A Facility Evaluation
Mark the actions to rate your present and planned efforts for your facilities.
E= Excellent
S= Satisfactorily Doing Now
I= Improvement Needed
N= Need to Start
Fit Facilities to Philosophy
__1. Facilities are planned for workable group sizes in which all learners can comfortably build relationships and engage in active learning.
__2. Room sizes and arrangements are planned to facilitate observation and to help leaders support the staff
__3. Buildings are designed to provide easy access by everyone, with special attention given to the needs of first-time visitors, parents with small children, the elderly, and people with physical handicaps.
Make Facilities Personal
__1. All areas of buildings are regularly evaluated to ensure that the physical and social needs of learners are accommodated.
__2. Floor coverings (carpet, tile, linoleum, wood) are easy to clean and, in children’s rooms, are appropriate for sitting on the floor.
__3. Walls are painted in inviting, colors with accented areas such as bulletin boards, chalkboards, and so on. Displays are mounted at eye level for the age group using the room and are kept up to date to reflect current areas of study and interest.
__4. Ceilings lights give adequate, even illumination balanced with outside light when available. (It is helpful if lights can be dimmed and windows covered when watching a video, using an overhead projector, during rest time.)
__5. Electrical outlets are placed for convenient use with several outlets on each wall. (In early childhood rooms outlets should be placed at table or counter height so they, as well as plugs and cords, are out of the reach of children. Plug guards should cover any unused plugs.)
__6. Separate heating and ventilation controls are provided for rooms in each zone.
__7. Early childhood rooms have direct access to child- size rest rooms. The number of sinks and toilets follow state or local guidelines for the number of children to be served. Rest rooms for older children, youth, and adults are located near their classrooms and have adequate facilities to handle between-service congestion.
__8. Am evacuation plan is in place for all classrooms and hallways in case of fire, earthquake, or other disaster.
__9. Hallway congestion before and after a session has been considered in planning the location of groups. For example, early childhood rooms are located where parents can easily deliver and pick up children.
__10. All areas of the buildings offer easy access for people with disabilities.
© 2003 Gospel Publishing House, Springfield, MO. Permission to duplicate for local church use only. Wes Haystead, author of The 21st Century Sunday School, is also co-author, with his wife Sheryl, of How to Have a Great Sunday School, available from Gospel Publishing House.
