Nurseries are having to manage their occupancy levels and be a lot more flexible with the hours offered to parents, with many offering school hours or allowing sessions to be booked by the hour.
The slowdown in staff turnover caused by a lack of available positions and people preferring to stick with what they know may help with continuity of childcare for the children. But the number of parents losing their jobs or having to cut their hours has increased, causing a downturn in nursery occupancy levels.
Nursery costs are currently being stripped to the minimum. But suppliers are prepared to offer discounts on their products, so it is well worth seeing where cost savings can be made.
Competition between nurseries, fighting to maintain their levels of occupancy to survive, has never been so fierce. The reputation of the nursery is still one of the most important factors for its survival. Recommendations from within the local community will help achieve high occupancy levels, so it really matters that you don't let standards slip and you maintain a good relationship with you parents.
Parents may be looking for value for money, but they still want to ensure their children are being cared for in the best possible environment, so obtaining as good an Ofsted rating as possible is essential. Although the Ofsted inspection is only a snapshot of events over a period of a few days, the visits will give a clear indication of the level of care and standards being offered at the nursery. As any professional childcare provider knows, it's not all about just keeping the children happy, it's about providing an all-round level of care and education which is of real benefit to the children attending. If standards are high, that is ultimately what will happen.
