Room Temperature

[gracygrey]

Hi, I hope that someone can offer me some guidance. I seem to recall that the room temp for a preschool should be 16-18 degrees? or adequate?
At work today it was only 9 degrees and it went upto 11 when more heaters were introduced. The children seemed fine and none complained they were cold but the staff were very cold and the question arose what to do if we cannot get the temp up? Do we close? If so are the staff paid?
Any help would be much appreciated as with more snow forecast it could get worse

Thank you

[Ruthierhyme]

Hi, there's no mention of an appropriate room temperature in 2012 eyfs, 2008 only stated 'Rooms should be maintained at a temperature which ensures the comfort of the children and staff, including non-mobile children.' But gives no guidance as to what 'comfortable is.

Working temperature for adults is 16°C and in school's; Minimum temperatures: These are specified in the school premises regulations. Eighteen degrees centigrade °C is normal for classrooms. from Education.gov.uk

If your room temperature can't be raised safely, the current setting would contravene HSE recommendations and a decision to close would be needed. The impact on wages should be something included in your working contract - snowdays or setting closures?

This page on UK's Out-law.com is good.

Hth xx