How can a nursery move children into temporary rooms safely during repairs?

Do not treat an empty room as a ready nursery room

A pipe repair closes the nursery's usual toddler room for several days. A meeting room in the same building appears free, so the manager proposes moving the group there after breakfast. Before children enter, the provider needs to know whether that room can support the particular children and activities safely. Floor space, supervision, toilets, handwashing, food, sleeping, storage, outdoor access and emergency escape may all change. A room that is acceptable for an adult meeting may fail as a toddler care space.

The current EYFS framework for group and school-based providers says at paragraph 3.80 that premises, including floor and outdoor space, must be fit for purpose and suitable for children's ages and activities. Providers must meet relevant health and safety, fire and hygiene requirements. Paragraph 3.83 sets indoor space requirements where indoor activity forms the main or integral part of provision. Paragraph 3.81 addresses emergency safety and evacuation. A temporary arrangement remains subject to these requirements. A repair deadline does not create an exemption.

Name a manager to approve the proposed room before use. Walk the space with a room practitioner and a person competent in premises and fire arrangements. List the children who would use it, their ages and individual needs, the expected number at peak time and the activities planned. Use the actual usable area, not a building plan's gross floor area. Identify doorways, stores, staff areas and routes that cannot serve as play space. If the group cannot fit safely, reduce numbers, use another suitable room or change service arrangements. Do not solve insufficient space by asking staff to “keep children close.”

This owner covers a temporary room inside the existing setting during works. The nursery water-outage draft owns a live service decision when usable water fails. The nursery live ratio-gap draft owns a sudden staffing deficit. A move to a different address may need a new or changed registration and is outside this page. The live Complys EYFS overview retains broad framework awareness.

Define the repair boundary and the proposed change

Ask why the usual room is closed and what remains hazardous. Is there an active leak, dust, open ceiling, electrical work, contractor access or a compromised fire route? Set a secure boundary between children and the work. A closed door may not be enough if contractors need to move materials through the play corridor. Agree entry times, tool storage, waste removal, noise control and safeguarding procedures with the contractor. Staff should know whom to call if the boundary fails. Do not rely on a contractor's general RAMS to decide whether the nursery's child route is safe.

Map the change for the whole setting. Moving toddlers may push another group into a smaller room or alter the use of the hall. A storage space may be emptied into a corridor and obstruct escape. Shared toilets may become crowded. A baby sleep area may become noisier or farther from supervision. The manager should record all linked changes, not just the new toddler room. Check the peak overlap when children arrive, eat and rest. A layout that looks roomy before opening may not work at lunchtime.

Check who controls the proposed room. A landlord, school or other occupier may use it outside nursery hours. Can equipment be left safely? Who cleans it? Who has keys? Can authorised visitors enter? If the room has a different entrance, the unauthorised collection draft helps test release control. Confirm that children cannot leave unsupervised and that staff can prevent unauthorised entry. A temporary sign is not a substitute for a working access procedure.

Record the planned duration and trigger for review. “Until repairs finish” is too vague if the work slips. Set a date to reassess the temporary arrangement and capacity. If a short move becomes weeks of provision, revisit staff routines, children's experience and any regulatory implications. A temporary room may be safe for a morning but inadequate for a full day of meals and sleep.

Verify space and age suitability with the actual group

Paragraph 3.83 of the current EYFS sets indoor area figures for children under two, two-year-olds and children aged three to five where indoor activity is the main or integral part of provision. The manager should calculate against the relevant ages and the usable area of the temporary room, applying the framework's definitions and any mixed-group approach. This guide does not offer a universal calculator because the group, room use and provider type matter. A specialist should review any borderline calculation before children move.

Beyond area, check the room's physical suitability. Are sockets, furniture and windows safe for the children's ages? Is there enough clear movement space and appropriate equipment? Can children with mobility or sensory needs access activities and facilities? Are nappy changing and toilets available nearby without taking a practitioner away from the rest of the group? Can private care be provided with safeguarding oversight? Are cleaning materials, hot drinks or adult meeting equipment still in reach? Remove hazards before the room opens.

Check the intended learning and play offer. A group that normally uses water play, construction and movement activities cannot simply sit at a table for several days because the room is small. Plan age-suitable alternatives and outdoor access. The EYFS at paragraph 3.85 requires daily outdoor access or planned outdoor activities where access is not possible, subject to circumstances such as unsafe weather. Repair work may block the ordinary garden route. Plan how children will reach a safe outdoor area and who will supervise the journey. Do not present an unsafe construction zone as a reason to abandon outdoor experience indefinitely without review.

