Anyone planning to start a nursery can learn a great deal from reading the real life stories of those who have gone before them. This year, Starting A Nursery includes a variety of tales ranging from a nursery housed in a string of cottages in West Yorkshire, bought by two insurance managers with their own young children (see page 15), to one set up in a pub in London's East End leased by two life-long friends who have dreamt of owning their own nursery since they were 18 (see page 23). We also take in the story of a modular-built nursery on a school site in Essex (see page 12) and the conversion of an English Heritage church near the City of London (see page 18). Ultimately, the standard of childcare, judged by parents and their children, will be the determining factor of the success of these nurseries, but their stories will prepare you for the frustrations that can arise!
Anyone planning to start a nursery can learn a great deal from reading the real life stories of those who have gone before them. This year, Starting A Nursery includes a variety of tales ranging from a nursery housed in a string of cottages in West Yorkshire, bought by two insurance managers with their own young children (see page 15), to one set up in a pub in London's East End leased by two life-long friends who have dreamt of owning their own nursery since they were 18 (see page 23).
We also take in the story of a modular-built nursery on a school site in Essex (see page 12) and the conversion of an English Heritage church near the City of London (see page 18). Ultimately, the standard of childcare, judged by parents and their children, will be the determining factor of the success of these nurseries, but their stories will prepare you for the frustrations that can arise!
Change seems to grow apace in the early years sector and we have tried to give you the latest information on all that is happening politically, with the Government's National Childcare Strategy, and commercially (see page 6). In September, the new Early Years Directorate, an arm of Ofsted, will take over the registration and inspection of nurseries from local authorities, implementing new national standards for daycare (see page 20). This is a welcome move to harmonise standards across the country and our feature is essential reading for prospective nursery owners.
