Purpose and Scope

The Tots’ Clubhouse Nursery School is committed to providing a safe, healthy, and comfortable environment for all children, staff, and visitors in extreme heat conditions.  UKHSA, the Met Office and Warwickshire County Council provide weather warnings to our setting.  The alert represents a situation in which the expected impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service, with potential for the whole population to be at risk and where other sectors apart from health may also start to observe impacts, indicating that a coordinated response is required.

Parents should acknowledge that they understand why these warnings are in place including to reduce the number of people needing hospital treatment and the health service becoming overwhelmed.  It is not an individual setting issue, it a strategic coordination across services.

Children under five years of age are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat because their bodies cannot regulate temperature as efficiently as adults, putting them at a higher risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heatstroke.

These weather warnings are categorised as:

Red Alert 

Severe impacts are expected across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including:

• increased risk to life across the whole population, with significant impacts on older people
• significantly increased demand on all health and social care services
• the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services
• hot indoor environments making provision of care challenging and national critical infrastructure failures, such as generators and power outages
• water-related incidents may increase, including risks from cold-water shock and drowning

Amber Alert 

An amber alert represents a situation in which the expected impacts are likely to be felt across the whole health service, with potential for the whole population to be at risk and where other sectors apart from health may also start to observe impacts, indicating that a coordinated response is required.

Significant impacts are expected across health and social care services due to the high temperatures, including:

• a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions. There may also be impacts on younger age groups
• likely increased demand on all health and social care services
• internal temperatures in care settings (hospitals and care homes) may exceed the recommended threshold for clinical risk assessment
• the heat affecting the ability of the workforce to deliver services
• indoor environments overheating increasing the risk to vulnerable people living independently in community and care settings
• issues managing medicines
• staffing issues due to external factors (for example, affecting transport)
• increased demand for power exceeding capacity
• other sector starting to observe impacts (for example, travel delays)
• water-related incidents may increase, including risks from cold-water shock and drowning

You can see all the weather health alerts currently in place across England on the UKHSA data dashboard.

Indoor Temperature Boundaries

This policy outlines our proactive and reactive measures for managing high indoor temperatures during the summer months. It complies with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Adverse Weather and Health Plan, the Department for Education (DfE) Hot Weather Guidance for Early Years Settings, and our statutory responsibilities under the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Statutory Framework.

Examples of Extreme Summer Temperatures:

In the UK, extreme hot weather events and heatwaves are defined by temperatures that significantly exceed local seasonal averages. Examples of extreme temperatures that trigger heightened alert levels and stricter intervention strategies within our nursery include:

Prolonged Heat Events: Multiple consecutive days where outdoor ambient temperatures exceed 28°C to 30°C.
Peak Spike Heatwaves: Extreme spikes where outdoor temperatures match or exceed 31°C to 35°C+.

Indoor Temperature Management Systems

The Nursery School monitors room temperatures systematically using dedicated indoor thermometers. We use the following thresholds to manage the thermal comfort of our rooms:

The Willow Room (Over 3s Room and Pre-school) temperature is maintained at 18°C – 20°C which is the normal baseline indoor temperature range under standard UK weather conditions.

The Oak Room (Under 3s) receives direct sunlight and requires active intervention. Staff will utilise blackout blinds to block solar gain and two mechanical fan systems to promote air circulation and cooling to maintain temperatures at 18°C – 20°C.

Moderate External Heat (Outside air is approx. 28°C)

The Willow Room (Over 3s Room and Pre-school) temperature may rise up to 22.5°C.  The implementation of standard cooling protocols is required to ensure temperatures are maintained up to 22.5°C.

The Willow Room's structural position is shielded from direct sunlight, and with a tiled floor, making the ambient temperature naturally easier to manage. Staff will maintain ventilation by opening doors and windows early in the morning when the outside air is cooler.

The Oak Room (Under 3s) receives direct sunlight and requires active intervention. Staff will utilise blackout blinds to block solar gain and two mechanical fan systems to promote air circulation and cooling to ensure temperatures are maintained up to 24.5°C.

Severe External Heat (Outside air exceeds 28°C)

The Willow Room (Over 3s Room and Pre-school) temperature may rise up to 25.5°C.  The implementation of standard cooling protocols is required to ensure temperatures are maintained up to 25.5°C.

