Expert help
It pays to take professional advice and read widely before you start up a nursery.
Consultancies
* Busy Bees, as well as owning a chain of nurseries, can help develop facilities either in partnership or on behalf of large companies: The Rom Building, Easter Avenue, Lichfield, Staffs WS13 6RN, tel: 0870 380 6614.
* The Children's House consultancy can advise on all aspects of starting and running a nursery: Station Road, Stallingborough, North East Lincolnshire DN41 8AJ, tel: 01472 504891, consultancy@the childrenshouse.org.uk, www.the childrenshouse.org.uk.
* Childcare Partners has expertise in helping employers decide on childcare strategy, particularly in the area of partnership schemes with local communities: Buffer Bears, Head Office, The Hospitium, Valpy Street, Reading RG1 1AR, tel: 0118 950 3200.
* Mark Dudek is a specialist adviser on all aspects of the early years environment: 6 Ledbury Mews, London W11 2AF, tel: 07976 703760, www.
educationdesign.co.uk.
* Trio Childcare Connections can help with getting a nursery started, Ofsted problems etc: Newburn Centre, Newburn Crescent, Swindon SN1 5ES, tel: 01793 514422.
* Noel Quinn is a training and management consultant company that can support the development of your nursery business: 83 Cubbington Road, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV32 7AQ, tel: 01926 420340, info@noel quinn.co.uk.
Childcare and professional organisations
* 4Children, formerly Kids' Club Network, Bellerive House, 3 Muirfield Crescent, London E14 9SZ, tel: 020 7512 2112, www. 4children.org.uk.
* Daycare Trust, 21 St George's Road, London SE1 6ES, tel: 020 7840 3350, www.daycaretrust.org.uk.
* National Day Nurseries Association, Oak House, Woodvale Road, Brighouse, West Yorkshire HD6 4AB, tel: 0870 774 4244, www. ndna.org.uk.
* The Pre-school Learning Alliance, 69 King's Cross Road, London WC1X 9LL, tel: 020 7833 0991, www.pre-school. org.uk.
* Scottish Independent Nurseries Association, Hyde Park Business Centre, 60 Mollins Burn Street, Glasgow G21 4SF, tel: 0141 557 3040, www.sinascotland.com.
Publications
* Nursery World, priced 1.30 a week, includes news, features and curriculum guidance (subscription hotline, tel: 0870 444 8628), www.nurseryworld.co.uk.
* Starting a Nursery - A practical guide for early years professionals by Martin Pace (Nursery World, now on offer, tel: 0870 444 8633).
* Starting a Day Nursery: The essential elements resource pack (National Day Nurseries Association, 25, tel: 0870 774 4244).
* Starting a Pre-school factsheet, included in the group membership pack (Pre-school Learning Alliance, tel: 020 7833 0991).
* Starting and Running a Nursery - the business of early years care by Helen Jameson and Madelaine Watson (Nelson Thornes, 19.75, tel: 01242 267268).
* Building for Young Children by Mark Dudek (10, tel: 07976 703760).
Market research
You will need to demonstrate that you have conducted market research if you are to gain funding to set up your nursery. Market research is to show that the area you have chosen has enough children to support your nursery, will enable you to charge a high enough fee and will enable you to fill your nursery quickly enough and stay full so you can make a profit. Research will also help define the service you are to offer.
* Look around the area for evidence of young families - primary schools, children's shops and so on.
* Your local Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP)/Children's Information Service (CIS) are a good source of information.
* Contact major employers to ask if their employees need childcare.
* Prepare a questionnaire and conduct a survey of what age of children people have, where they live and what childcare they use. This helps gauge demand and publicise your nursery.
* Research your competition to establish whether the nurseries are full and what services they offer.
Contacts
* CACI is a market research company: Kensington Village, Avonmore Road, London W14 8TS, tel: 020 7602 6000.
* Childcare Link can provide details of your local CIS, tel: 08000 96 02 96, www.childcarelink.gov.uk.
* Experian is a market research company: Garden Floor, Bain House, 16 Connaught Place, London W2 2EP, tel: 020 7664 1157.
Business plan
Your business plan should include:
* Executive summary - include key objectives, financial objectives, level of funding needed.
