Back when I was being advised on choosing a name for my business, I was told the name should explain what I did. So when I heard about 'Happy Faces', a group for the under-fives in Peterborough, I wondered why that name was not more specific. What would the children be doing? Would they be singing, bouncing, painting? Would it be fun? Would it be educational? In fact, the name describes the effect on the children and adults who take part in the activities. They all have very happy faces.
The group is run by Claire Brocklesby, who organises sessions where the children and their carers play and learn together. She runs three sessions every weekday in a large, light unit in Werrington, Peterborough. The children are divided into three age groups - eight to 18 months, 18 months to two and half, two and a half to pre-school. Claire organises and directs all the activities.
Every week there is a different theme. This week it was 'touch', so there were lots of tactile activities, including a table covered with shaving foam where the children could use their hands to write their names, make swirly patterns or just enjoy the feel of the foam. They could play with the water tray or sand, or move on to painting, playdough or craft activities. There is an 'energetic' corner where children can play with construction toys, climb on the large shape sorter or play with the balls. There is an 'imaginative' corner with the soft house and the play kitchen. There are lots of good-quality educational wooden toys and pre-writing games. For the parents' information, white boards explain the benefits of each activity.
Claire says, 'I know from my training that threading beads helps hand-eye co-ordination, but lots of parents don't and are really interested to find out the educational and developmental benefits of the activities.' The children and carers start by taking part in the craft activities or playing together with toys and games. After 45 minutes they stop for a drink of juice and a biscuit, then go to the separate music area, where they sit on the carpet, sing songs and play with the shakers and musical instruments. Then they play the parachute game - a popular choice - and finish with a loud rendition of 'If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands.' The whole thing is topped off with bubbles from a bubble-blowing machine.
Claire had no intention of starting her own business, when she got her BTec national diploma in 1991. She had decided to work as a nanny to gain experience with the under-fives before planning to go on to university to train as a teacher. In her first job in sole charge she spent part of each week working in London and the rest of the time at the family's home in the country. Then the family moved to Japan, taking Claire with them. She had an interesting year exploring Tokyo and teaching English to Japanese children in her spare time. 'Working in two different places and in two different roles made me very adaptable and well-organised,' Claire recalls.
Back in England Claire continued to work as a nanny doing part-time jobs after her own son was born. She also did a Learning Support Assistant course. But once her son started school, she says, 'I realised that if I went to university I would have four years of studying in the evenings and not really being around for him while he was at primary school. I also really enjoyed working with the under-fives, and all my employers led me to believe that I was very good at what I did. So I decided to start a business catering for pre-school children. She takes up her success story from there.
'As all my experience had been in practical childcare and absolutely none in business, I went to the local Enterprise Agency, where I was able to attend courses on health and safety, book-keeping, cash flow and how to write a business plan. I was allocated a business advisor who put me in touch with the Prince's Youth Business Trust, which along with advice and encouragement gives grants or low-interest loans to young entrepreneurs. In order to qualify for my loan I had to appear before a panel to explain my idea, backed up by research into its viability, and a business plan with cashflow forecasts.
'All my advisors stressed that research is essential, as there is no point having a good business in the wrong place. First I checked out the percentage of children aged under five in my area and was delighted to find it was very high. Next I looked at all the recreational facilities available for children and found that although there were music groups, soft play, Tumble Tots, mother-toddler groups and playschools, there was no group which combined these activities or encouraged the parents or carers to play alongside the children. I decided that Happy Faces would create an environment where children and carers could play and learn together through a variety of activities.
'The Prince's Trust had faith in me and granted me a loan repayable over three years, which I used to buy good-quality toys, equipment and musical instruments. Originally I intended to travel to different venues to reach as many people as possible. Luckily I hadn't forgotten the advice about researching everything. Before I bought a van I borrowed one just to see how long it would take me to load and transport my equipment from one place to the next. I realised that the travelling, unloading and setting up equipment took far too long to be practical, so I decided to run Happy Faces from one venue, a local hall.
'I started in September 1998. In the early days before the business was making a profit I still baby-sat or did emergency nanny work to bring in money. One day a parent asked if she could hire my equipment for a children's party. I went to her house and organised the party. I got a lot of requests to run parties at weekends. This extra income kept me afloat financially and the parties were a good source of advertising, as children who attended them often started to come to the group sessions. Now that the business is making a profit I have cut down on the parties and make sure that I have one weekend day completely free.
'Even with meticulous planning it is impossible to foresee everything. In the early days I rented time slots in a local hall that was used by adult groups or older children who would walk around or sit on chairs. My activities took place with children playing on the floor so, on a wet day, I had to clean the floor between sessions. I really wanted a carpeted area. So as my numbers increased I took a major plunge and committed myself to a lease on my own unit, where I run all the activities and store my equipment.
'Happy Faces is now here to stay. It's well established and popular. Contrary to my original ideas, people are prepared to travel to where we are. I run my sessions within school hours and work close to my son's school. There is a lot of cutting out and preparing for the craft activities, which I do when he has gone to bed.
'Starting my business was a lot harder than I realised, but I have really enjoyed it. I'm glad that I did a lot of travelling when I was a nanny, since the business certainly keeps me at home. I would advise someone wanting to start a business to contact the local enterprise agency. They will give you lots of good advice and information and put you in touch with people who can help you. Then research everything carefully. I could have made a very expensive mistake if I had bought a van instead of borrowing one. Don't make all your financial commitments at once.
'It is also wonderful if the people close to you have faith in you, especially at times when you have to make major decisions, like when I took on my unit, which involved a lot of money and commitment. My parents have been incredibly supportive. My mother collects my food supplies and helps with the paperwork and tax returns, and they are always willing to care for my son if I'm busy.
'I would say to anyone who loves working with children and has a good idea, go ahead and try it.'
Helen Kewley is the proprietor of Nice Nannies Now in Huntingdon In my business plan I had worked out that to be viable I needed to run three sessions a day, and By the time I took out the lease on my own unit I could see that Happy Faces was working.
