With funding cuts beginning to hit hard across the sector, now is the time to remind ourselves of what is truly important. It is essential that we publicise ourselves as an understanding ear during times of difficulty - an approachable service in times of need.
Parents are already coming to me reporting redundancies from public sector positions, with cuts to childcare benefits as well as increases in the hours required to work to keep those benefits looming.
As our budgets tighten, we must remain focused on our own bottom line if we are to stay in business. However, communication with parents is key. Know what is going on, and be available to talk through possible solutions. Financial difficulties are never an easy topic of conversation - a favourable outcome can only be expected once a high degree of trust and understanding has been established.
Within the nursery we can look again at methods of economising. With the children, reduce, re-use, recycle. Get parents involved in replenishing heuristic play, role play, mark making and 3D modelling with real objects from home. It is surprising just how quickly a box at home set aside for the purpose will fill. Multiply that by all of your families and staff and watch your resources grow.
Our monthly newsletters provide another means of explaining to our families the value of their support and the learning potential that comes in these donations, as well as free or very low-budget activities for entertaining their children at home. There is also a section giving ideas for healthy economical family meals and this month, Christmas decorations and gifts that can be made with the children at very low cost.
Approached in the right spirit, a period of belt-tightening can enhance relationships and reap benefits you will feel for years to come. By stripping away convenient yet pricy commercial solutions to the same old problems, and making use of every available resource, we pull together, helping us to see each other in a new light.