* Sector analysis - a brief explanation of the nursery marketplace.
* Market analysis - your market research.
* Operational plan - your business objectives and how you expect to achieve them, ethos, opening hours, age groups and so on.
* Management team - outline staff identified and recruitment plans.
* Implementation plan - what you will do during start-up, including securing premises, recruitment, marketing.
* Financial information - predictions about how your nursery will develop financially.
* Appendices - the back-up for your financial data, any relevant press cuttings, management CVs, market size data.
* Banks, or your EYDCP business support officer, can often provide business plan formats for reference.
Funding
Types of funding
There are two types of funding:
* Debt (or loan capital), which you borrow from a lender such as a high street bank, and
* Equity, which means selling a share of your business to a business partner, even though it has not yet begun trading.
Most businesses usually operate with a mix of debt and equity.
Sources of funding
Debt:
The easiest and quickest source is through family and friends. If you know someone with enough capital, do not be afraid to discuss your proposal.
They may expect a share in the business, in which case it will become equity funding.
A bank may be able to consider a loan if you already have some capital or assets of your own, or if you have taken on an equity partner.
Even if you have no capital, it is useful to see your bank manager for advice on loan schemes available to business start-ups such as the Government Loan Guarantee Scheme.
Grants are another source of business funding, but the sources are very few. If you are aged under 30, the Prince's Youth Business Trust is a good place to start enquiring and your local Learning and Skills Council may also offer advice on how to source low-cost or free money.
Equity:
A new business is unlikely to attract venture capital, so the best source of equity finance is a 'business angel'. This may be someone with business experience and money to invest who is keen to get involved in a profitable business. They may want to work with the business on a part-time basis, bringing valuable skills with them.
Business angels listen out for potential investments through a network of contacts and, for a fee, you should be able to access that network through either the local Learning and Skills Council, Business Link, or through a number of private agencies called financial intermediaries (fees range from around 500 upwards). You can access these organisations through your local authority, local chamber of commerce or your accountant.
Business angels who have worked in similar sectors to childcare, such as healthcare or hotels, may be the most easily persuaded to see the benefits of investing in a nursery, as profit margins are likely to be similar.
Pros and cons
Debt:
* The lender weighs up possible return against risk. You will be expected to put up some of the capital (for example by offering a charge on your home).
* Once you have entered into a loan agreement, you must meet repayments, irrespective of whether the nursery is making a profit.
* You retain ownership of the nursery and therefore the value of the business when you come to sell it, rather than sharing this with a partner.
You will also have a greater say in decision-making.
* Debt is quicker to implement as a lender's decision is based on financial criteria, not on building up a working relationship.
Equity:
* You will only be required to pay back your funder out of profits, giving your business greater security.
* Your partner is likely to get involved in the business, which may bring new skills to the setting. If you have a mix of equity and debt, your lender may feel more comfortable with your partner's skills on board.
* You will be surrendering some of the eventual profits of the nursery business.
* You will also be giving up some control of the running of the company and will need to work with your partner for the benefit of the business.
* Having equity funds from a partner can sometimes be a help in securing further finance from other partners or lenders.
Contacts
* Abbey Business provides commercial mortgages and loans, tel: 0800 3280210, www.abbey.com/business.
* Armada Finance provides asset funding, tel: 01392 431171.
* BDO Stoy Hayward is a financial adviser for growing businesses, 8 Baker Street, London W1U 3LL, tel: 020 7486 5888, www.bdo. co.uk.
* GR Patrick & Co (Finance), is a nursery finance specialist, tel: 020 8336 0030.
* The Royal Bank of Scotland has a financial team specialising in assisting the nursery sector, tel: 0800 521607.
Buying a nursery
Whether you are buying land or a building, converting a building or erecting a modular construction, you must get planning consent from the local authority. Ofsted will not agree to registration of the nursery until provided with evidence that planning permission is in place or that it is not required.
Sales agents
Companies that specialise in the sale of nurseries and schools include:
* AH Lansley, 111 Oxford Road, Reading, Berkshire RG1 7UH, tel: 0118 959 0271.
* Christie and Co, 39 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0EU, tel: 020 7227 0700, www.christie.com.
