That report defined a community nursery as a setting providing a full daycare service to disadvantaged local families and those in need. Fees were kept low and the nurseries were not for profit, with many registered as charities. Community nursery mangers saw their nurseries as different to the private sector because they did not have to make a profit, and they were more likely to be actively working within the local area to reduce social isolation and enable parents to work and study.
Do you describe yourself as a community nursery using these criteria? If you do, I would really like to hear from you. I am researching community nurseries because I think we are facing specific leadership challenges. The huge expansion in daycare has placed pressures on community nurseries. Are we equipped to move forward with Government initiatives such as neighbourhood nurseries and children's centres?
What do you think? Please contact me.
June O'Sullivan, Westminster Children's Society, London, tel: 0207 834 8679, e-mail: june@wcs.org.uk
