Policy and Procedure No. 31
Unplanned Closure
Millfield Pre-school (MPS) will always open for sessions wherever possible. However this policy and procedure covers incidents of short notice closure due to bad weather, power failure or any other event that makes attendance impossible. In the event of advised closure, i.e. during a pandemic, MPS will follow Government guidance and regulations.
- When staff arrive at the pre-school the Lead Practitioner/Manager or Senior Practitioner will assess if the pre-school is suitable to open through a risk assessment. If it is deemed unsuitable to open the following actions will be taken:
a. Parents/carers will be informed as soon as is practical by telephone that the pre-school is to close. As soon as pre-school is able to re-open, parents/carers will be informed.
b. If the building is suitable for staff to remain but not for children to attend then the Lead Practitioner/Manager or Senior Practitioner will advise the staff what duties can be undertaken. If the building is not suitable for staff to remain they will be sent home with full pay providing approval has been sought from the Chairperson of the committee.
c. If the closure is due to a maintenance issue the additional actions will be for a person of the appropriate skilled trade to be contacted and asked to attend pre-school and rectify the situation. The Chairperson is then to be contacted and informed of the situation. If the staff require any extra help the Chairperson is to ask a member of the committee to attend. If a skilled worker attends the pre-school two members of staff must remain on site, one of them to be the Lead Practitioner/Manager or Senior Practitioner.
d. If the closure is due to bad weather i.e. snow, ice, flood, etc, the Chairperson will be advised of the situation. The Committee and parents/carers will be informed as soon as possible. The Lead Practitioner/Manager or Senior Practitioner is to re-assess the situation for subsequent days.
e. If a staff member is not able to attend pre-school due to bad weather and the pre-school remains open, they will not receive payment for that shift and another member of staff will be called in to cover.
- As soon as the pre-school can be reopened and sessions can be held, parents/carers will be informed. If there are sessions available, children who were due to attend during the unplanned closure period will be offered another session. If this is not achievable the parents/carers will be reimbursed the fees for missed session/s. This will be refunded on the next invoice or by cheque. If the child receives funded sessions the Lead Practitioner/Manager will report this to the appropriate persons.
Signed: Clara Hall- Chairperson
Signed: Tegan Kidman- Lead Practitioner/Manager.
Reviewed: 4th February 2026
Review: 4th February 2027