* Redwoods Dowling Kerr, Dipford House, Queen's Square Business Park, Honley, Huddersfield HD9 6QZ, tel: 0870 750 4958, www.redwoodsdk.com.
* National School Transfer, Tilshead House, Tilshead, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP3 4RX, tel: 01980 621251, www.national schooltransfer.com.
* School Transfer Consultants, Haydon Cross, Dale Road, Southfleet, Kent DA13 9NX, tel: 01474 833150, www.school transfer.co.uk.
Independent valuers
The following independent valuers understand the childcare sector and are recognised by most institutions:
* Savills, 25 Finsbury Circus, London EC2M 7EE, tel: 020 7499 8644, www.savills.com.
* Matthews and Goodman, Dorland House, 14-16 Regent Street, London SW1Y 4PH, tel: 020 7747 8847, www.matthews-goodman.co.uk.
* Pinders, Pinders House, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK9 1DS, tel: 01908 350500, www.pinders.co.uk.
* Taylors, Court House, Mill Court, Featherstone Road, Wolverton Mill, Milton Keynes, Bucks MK12 5QS, tel: 01908 226611, www.tbsv.co.uk.
Pre-engineered building suppliers
* Adroit Modular Buildings, tel: 0800 115544, www.adroitmodular. com.
* Empyrean International designs and constructs timber-framed buildings, tel: 020 7350 2345, www.empyrean.com.
* Elliott Group, tel: 01543 404040, www.elliott-group.co.uk.
* Homelodge Buildings, tel: 01962 881480, www.homelodge.co.uk.
* Pasuda, tel: 01142 540188, www.pasuda.co.uk.
* Portakabin, tel: 01904 611655, www.portakabin.co.uk.
* Rollalong, tel: 01202 812659, www.rollalong.co.uk.
* SGB Rovacabin, tel: 01865 337200, www.sgb.co.uk.
* Servaccomm, tel: 01964 624444, www.servaccomm.co.uk.
* Speaks Building Systems, tel: 01422 353022.
* Terrapin, tel: 01908 270900, www.terrapin-ltd.co.uk.
* Tingdene Homes, tel: 01933 225157, www.tingdene.co.uk.
* Wernick Buildings, tel: 01792 321222, www.wernick.co.uk.
* Wraith Accommodation, tel: 01427 711238, www.wraith accommodation.co.uk.
Architects
Architects experienced in designing nurseries include:
* Birds Portchmouth Russum Architects, Unit 11, Union Wharf, 23 Wenlock Road, London N1 7SB, tel: 020 7253 8205, www. birdsportchmouthrussum.com.
* Cottrell & Vermeulen Architecture, 1b Iliffe Street, London SE17 3LJ, tel: 020 7708 2567, www.cv-arch.co.uk.
* Dominic Burns Associates (architects, planning supervisors and project managers), 544a Bearwood Road, Smethwick, Bearwood, West Midlands B66 4BT, tel: 0121 429 7711, www.db-assocs.co.uk.
* DSDHA, 8 Iliffe Yard, London SE17 3QA, tel: 020 7703 3555, www.dsdha.co.uk.
* Mark Dudek Associates, formerly Education Design, 6 Ledbury Mews, London W11 2AF, tel: 07960 703760, www. educationdesign.co.uk.
* Panter Hudspith Architects, 235 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 6NP, tel: 020 7407 2786, www.panterhudspith.com.
Builders
The Federation of Master Builders can recommend builders:
* Gordon Fisher House, 14-15 Great James Street, London WC1N 3DP, tel: 020 7242 7583, www.fmb.org.uk.
Legislation
Care Standards
There is one set of national care standards in England, the Care Standards Act 2000, which are enforced by the Early Years Directorate, run by Ofsted.
The Act makes requirements such as space per child, staff ratios and administration.
There are four aspects to the regulation of daycare for children under eight:
* Registration: The registration process involves checks on you, your premises, and any people who look after children with you or live or work on the premises.
* Inspection: After you are registered, an Ofsted childcare inspector will regularly check the quality of your daycare provision. The inspector will write a report and send a copy to you so that you can make it available to parents.
* Investigation: An Ofsted childcare inspector may carry out an investigation to check that you meet the national standards and other requirements.
