reduce the spread of infection between children."
- Scope: "It covers the soft play corner in the toddler room, the ball pit, all foam blocks and mats, and the soft seating."
- Responsibilities: "The room leader is responsible for this policy. The member of staff opening the room completes the daily check. All staff follow the spill procedure."
Use roles rather than names so the policy doesn't need rewriting each time staff change.
What should the daily and weekly cleaning sections say?
Be specific about products and methods so anyone can follow them. For example:
- Before the first session: visual check that the area is clean and dry; remove any toys, food or rubbish from the ball pit.
- During the day: wipe high-touch surfaces (handles, slide tops, edges of the pit) between groups using a child-safe surface cleaner.
- End of day: wipe all wipe-clean covers with warm water and mild detergent, then a child-safe disinfectant at the label dilution; vacuum fabric covers.
- Weekly: move the pieces, clean underneath and between them, clean seams with a soft brush, wash removable fabric covers to the care label.
Add a line on what not to use: no bleach, solvents or abrasive pads on soft play covers. Our guide to the best cleaning products for soft play explains why, and the soft play cleaning schedule has a fuller routine you can copy from.
What should the policy say about ball pit balls?
Ball pits need their own short section, because balls are mouthed and handled more than anything else. Example wording: "Ball pit balls are washed weekly, or straight away if contaminated, in warm water with mild washing-up liquid, in mesh bags or a bath. They are rinsed and air-dried fully before going back into the pit. Balls are never put in a washing machine or cleaned with bleach or very hot water. Cracked or dented balls are removed and thrown away."
If you're stocking a new pit, we supply 7cm balls in boxes of 750 for settings. They're made in the EU, contain no PVC, BPA or phthalates and are EN 71 tested. Keeping a spare box lets you swap balls in while a batch dries.
What should the illness and exclusion section say?
Link to your setting's existing exclusion policy rather than writing new rules. For example: "Children who are unwell, or within the exclusion period set out in our sickness policy, do not use the soft play area. If there is an outbreak of a gastrointestinal or other infectious illness in the setting, the room leader may close the soft play area until it has been deep cleaned." For exclusion periods, follow the current UK Health Security Agency guidance for schools and childcare settings; don't write your own figures. We cover the closing and reopening steps in when to close a soft play area for illness.
What should the spills and bodily fluids section say?
- Move children away and close the area.
- Put on disposable gloves (and an apron if available).
- Remove the spill with disposable towels and bag it.
- Clean the area with detergent and warm water, then disinfect with a suitable product at the correct dilution and contact time.
- Remove and bag any contaminated balls for washing; take off and wash any fabric cover.
- Let the surface dry before reopening, wash hands and record what happened.
What records should you keep?
A simple log sheet by the area is enough: date, what was cleaned, products used, initials, and any notes (damaged cover, spill, closure). Keep the sheets with your other health and safety records. Finish the policy with a review date, typically 12 months ahead or sooner if something changes, and the name of the role that signs it off.
Do playgroups in church halls need a hygiene policy?
Most playgroup organisations and hall committees expect one, and insurers may ask for it. A short version of this template, with a copy kept in the equipment cupboard, works well.
Should the policy name specific cleaning products?
Naming the product you currently use helps staff, but add "or an equivalent child-safe product" so the policy doesn't go out of date when you change supplier.
Can you help us choose easy-clean equipment for a nursery?
Yes. Email info@softplaymarket.co.uk or see our trade programme. Wipe-clean soft play sets are the simplest to fit into a hygiene routine.