Sleeping arrangements need their own check. Babies aged 12 months and under must be placed to sleep in a cot under the current EYFS, and the framework sets supervision and sleep-space requirements. A temporary room may lack suitable cot capacity or the ability to supervise babies under six months in the same room. The unsafe baby sleep-space draft owns recovery after a non-compliant arrangement is discovered. Before moving a baby group, verify the planned sleep setup and staff position rather than discovering a shortage at nap time.

Mixed ages and changing numbers

A temporary room may bring children of different ages together. The provider must check staffing ratios, qualification requirements, space and activity suitability for the actual mix. A plan for nine children at opening may fail when afternoon sessions overlap. Count expected and present children at each change point. The live ratio-gap owner addresses a sudden staffing shortfall, but this page asks whether the redesigned room and roster work together before children arrive. Do not count a practitioner who is supervising a contractor doorway as simultaneously available for the full group.

If children move between the temporary room and other areas, set a named handover. A different corridor or toilet can create an accountability gap. Use a departure and arrival count tied to names. The missing-child transition draft owns the response if a child cannot be accounted for. Build the control now so that a new layout does not create that event.

Check fire, security, hygiene and food in the changed layout

Walk the escape route from the child's position, not from the manager's office. Are exits identifiable and usable? Has repair work blocked a fire door, alarm call point or evacuation path? Where will the group assemble, and how will staff move babies or children with additional needs? Does the temporary room have a different alarm sound or door release? Ask a competent fire-safety person to assess changes to the building strategy. Do not assume the normal evacuation plan automatically applies to a meeting room at the end of a different corridor.

Security may also change. Children could reach a shared reception or external door more easily. Visitors may be able to see into or enter the room. Agree who controls the door and where parents collect children. Check that the new arrangement does not invite tailgating or leave a child unsupervised while staff unlock a gate. If the room has external windows at child height, consider privacy and safe ventilation. An accessible room should remain secure without trapping occupants in an emergency.

Handwashing and toilets must work for the age group and activities. A room may have no sink, but safe nearby facilities may be available with adequate supervision. Map the full journey and the number of children who can use it at once. For nappy changing, check hygienic surfaces, disposal, handwashing and privacy. UKHSA infection-prevention guidance supports access to liquid soap, warm water and paper towels. Do not use sanitiser as a blanket replacement for wash facilities, especially for toileting or gastroenteritis concerns.

Food and drink need a safe route from preparation to service. Is fresh drinking water accessible? Can staff keep child-specific allergy information with the group without exposing it to unrelated visitors? Are meals transported and served safely? Does the temporary room have an appropriate eating area and supervision? A small room may become crowded once tables are set. Check the actual lunchtime arrangement with children in mind. If food preparation itself is disrupted, use the water-outage and food decision owner for that separate issue.

Maintain staff, safeguarding and parent handovers

Brief every worker who may cover the group, including part-time and relief staff. Show them the room boundary, toilets, evacuation route, collection point, child plans and repair exclusion zone. Do not rely on a single morning briefing if the move lasts several days. A written one-page room instruction at the point of use can help, but staff should also walk the route. Ask them to demonstrate how they would summon help and supervise children if a contractor opens the wrong door.

Inform parents of the temporary room, collection and drop-off arrangements, any altered food or outdoor plan and the likely review date. Explain the safety measures without overstating certainty about repair completion. If a child's individual plan is affected, speak to that family directly. A baby whose usual sleep area is unavailable or a child who relies on a quiet space may need a specific adjustment. Do not disclose another child's health or safeguarding information in a group notice.

Check the child's experience. A room move can be unsettling even if the square metres and exits comply. Young children may lose familiar cues or a key person. Explain the change in age-appropriate terms and preserve predictable routines where possible. Observe whether a child has difficulty with the new route, sound level or activity layout. Work with parents and relevant professionals if an adjustment is needed. A technically adequate room that consistently prevents a child from participating needs further improvement.

Keep contractor contact separate from child care. Contractors should follow visitor identity, access and safeguarding controls. Agree who escorts them, where they can store tools and whether work pauses during children's movement. A contractor's need for fast access does not authorise entry to a childcare room. If the repair area shares air or drainage with the temporary room, seek competent advice about dust, fumes or water hygiene. Do not infer safety because the work is behind a closed door.

Consider Ofsted notification on the actual impact

Ofsted's serious childcare incident service includes events that might affect the condition and safety of premises, quality of childcare or lead to ongoing closures among significant events. A short repair with a fully suitable temporary room may differ from a major closure or an unsafe part of the building. The registered provider should document what happened, what changed, whether care continued safely and whether notification is required. If reportable, notify as soon as possible and within the current outer limit in the guidance. Do not wait until the repair ends to make the decision.