* Enforcement: Ofsted can take action if you do not meet national standards and other requirements.
Before you are registered you will have to demonstrate to Ofsted that:
* Every person looking after children on the premises is suitable to look after children under the age of eight.
* Every person living or working on the premises is suitable to be in regular contact with children under the age of eight.
* The premises are suitable, having regard to their condition and the appropriateness of any equipment and to any other factor connected with the situation, construction or size of the premises.
* You comply with the National Standards, regulations and any conditions imposed by Ofsted.
You can obtain copies of the National Standards from DfES Publications, tel: 0845 6022260 or www.standards.dfes.gov.uk and Guidance to the National Standards from Ofsted, tel: 0700 2637833 or www.ofsted.gov.uk/ publications.
The Care Standards Act 2000 is available from the Stationery Office, tel: 0870 600 5522, www.hmso. gov.uk. For Scotland, contact the Care Commission, see below.
Contacts
* Care Commission, Compass House, 11 Riverside Drive, Dundee DD1 4NY, tel: 01382 207100, www.carecommission.com.
* Department for Education and Skills (DfES), Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BT, tel: 020 7925 5000, www.dfes.gov.uk.
* Management Advisory can provide advice for nurseries on policies and procedures: 5-8 Edward Centre, The Horsefair, Hinckley, Leicestershire LE10 0AN, tel: 01455 444222, www.managementadvisory.net.
* Ofsted, 90 Union Street, London SE1 0FS. Registration helpline, tel: 0845 601 4771 (calls are directed to local centres), www.ofsted.gov.uk.
Employers' responsibilities Terms of employment
* Employment Act 2002.
* Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978.
* Trade Union Reform & Employment Rights Act 1993.
* Working Time Regulations 1998.
Advertising/recruitment
* Sex Discrimination Act 1975.
* Race Relations Act 1976.
* Disability Discrimination Act 1995.
* Employment Equality Regulations 2003.
Pay
* Equal Pay Act 1970.
* National Minimum Wage 1999.
Further advice
* The Arbitration, Conciliation and Advisory Service produces guides on employer responsibilities, tel: 0870 242 9090, www.acas.org.uk.
* www.businesslink.gov.uk, or phone its helpline on 0845 600 9006.
* The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (tel: 020 8263 3310) has a legal advice line for members, tel: 0870 556 1251, www.cipd.co.uk.
Premises
Regulations
* Unitary Development Plan.
* The Fire Precautions Act 1971.
* Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
* Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1992.
* Health and Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981.
* The Reporting of Injuries, Death, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1981.
* The Electricity at Work Act 1989.
* The Food Safety Act 1990.
Further advice
Take advice from your local planning authority, Ofsted officer, fire officer, environmental health officer and EYDCP.
Policies To meet the National Standards these should include: Organisation
* An operational plan.
* Procedure for lost or uncollected children.
* Registration system for children and staff.
Care, learning and play
* Children's activities to develop emotional, physical, social and intellectual capabilities.
Safety
* Risk assessment.
* Record of visitors.
* Fire safety and emergency procedures.
* Fire safety records and certificates.
* Operational policy for nursery outings.
* Vehicle records, including a list of approved drivers and insurance.
Health
* Administration of medication to children.
* Prior parental consent to administer medicines and for emergency treatment.
* Accidents and first aid.
* Health and hygiene statement.
* Sick children policy.
Food and drink
* Diet - records for individual children's dietary needs.
Equal opportunities
* Equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory policy.
Special needs
* Written policy on children with special needs.
Behaviour
* Policy on behaviour management.
* Incident record.
Working in partnership with parents and carers
* Admissions policy.
* Complaints procedure.
* Activities provided for children.
* Contract with parents.
Child protection
* Child protection policy.
Insurance
* Country Mutual, tel: 01204 525279.
* Dot 2 Dot, Stanmore Insurance Brokers, tel: 0161 724 2900.
* Kiddicare/PoundGates, tel: 01473 216 406.
* Morton Michel, tel: 020 8768 6700.
* William Taylor Insurance, tel: 01708 855141.
Equipment
Make a list of the essentials, using the reminders below, and set a budget using catalogues as a guide.
For more information see Nursery World's supplement Nursery Equipment (next issue February 2006).