The Willow Room's structural position is shielded from direct sunlight, and with a tiled floor, making the ambient temperature naturally easier to manage. Staff will maintain ventilation by opening doors and windows early in the morning when the outside air is cooler.  The Willow Room has not experienced temperatures over 25.5°C.

Children will be required to undertake greater hydration and reduce their movement within the room.

The Oak Room (Under 3s) receives direct sunlight and requires active intervention. Staff will utilise blackout blinds to block solar gain and two mechanical fan systems to promote air circulation and cooling to ensure temperatures are maintained up to 27.5°C.

The Nursery School explicitly acknowledges UKHSA guidance stating that mechanical fans are ineffective in extreme heat. When indoor temperatures rise, fans do not cool the ambient air; instead, they move hot air around, which can accelerate dehydration and heat illness. Fans will only be used alongside active ventilation. 

Critical Internal Threshold (Internal temperature exceeding 28.5°C)

Early Closure Triggered (See section below).

Should the Willow Room (Over 3s Room and Pre-school) or the Oak Room (Under 3s) temperature rise up to 28.5°C. The implementation of standard cooling protocols will not be effective.  The Nursery School will close where temperatures cannot be reduced.

Safe Sleeping for Babies in Extreme Heat

Maintaining a safe sleep environment is vital to reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) during hot weather.

Standard Conditions: Under normal operations, baby sleep areas are strictly maintained between 16°C and 20°C in line with our core health and safety policy.

Extreme Heat Conditions: During periods of extreme heat, children may have to sleep in rooms that reach up to 27.5°C. In these instances, the following emergency sleep protocols are mandatory:

• Bedding Adjustments: Children will be placed to sleep directly on a 100% lightweight cotton sheet. No sleeping bags, swaddles, or duvets will be used.
• Clothing: Babies will sleep in a single layer (e.g., a short-sleeved vest or nappy only).
• Enhanced Monitoring: Staff must perform frequent, documented extra welfare checks on sleeping children, monitoring their breathing, checking skin temperature (by feeling the back of their neck or chest), and watching for signs of damp hair or flushing.
• Environmental Monitoring: The sleep space must be continuously monitored using three independent thermometers distributed across the room to eliminate micro-climate blind spots, alongside a CO₂ monitor to track air safety.

Carbon Dioxide Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality

Ensuring proper ventilation is a delicate balance during extreme heat, as keeping windows open when the outdoor air is hotter than the indoor air can inadvertently warm the building. However, a complete lack of ventilation can lead to a dangerous buildup of Carbon Dioxide.

Health Risk Note: Poor ventilation and elevated levels can quickly cause children and staff to experience dizziness, headaches, nausea, drowsiness, and cognitive fatigue.

To manage this safely, the nursery operates a strict traffic-light policy linked to our indoor monitors:

🟢 Green Indicator: Indicates optimal ventilation and safe air exchange. No immediate structural changes are required.
🟡 Amber Indicator: Serves as a warning threshold. Staff must immediately open a window or door to create a cross-breeze and allow fresh air ventilation until the monitor returns to green, regardless of the outdoor temperature.

Decision to Close Early

The health, safety, and physical well-being of the children in our care are paramount. If environmental variables make it impossible to maintain a safe indoor climate, the nursery will implement an early closure protocol.

The Critical Trigger: If the internal temperature of the Nursery School building reaches 26.5°C, management will officially take the decision to contact parents with the option of collecting their child early.

If the UKSHA, the Local Authority, DfE, or other regulatory body advise the early or full closure, we will comply with this advice.

If the internal temperatures reaches 28.5°C, the Nursery School will close early.

Forecasting and Pre-emptive Actions: The Nursery School management team will actively monitor both the long-term weekly forecast and the short-term (day-to-day and hourly) weather data.  To ensure precision, we also use data pulled from our local Met Office weather station.

Communication: Where data indicates a high probability of exceeding safe thresholds, the Nursery School will endeavour to make the decision to close in advance wherever possible. This allows parents and carers the maximum possible time to arrange alternative childcare arrangements. Immediate notifications will be sent out via our primary parent communication channels.

Decisions can change due to a range of factors including the overnight temperatures.  As the Nursery School can be monitored 24 hours a day, cooling can take place overnight where temperatures drop below 20°C.  If overnight temperatures do not drop below 20°C, it is difficult to cool the building overnight.  Thus, in a prolonged heatwave, it is difficult to remain open because the daily starting temperature will be much higher.
 

Dated: 1 July 2026 Review date: December 2027