Ofsted requires nursery premises to be safe, secure and fit for purpose, with indoor space meeting the EYFS minimums for each age group: 3.5 m² per child under two, 2.5 m² per two-year-old and 2.3 m² per three-to-five-year-old. For a new or extended building, inspectors also expect the ordinary evidence that any compliant building carries: building control sign-off, safe and secure entry, suitable toilets, handwashing and nappy-change provision. This checklist covers all of it in order.
The standards apply to usable indoor play space, per child, for the ages actually using the room. Storage, corridors, toilets, kitchens and staff areas do not count. Your registered capacity for a room follows directly from its clear floor area, which is why a modular room designed from your intended numbers protects the capacity you are paying to add.
| Age group | EYFS minimum indoor space | What 40 m² of clear space registers |
|---|---|---|
| Under 2s | 3.5 m² per child | 11 children |
| 2-year-olds | 2.5 m² per child | 16 children |
| 3 to 5-year-olds | 2.3 m² per child | 17 children |
| Item | What inspectors and building control expect |
|---|---|
| Building control sign-off | Completion evidence for the new building or extension, with structural, thermal, fire and ventilation documentation behind it |
| Space per child | Clear play space meeting the EYFS minimums for the age group using the room |
| Children's toilets & handwashing | Child-height WCs and basins in reach of the room, sized to the numbers |
| Nappy change | Dedicated, hygienic nappy-change provision where under-3s attend |
| Secure entry & exit | Children cannot leave unsupervised; visitors cannot enter unchallenged; clear emergency escape |
| Heating, light & ventilation | Comfortable, ventilated rooms with natural light wherever possible |
| Food preparation | Suitable kitchen or milk-kitchen provision where food is prepared on site |
| Outdoor access | Daily access to outdoor play, ideally direct from the room |
The workable order: confirm the places and age groups you want to add; if the premises are leased, open the landlord-consent conversation before spending on design; agree the room layout and get drawings; check planning with the local authority; submit the building control application from the drawing pack; manufacture and groundworks run together; install and connect; collect the completion evidence; then notify Ofsted of the premises change and vary registration conditions where numbers change. The process from the operator's side, including timescales, is walked through in adding a room to your nursery.
Most nursery leases require landlord consent for any new structure, and some require reinstatement at the end of the term, which is an argument for a relocatable modular building rather than a permanent extension. Raise it with the landlord or managing agent at the start: we provide drawings and specifications you can put in front of them before you commit to anything. Our design, supply and install service, layouts and turnkey option are on the nursery buildings page.
About Cabinworx. Cabinworx designs, supplies and installs steel and timber frame modular buildings across the UK, from welfare and canteen blocks to classrooms, nursery rooms and sanitary buildings. Steel cabins come in our Classic and Plus ranges, timber frame in Standard and Premier, and every building is delivered and installed on a prepared base by our team.
Nursery buildings: design, supply & installTell us the places you want to add and the age groups. We come back with an EYFS-compliant room plan and a fixed quote, usually within two working days.