Checklist
* Arts and crafts materials: paint, paper, glue, brushes, safety scissors, modelling materials, craft tables, easels, overalls, drying racks for paintings.
* Book corner: books, seating, display shelving/storage.
* Construction: traditional wooden bricks, plastic blocks, Popoids and gear systems.
* Display: pinboard, display shelves, fabric calendar.
* Games and puzzles: shape sorters, play trays, jigsaws, simple board games, memory games.
* ICT: consider a computer, digital camera or roamer.
* Music: tape recorders, rainstick, drum, maracas, xylophone.
* Outdoor play: climbing frames, slides and swings, pop-up tent/den-making equipment, ride-on or push-along toys, safe surfacing.
* Role play: home corner furniture, smaller props, such as a cash till, telephones, dressing-up clothes.
* Sand and water: raised sandpit, water table, buckets, spades, boats, jugs, funnels.
* Small world: dolls and accessories, teddies and soft toys, miniature people sets, animals, building, vehicles.
* Toys for babies and toddlers: fabric books, ring stacker, push-along toys, rattles and teething rings, playmats, mobiles.
Equipment suppliers
General
* Addguards, tel: 00353 128 00106.
* Asco, tel: 0113 2707070.
* Early Learning Centre Direct, tel: 08705 352352.
* Eibe UK, tel: 01483 813834.
* Everything Early Years, tel: 0845 4589910, www.everythingearlyyears.co.uk
* Galt, tel: 08702 424477.
* Hope, tel: 08702 414400.
* M&S Mercantile, tel: 0161 873 8181.
* NES Arnold, tel: 0870 6000 192.
* Orchard Toys, tel: 0115 937 3547.
* Philip and Tacey, tel: 01264 332171.
* Step by Step, tel: 0845 300 1089.
* TP Activity Toys, tel: 01299 827728.
* Wesco, tel: 0115 9862126.
* The Whole Kaboodle, tel: 01773 828000.
Art and crafts
* Art2Go, tel: 01843 292333.
* Berol, tel: 01273 513233.
* The Consortium, tel: 01225 777333.
* Crayola, tel: 01234 360 201.
Children's books
* Letterbox Library specialises in positive-image multicultural books, tel: 020 7503 4801.
* Milet publishes dual-language books, tel: 020 7603 5477.
* National Literacy Trust provides information on early years reading, tel: 020 7828 2435.
Professional books
* David Fulton, tel: 020 8996 3610.
* Featherstone Education, tel: 01858 881213.
* Heinemann, tel: 01865 474000.
* Hodder, tel: 01235 400400.
* Nelson Thornes, tel: 01242 267100.
* Nursery World, tel: 0870 444 8633
* Open University Press, tel: 01628 502720.
* Paul Chapman, tel: 020 7324 8500.
* RoutledgeFalmer (Taylor & Francis), tel: 01264 343071.
Management software
* BabyTech, owned by Parenta, specialises in nursery management software, tel: 0870 444 1330.
* Coldharbour Systems provides financial administration systems, tel: 01275 850500.
* Connect Software, tel: 0870 8502362, www.connectsoftware.net
* Datamove, tel: 01162 375017.
* LogicCall, tel: 020 8385 7474.
* Parenta designs nursery websites, tel: 0870 747 9066.
* Rio Computers specialises in nursery management systems, tel: 08703 501745.
Music
* Kindescope, tel: 01623 861157.
* Music Education Supplies, tel: 020 8770 3866.
* Out of the Ark Music, tel: 01932 232250.
* Playsongs Publications, tel: 01799 599054.
Play equipment/furniture
* Active Learning, tel: 0115 960 6111.
* Community Playthings, tel: 0800 387 457.
* Cost Cutters, tel: 01543 495070.
* E-Niko, tel: 01768 210121.
* Hand Made Places, tel: 01420 474111.
* Little Tikes Commercial, tel: 01704 833123.
* Park Leisure, tel: 0115 937 2468.
* Sherwood Industries, tel: 01623 792151.
* Sovereign Playground Equipment, tel: 01702 291129.
* Timberkids, tel: 01288 353527.
* Timberline, tel: 01246 454484.
* Wicksteed Leisure, tel: 01536 517028.
