I have a funny feeling of deja vu, as I'm sure that last month I gleefully announced 'just a week to go until New Dimensions officially opens'. I was about to tell you the same thing again! Forgive me - it now opens next week.
No major problems, it was simply decided to put back the 'official' Grand Opening Ceremony to ensure that the great and good we wanted to attend could be there. We're expecting a decent turn-out and hopefully some local press coverage to help put the nursery on the map.
Unofficially, we've had a few open days already, allowing the staff team to offer sneak previews to parents. I'm conscious that the summer is now upon us and the sooner we can secure those start dates, the better.
Our fire inspection and registration visit went smoothly - with my colleague Beth providing some expert coaching to ensure the nursery team felt confident. She even got her hands dirty, having spotted some stray ivy that had crept into the garden. Out came some shears to annihilate it before the inspector arrived. As ever, half of the issues you might expect to be challenged on aren't mentioned at all - but hey ho, that's Ofsted and its inconsistencies for you.
Also, I recently arranged visits from two leading software suppliers to see demonstrations of their database systems. I'd shortlisted these two packages, having researched the market - they're the most popular and geared up specifically to support day nurseries.
As if interviewing for a new member of staff, I'd drawn up some questions and a list of 'essential' and 'desirable' features so I could make notes and score each presentation. I know from my past life selling fundraising software that it's all too easy to be seduced by cheeky charm and flashy graphics, so I needed to keep my wits about me.
In spite of my cynicism, I was thoroughly impressed with both products. They appear really easy to use and they exceeded my expectation in terms of functionality. You can store the nursery children's data, allergy details, attendance and parent information, but also record staff holidays, monitor sickness absence, log communications with parents and track enquiries. The prospect of producing invoices in less than a minute each month left me thrilled - like the first time I was allowed to join in with the cornflour at a play-scheme!
Really, I urge anyone who's serious about managing their setting effectively to take a look at all the software options available - and no, I'm not getting commission!
- Derek Hayes is senior consultant/trainer at Childcare Consultancy. For more information e-mail info@childcareconsult.co.uk.
