But before you take up the gauntlet, turn to page 4 to look at what challenges are facing the sector. Competition from Government initiatives such as Sure Start and neighbourhood nurseries are making some nursery owners uneasy about sustainability. The Government's extended school initiative is benefiting some providers who are opening nurseries in school grounds, however. Read their experiences on page 18.
If your business is already up and running you'll know the importance of good leadership skills to maintain a quality nursery. When the new Ofsted combined inspection is introduced next month the onus will be on managers to demonstrate self-assessment. Check out our feature on page 15 for advice on showing that you are a good leader. Why not also test your managerial skills in our fun quiz on page 24?
Working with parents to gain reliable and up-to-date information on their children is essential for ensuring your business provides a high level of care. See page 21 for guidance on what information you should gather and how you can use this to benefit the children.