Play surfaces
* Charles Lawrence Surfaces, tel: 01636 610777.
* Happy Landings, tel: 01280 822949.
* Smith Brothers, tel: 023 9238 7198.
Role play
* Charlie Crow Costumes, tel: 01782 417133.
* J and M Toys, tel: 01274 599314.
* Let's Pretend, tel: 08705 352352.
* Multirole, tel: 01422 886589.
* Three Bears Playthings, tel: 01669 620315.
Uniforms
* Grahame Gardner, tel: 0116 255 6326.
Staff
Preparing to recruit
Using your business plan, decide how many children you seek to enrol in the first months of the nursery's life.
Next, consulting the Care Standards Act 2000, decide how many people you will need to employ initially and what their qualifications should be.
Draw up job descriptions (duties and responsibilities to be undertaken) and person specifications (characteristics such as qualifications, experience and skills) and compose the ads.
Job advertisements can be placed in the sector's specialist publications, eg Nursery World, national and local press and local Jobcentre Plus offices.
Appointing a manager
Appoint your manager first. Under the Care Standards Act 2000 the minimum experience is two years in a daycare setting plus a Level 3 qualification appropriate to the post.
A manager needs proven managerial, communication and leadership skills.
Selecting your team
* Recruit downwards, allowing senior staff to help you select junior staff so you build a cohesive team.
* Pay attention to equal opportunities - treat candidates equally without regard to gender, race, national or ethnic origin or marital status. You must ensure no applicant is discriminated against because of physical disability, age, religion, sexual orientation, trade union, family or care commitments.
* Ask applicants the same questions so that when you compare candidates you can show that you treated everyone equally.
* Limit the interview panel to, at the most, three people to avoid intimidating applicants.
* Use the job description to determine the essential requirements. Some interviewers use a score sheet so that they can compare candidates'
answers.
* Invite candidates into the nursery to see how they interact with children and staff members.
Recruitment agencies include:
* Beresford Blake Thomas, tel: 0870 6000 892.
* Capita, tel: 0800 731 6873.
* CG Recruitment, tel: 01344 761 901.
* Firstpoint Healthcare, tel: 08457 23 24 25.
* Marylebone, tel: 020 7727 2743.
* Pertemps Solutions,tel: 020 8690 9010.
* Protocol Teachers, tel: 020 7440 8445.
* TimePlan, tel: 0800 3588040.
* Tinies Childcare, tel: 020 7384 4971.
Curriculum
* Learning and Teaching Scotland, 74 Victoria Crescent Road, Glasgow G12 9JN, tel: 08700 100 297, www.ltscotland.org.uk.
* Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, 83 Piccadilly, London, W1J 8QA, tel: 020 7509 5556, www.qca.org.uk.
* The Scottish Qualifications Authority, tel: 0141 242 2214, www.sqa.org.uk.
* Qualification Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales, tel: 029 2037 5400, www.accac.org.uk
Inclusion in this directory does not necessarily imply recommendation.
CASE STUDY
MEETING PARENTS' NEEDS
Jennie Johnson plans to establish a nursery chain that will take account of the needs of both children and parents. The first Kids Allowed nursery opens this month (September) in Manchester
'As a full-time working mum, I found the childcare on offer was very inflexible. You had to be there at a certain time and the nurseries weren't very supportive if you arrived late. When my second child arrived, with one of school age and one of nursery age, childcare became totally unmanageable. So I decided to set up my own nursery and offer a flexible service that takes into account all aspects of a family's childcare needs.
'When we did our market research, we found that very few nurseries were really looking at the big picture, trying to make family life easier and responding to all the families' needs.
'Our first nursery will be registered for 100 children aged nought to five and there will be 48 places for wraparound care for five- to 11-year-olds.
We're also planning to offer various services that will take the pressure off families.
'We'll have an on-site "shop" where parents can buy essentials such as teething gel. We'll have a full-time receptionist who will be able to take care of things such as parents' dry-cleaning, ironing, post and prescriptions and baby-sitting services.
'We plan to offer "freedom nights" on occasional Fridays and Saturdays, where parents can leave their children at the nursery between six and ten, giving them "grown-up" time. We'll also make available a few places to be used for emergency, same-day cover.
