01962 854971
Become a member

Login
  • About
    • Who we are
    • Team
    • Trustees
  • What we do
    • Guiding and representing you
    • Training and development support
    • Research and engagement expertise
    • Social enterprise expertise
    • Community buildings expertise
    • Policy and information sharing
    • Hampshire Homes Hub – community housing expertise
    • Jobs & Volunteering
    • Room & Desk Hire
    • Projects
  • Case Studies
  • News
    • News, Blogs & Events
  • Contact
  • Become a member

Communities News

Home / News, Blogs & Events / Communities News / Community buildings – guidance for hosting pre-schools

Filter by:

  • What we do
  • Blog
  • Events
  • Information

Community buildings – guidance for hosting pre-schools

Pre-school play area image

Guidance for community halls and centres with a pre-school

Community centres and similar buildings are currently required by law to be closed, except for providing ‘essential voluntary activities or urgent public support services (including the provision of food banks or other support for the homeless or vulnerable people, blood donation sessions or support in an emergency)’.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/350/regulation/5 (clause 7)

Pre-schools qualify as an exception as long as they are opening only for children who are vulnerable or whose parent(s) is / are key workers.

Plans to re-open

The Government’s Plan to Rebuild says a ‘phased return for early years settings and schools’ will begin on 1 June:

Schools should prepare to begin to open for more children from 1 June. The Government expects children to be able to return to early years settings, and for Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 to be back in school in smaller sizes, from this point.

As of 4:30 pm on Wednesday 27 May, legislation is still needed to make this legal (the regulation above is still in force).  However, assuming such legislation is passed in time, please see the guidance below about how to plan for re-opening a pre-school.  This guidance is from the perspective of the community hall or centre; pre-schools and other education settings should have guidance to cover all the issues from their perspective.  (NOTE: Guidance updated on 4 Jun with information about before- and after-school clubs.)

Covid-19 Re-opening guidance ref pre-schools 2020 06 04th

You may also wish to read the Government’s guidance for pre-schools and other early years providers.  This can be found here.

EDIT ON MONDAY 1 JUN

The legislation to allow community buildings to open for use by a pre-school has been laid before Parliament and is now in force.  The amendment is detailed here (see regulation 5, paragraph 7).  The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) Regulations 2020 now say that community buildings can open for two reasons (the second one being new):

  • To provide essential voluntary activities or urgent public support services (including the provision of food banks or other support for the homeless or vulnerable people, blood donation sessions or support in an emergency), or
  • For early years childcare provided by a person registered on the Early Years Register under Part 3 of the Childcare Act 2006.

Community centres and halls must still remain closed to the public for all other activities.

 

 

Pre-school image by Erich Westendarp from Pixabay
Share this page

Author
Kevin Sawers

Published
27.05.20

Contact us

28.06.22
Communities News
Great new VOLUNTEER opportunities!
View Communities News
28.06.22
Communities News
Great new JOB opportunities!
View Communities News
05.05.22
Communities News
ImpactSE Crowdfunding campaign
View Communities News
14.04.22
Communities News
Exciting NEW opportunity to work at Action Hampshire!…
View Communities News

Newsletter sign up

By signing up to this mailing list you are consenting to receive our bulletin which contains latest news, topics from our online forum and promotes our member of the month. This information is sent out on the 1st and 15th of every month.

  • DD slash MM slash YYYY
  • Pamber parish council were really pleased with the support provided by Action Hampshire’s Rural Housing Enabler helping us through the development process. It was a good experience.

    Chris Goss, Pamber Parish Council
  • Action Hampshire has always been a useful font of information for us at Winchester Churches Nightshelter. Sue has always been really helpful, and I do find the updates from the ‘wider’ world to be of interest.

    Michèle Price, Winchester Churches Nightshelter
  • Having Action Hampshire as a point of reference, support and guidance is invaluable for small to medium sized charities like ourselves. Without them, we would be far less connected and less able to serve our beneficiaries in a meaningful and coordinated way.

    Juno Hollyhock, The Rose Road Association
  • I have found Action Hampshire to be truly innovative and forward thinking in their approach to their work and their passion for the voluntary and community sector is easily measured through their work to help improve the lives of all sections of the community.

    Grant Cornwell, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Community Foundation
  • Action Hampshire are the most fantastic organisation and it has been a pleasure to collaborate with them. They are very positive and easy to work with, from Rachel’s warmth on the front desk all the way up to Sue’s vast knowledge and experience on the top floor.

    George Scott-Welsh, IncuHive

Become a member

Everything we do at Action Hampshire is in support of our amazing members. Join us today and access a membership package to suit your organisation, tailored to meet your needs and the needs of the people and communities you serve.

Become a member

Sign up to our newsletter

Find out what's happening at Action Hampshire
and how you can get involved

Sign up

Find us

Westgate Chambers
Staple Gardens
Winchester
Hampshire
SO23 8SR

01962 854971

Get directions

Quick links

  • Membership sign up
  • What we offer
  • Contact us

Site

  • Site map
  • Privacy policy
  • Accessibility
  • Terms of use
  • Terms of business for membership

© Copyright 2022 Community Action Hampshire

Community Action Hampshire (trading as Action Hampshire and Action Portsmouth) is registered in England and Wales as a charity (no. 1053806) and a company limited by guarantee (no. 3162873)