Will you need a lease

Will you need a lease?

Useful contacts for more

information and advice

Social Services Inspection Unit

Norwich (01603) 495100

Norfolk Education Department

Premises Section

Norwich (01603) 222357/222356

Norfolk Early Years Support Network

Norwich (01603) 219300

PreSchool Learning Alliance

Norwich (01603) 767525

Windmill, The Norfolk and Waveney

Association of Out of School Clubs

Phone 01553 777828

Norfolk Childcare Information Service

Norwich (01603) 622292

The Headteacher

(The headteacher of each school can

write in below the appropriate contact)

………………………………….

Using school premises

for pre-school or out of

school groups

Information for

community groups

and headteachers

September 2000

This advice is to help you if you are a

Community group or a headteacher thinking of setting up a pre-school or out-of-school group within a school.

If ….

You are a community group your first step must be to consult the headteacher of the school.

Then you should ….

contact Norfolk Social Services Inspection Unit and arrange to attend a Day Care Information Evening for advice on the registration process for childcare groups

contact Norfolk's Education Department for advice on using school premises

You should consider the following questions ….

will the group need its own space (a playgroup meeting during school hours)

will it share space with the school (an out-of-school club meeting outside school hours)

If you decide that you need your own space you should check

how you can provide a new building

what are the planning and building regulations

how will your project affect the rest of the school eg if the children play outside will that disturb school classes

what will be the terms of any lease with Norfolk County Council

If you decide that you can share the use of the school, it will be sufficient to enter into a letting agreement.

Once you have identified your premises you will need to make the following checks ….

is there enough space for the number of children

is there a safe and secure outside play area

is there space for a quiet area where small children can sleep and where older children can have a quiet time if they want to?

are the premises in good repair

is there electricity, gas and water

do you have access to toilets and handwashing facilities for the children and your staff

would there be space for kitchen and laundry facilities if you need them

is there a telephone (otherwise you will need a mobile phone)

what arrangements could you make for care-taking and cleaning

is there safe storage for staff possessions and medicines

how will you provide secure storage for the group's equipment when it is not in use

Don't forget to ask for help and advice when you need it – there are useful telephone numbers on the back page of this leaflet.