'There will be a breakfast club, minibus transfer to school and a range of after-school classes including Brazilian soccer skills. And there will be classes for new parents, on subjects such as baby massage.
'The response to our comprehensive service has been fantastic. We're unique to the area and more than 50 children have signed up to join us, and that's before we've even opened. I feel as newcomers to the market we had to take an innovative approach to stand out.
'Being newcomers made it very difficult to raise funds on a reasonable basis from either venture capitalists or banks because we had no track record. Finally, theCo-op Bank introduced us to a property developer, Barlows plc, and with them on board, we've now been able to raise an initial 5 million, which will deliver two centres, with further funding agreed for seven more centres if everything goes to plan on the first two sites.
'Our property partner has built our first centre, which is on a 25-year lease. Our second will open in April 2006.'
CASE STUDY
PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR PARTNERSHIPS
Private and public sector partnerships can benefit the wider community as the Rocking Horse and Kingsway Nursery and Childcare Centre in Kirkby-in-Ashfield is highlighting.
Situated in the grounds of the Kingsway Primary School, the centre was launched at the beginning of the year with backing from the Neighbourhood Nurseries Initiative. Private day care provider Rocking Horse Nurseries itself invested over 500,000 in the new unit, believing its proximity and interaction with the adjoining school would help to provide a first-class service for local families.
Its initial remit was to provide wraparound day care for children aged six to eight years and free nursery education places for three- to four-year-olds. Its key services, which include breakfast and after-school clubs, have already been expanded, with Sure Start funding recently helping it to provide a summer holiday club.
Jane Orme, co-director, says, 'Parents were looking for school holiday care in a safe and stimulating environment which was familiar to the children and geographically convenient. Being on the school site we are ideally placed to be able to offer a great deal and this is something that has further enhanced our overall links with the local community.'
While Mrs Orme says that getting the centre off the ground was a bureaucratic and logistical challenge, everything is now going according to plan. She confirms that there have been huge benefits in linking childcare and nursery provision with a primary school.
'Interaction between nursery staff and the school's teaching team has proved invaluable in developing joint activities and events both socially and educationally. The children can get used to seeing and being part of a daily school routine which has had a significant impact on their ability to have a smooth transition into the foundation unit.'
She adds, 'Together with Kingsway we have shown that private and public sector partnerships can work in childcare. In our opinion this type of initiative was long overdue and it is tremendous to see that Nottinghamshire County Council is embracing such an exciting and groundbreaking approach.'
This year Nottinghamshire was allocated over 4m to create 500 new daycare places in its 39 most disadvantaged wards. Fifteen new Neighbourhood Nurseries have been established, alongside re-targeted places at eight existing childcare businesses, resulting in a total of 626 daycare places. This programme is administered through Nottinghamshire EYDCP.
CASE STUDY
COLLEGE CHILDCARE
Increased student support grants are making college nurseries more attractive. Kathy Pickett manages Meithrinfa Glan Hafren Nursery, Cardiff College's nursery.
'We were a very small - 24-place - nursery located off the main college campus, in a wing of a social services family centre, working with mainly single parents studying at the college. One of our main goals was to encourage and support the local community back into education, by offering a flexible childcare solution.
'Then Coleg Glan Hafren decided to invest 500,000 to build a 50-place purpose-built nursery to provide childcare for their students. The single-storey building is specifically designed to meet the needs of its clients and is on the main college campus. We have far more space than before and now offer an out-of-hours scheme for children aged five to seven.
'The college, which owns the land and the building and employs all the staff, hopes to recoup its investment over ten years based on full capacity. We opened in February and are already 85 per cent full, which we hope to increase to 100 per cent in September.
'Our day rate is 28 for babies, 26 for two- to five-year-olds and 22 a day for our holiday playscheme. Students are subsidised through college grants and pay 3 a day for their childcare, and nursery and college staff receive a 10 per cent discount. A small number of parents also receive funding through the New Deal.
'At the moment, around one-third of our parents are students, one-third staff and one-third parents paying the full rate - many of them are people working in the local community.
'The grants that the college receives are called the Financial Contingency Funds, which can be spent on anything that will help students access their course and continue their studies, such as books, equipment, travel expenses and childcare.
