Free · for nursery founders · England
Will this building work? The free premises checklist for nursery founders
Before you sign a lease for a day nursery, check the points that decide whether the building can work: planning, Ofsted timing, usable space by age group, toilets and changing, outdoor play, fire, Building Regulations and the questions to ask the landlord. With a free EYFS capacity calculator to turn your room areas into places. Written by the architects at blng studio.
Get the free checklist →
We'll use your details to send you the checklist. We'll only email you about blng sprint if you tick the box on the form, and you can unsubscribe at any time. See our privacy notice.
What's in the checklist
26 points to tick as OK or Check, each naming the official rule or guidance it comes from, plus the questions to ask your landlord.
- Planning: is a nursery allowed here? Class E(f), other use classes, planning history, Article 4 directions, the Class T trap, outside works and, in London, the London Plan.
- Ofsted registration and timing: the Early Years Register, Ofsted's published timescale and being ready at the visit.
- Space and capacity: EYFS space per child by age band, usable area only, outdoor space and staffing ratios.
- Rooms, toilets, nappy changing and sleep: baby room, toilets and basins, changing, safe sleep, parents' room and staff area.
- Outdoor play: daily access to outdoor play.
- Fire safety: the responsible person, fire risk assessment, evacuation and ways out of each room.
- Building Regulations: approval of the works, material change of use and the Approved Documents.
- Questions to ask the landlord: use clause, planning, alterations, outdoor area, break and rent-free, repair, service charge, building information and access.
Format: PDF
Turn room areas into places
An Excel spreadsheet. Enter the usable floor area and age band of each room children will use, up to 20 rooms. It shows:
- the maximum number of places for each room and each age band, using the EYFS minimum indoor space figures and rounding down room by room;
- the minimum staff in ratio, as a reference.
It also explains what counts as usable floor area, lists the EYFS figures it uses with their references, and repeats the landlord questions on a separate tab. The figures are minimums.
Both come through the same sign-up form.
Who it's for
- First-time nursery owners viewing buildings.
- Nursery groups screening new sites.
- Schools planning to add a nursery.
School founders: a checklist for independent, special school and AP premises will follow. In the meantime, see the school edition of the Nursery & School Premises Sprint.
Why the floor area on the particulars isn't your capacity
The EYFS sets minimum indoor space per child: 3.5 m² for children under 2, 2.5 m² for 2-year-olds and 2.3 m² for children aged 3 to 5. Only usable space counts, so storage, corridors, staff areas, cloakrooms, utility rooms, kitchens and toilets are left out, and outdoor space can't be used to raise the number of children. (EYFS framework from September 2026, paras 3.83–3.84)
Planning: Class E isn't the whole story
Day nurseries are in Class E(f), so a move from another Class E use, such as an office or shop, isn't development in itself. A condition on an earlier permission, the lease user clause and external works such as fencing or canopies can still stand in the way or need consent. Since August 2021, Class T prior approval no longer covers registered nurseries. (gov.uk; SI 2021/814)
What it isn't
The checklist and calculator are general information for England. They aren't advice for your building. For an architect's view of a specific building, see the Nursery & School Premises Sprint.
Check the building before you sign
Get the free checklist →
Already have a building in mind? Book a free intro call