The precise premises matter. This guide is limited to rooms within the provider's existing registered setting. If the operator proposes a different building or address, obtain current Ofsted registration and local authority advice before moving children. Do not assume that an existing registration covers a nearby hall or another nursery's spare space. It may require a distinct application or variation. The exact route depends on the provider and address; this page does not issue permission to operate elsewhere.

If the repair follows a fire, flood, structural failure or injury, other reporting and safeguarding duties may apply. Keep them separate from the temporary-room decision. An Ofsted notification does not replace building control, fire-safety, water-supplier or parent communication when those are relevant. Record each decision and source of advice. A manager can make a safe immediate service decision while specialist regulatory questions are being resolved, but should not ignore a known unsafe room.

Verify the temporary setup before children enter

Walk a normal day. Start with arrival and collection, then play, toileting, meals, sleep, outdoor access and evacuation. Place the actual furniture, cots and equipment in the room. Check the usable space after they are installed. Count children at the busiest expected time. Have staff practice a toilet trip and a transition to outside. Check that children remain within appropriate supervision, the evacuation route works and the repair zone is secure. A photograph of an empty room is not a sufficient test.

Write a short release record. Name the room, children or age groups, maximum planned number, relevant space calculation, staff plan, facilities, fire route, contractor boundary, parent message and review date. Sign the decision with a manager and any specialist advice. If one condition is not met, change the plan before use. The provider may need to reduce attendance, split groups differently or suspend part of provision. Do not mark a room suitable because all places are already booked.

After the first session, ask staff what worked and what failed. Did a toilet journey leave the group thinly supervised? Did meal service block the doorway? Did a child struggle with noise? Did the contractor need access through the temporary room? Adjust the plan and record it. Repeat checks when the room use or child mix changes. A temporary arrangement can drift as repair work extends, so schedule a manager review rather than relying on the first successful day.

Returning to the usual room

Repair completion and child-ready release are separate. Confirm that tools and waste are removed, surfaces and equipment are clean, the original hazard is corrected, utilities work and fire and access arrangements are restored. Check any relevant technical certificate or contractor advice. Walk the child route and test the room at the point of use. A repaired pipe may leave damp material or a blocked sink. A repainted room may still have strong fumes. Seek competent advice where the condition is uncertain.

Tell staff and parents when the original room is ready and what collection or drop-off changes back. Move child records and medicines securely, checking that nothing is left in the temporary room. Confirm the attendance count and named responsibility during the move. Observe the first normal session in the restored room. Keep the temporary-room record and any lessons for future continuity planning. The aim is a safe return, not simply vacating borrowed space as quickly as possible.

A temporary-room decision record

The record should distinguish approval of the temporary room from approval to reopen the original one. They are different decisions. A room may be suitable only for a reduced group or shorter session. State any limit clearly and tell the staff who allocate places. A manager should be able to explain how the temporary arrangement protects children rather than point only to a generic risk assessment signed before furniture was moved.

Questions before the manager signs off

Can the children fit in the usable area with equipment in place? Can every child reach a suitable toilet and handwashing arrangement? Is a baby sleep setup compliant with the current EYFS? Are staff ratios, first-aid cover and supervision sound through breaks and transitions? Does the fire route work from the new room? Are contractors kept out of the child area? Have families been told where to arrive and collect? Has the Ofsted significant-event decision been recorded? Is a review date set if repairs run late? If any answer is uncertain, keep the room closed to children until it is resolved.

Product truth and next action

The live Complys childcare page describes risk assessments, policies and evidence records. Product review should verify any room inspection, task assignment or approval workflow before this page promises one. This draft does not say that Complys calculates legal child capacity, approves a temporary room, checks fire escape, registers premises with Ofsted or monitors children. The provider and competent specialists make those decisions.

A useful related tool could be a temporary-room readiness worksheet with fields for the actual children, usable area, facilities, fire route, staff plan, contractor boundary and separate return check. It should require human sign-off and specialist input where needed. It should not output an automatic “room approved” verdict from a floor-area number alone. Product, safeguarding, fire and Ofsted reviewers should assess any tool before release.

CTA: Walk your proposed temporary room with a practitioner and a premises or fire lead before any child enters. Test arrival, toileting, meals, sleep and evacuation with the actual furniture and group size. Record the first condition that fails and change the plan. Seek current Ofsted advice before using a different address or relying on an unverified registration assumption.