'Many of the parents are studying on one of the many access courses offered at college. Access courses allow adults with little or no previous qualifications access to higher education. When they enter higher education they qualify for an Assembly Learning Grant of about 1,500 and often continue to send their children to the nursery.
'The nursery and the college work in unison to support parents and ensure a smooth transition back into education.'
CASE STUDY
FINDING PREMISES
Locating and getting planning permission for the perfect premises is a time-consuming task. Lyn Cooper explains how she found the right building for Bromley pre-school in Flint, north Wales 'My market research confirmed the area needed another nursery. I just had to find the best building. I enquired at estate and business agents and explored the area.
'Initially I liked a house but thought there would be problems with planning permission. I decided it would be safer to find a property already used as a business.
'I settled on a red brick building surrounded by bushes on an industrial estate. I love that it looks like an old school, is on one level, has spacious rooms and didn't need much structural work. It's ideally located near businesses and homes with good transport links. Unfortunately, there is less outdoor space than I'd wished for, but it's near a park and not far from the beach.
'I've taken out a ten-year lease with an option to buy at the end and a five-year get out clause. I didn't want to sign the lease until I received planning permission and kept having to cancel the day. The whole process took six months longer than I'd expected.
'The change-of-use application went through quickly but six weeks after I got the building the Highways Department contacted me about lack of parking. Thirteen weeks of council meetings, letters and measuring the road ensued. I got my local councillor involved because the nursery would be a community facility, generate local employment and provide much-needed daycare. Eventually I received approval.
'Then the Environmental Agency found the building was on the edge of a floodplain. Again, the local councillor got involved and held a meeting outside the building. There is a social services building for young people next door so the council could not object to the nursery. We have drawn-up a flood plan just in case.
'I aimed to open in September 2004 but didn't sign the lease until October.
Local builders eventually started work in mid-November - putting in a kitchen, children's bathrooms, milk kitchen and storage. The Care Inspectorate visited regularly to approve work.
We eventually opened in February this year.
'At first starting a nursery was a big, exciting hobby but it got stressful, especially as I had to pay staff wages, rent and bills with no income. Now the 80-place nursery has 97 children registered so it's all been worth it.'
CASE STUDY
RECRUITING STAFF
Amanda Crighton fulfilled her long-held ambition to become a nursery owner when she refurbished a former vet's surgery and opened her 33-place Skegness nursery, Bizzy Bees, for business on 4 July.
'When I tried to find a childcare place for my son, then six months old, all the local nurseries had extremely long waiting lists. As a qualified nursery nurse, I decided to set up my own nursery, with funding from my partner.
'Although there was a shortage of baby places locally, there were already six or seven nurseries within a five-mile radius.
'I felt that I could make my nursery a success by competing with them on quality, with an emphasis on the under-twos, higher staff ratios than the national standards advise and a more homely, rather than business, environment.
'I was determined to find enthusiastic staff who really wanted the challenge of working in a new business and to work with children - not just people bored with their existing jobs and wanting a change.
'I took clippings from the local newspaper in the six months before advertising. I looked at what the other nurseries were asking for and added information of my own, explaining that my nursery was new, dynamics and offering high-quality' childcare.
'We also took out quarter-page ads in the local paper, we designed our website, www.bizzy-bees.biz, and gave it maximum exposure on everything from our decorated windows to business cards and letterheads. My partner, who has corporate experience, said that big ads really attract attention, while small line ads are often ignored.
'We received 97 applications for nine positions. There are so many seasonal jobs in Skegness that full-time jobs ads attract a lot of attention. I discarded 47 applications straightaway.
'I then drew up a list of questions of what a qualified nursery nurse should know and an unqualified nursery assistant would need to know.
'Applicants' total lack of knowledge of child protection was staggering. In fact, we spoke to the local colleges afterwards to tell them about the problem.
'In the end I was able to appoint seven qualified members of staff, some straight out of college; others are trained and experienced staff.
'My advice to other nursery owners recruiting staff is to ensure your questions are varied and touch on important aspects of the nursery environment and key areas such as child protection and equality of opportunity.
'Also record applicants' answers to make it easier to review interviews and pick the best people for the positions. If you can get the right people to work alongside you, you will have a team, not just individuals'.
