Shade for Childcare Centres in WA: A Practical Planning Guide

Outdoor play is a big part of every day in early learning, and in Perth that means planning for strong sun for most of the year. This guide explains what childcare centres need to think about when planning shade, and how to get it right the first time. If you’re ready to talk about your centre, see our childcare shade sails and structures.

What the regulations say about shade

The Education and Care Services National Regulations require that outdoor spaces at an education and care service “include adequate shaded areas to protect children from overexposure to ultraviolet radiation”. ACECQA’s sun protection policy guidelines are a useful starting point for your centre’s policy.

“Adequate” isn’t a single number, so it pays to plan shade around how your outdoor spaces are actually used.

Where shade matters most in a centre

• Sandpits and mud kitchens – children sit and play here for long periods.
• Fixed play equipment – surfaces and equipment heat up quickly in direct sun.
• Bike tracks and open play areas – large areas that are hard to shade with trees alone.
• Outdoor learning and meal areas – where groups gather at set times.
• Transition spaces – between rooms and the yard, often used in wet weather too.

Plan around your daily routine

Shade moves through the day and across the seasons. A sail that covers the sandpit at midday may leave it in full sun during afternoon play. Coastal Sails creates geolocated 3D designs so you can see exactly where the shade falls at morning play, lunch and afternoon sessions before anything is installed.

Shade sails, PVC or both?

Shade cloth sails let air through while blocking the sun, which keeps play areas cooler. Where you also need rain cover – for example walkways or outdoor learning areas used year-round – waterproof PVC structures can work alongside sails.

Managing shade across several centres

For groups with multiple centres, it helps to have one contractor who can assess, quote and schedule work across all sites, and look after inspections, repairs and seasonal removal. That keeps shade consistent and easier to budget for.

Looking after your shade

Sails that are cleaned, inspected and correctly tensioned last longer and stay safe. Many centres book inspections before summer and removal before winter storms.