Aibu to set up a private day nursery?

[Wonderponder]

Just that basically. I'm a experienced early years teacher, sick of the system in schools and the politics. Only one year round nursery where I live. Got the initial investment money and the first six months wages. Anyone done it? Or am I being ridiculous? Old time poster, just changed name recently!

You are very dillusional if you think you can get a family member to step in! It doesn't work like that you can't have random people in and out ofsted will close you down.

You say your going to have 48 children under 3 so we'll split the difference then

24 0-2 year olds need 8 staff, half of which (4) need specific baby training so 0-36 training, at least one will need to be level three at all times and at least four will need to hold a level 2 at all times. You will need a space of 84 m2 for these babies

24 2 year olds- your going to need 6 staff 1 whose a level 3 (and no not the same level 3 person you have for the babies a different one) and at least 3 level 2 staff. You will need to ensure that you have 2 year old check system in place for these chcildren you will need 60m2 for these children.

So in total 144 m2 of useable space for your children also, this doesn't mean space they can't access like hallways etc it means space they are using every day like a giant hall !!

Also before you say it you can have a ratio of 1:13 because your a teacher as this only applies to children over three and your not having children over three remember.

www.foundationyears.org.uk/files/2017/03/EYFS_STATUTORY_FRAMEWORK_2017.pdf

This is statutory guidance maybe read it since you have no clue about it.

This is what is in the legally binding statutory requirements and this needs to be maintained even through breaks, sickness annual leave etc you can't just put someone else in there to cover

"If her brother had a paediatric first aid qualification, was Dvs checked and supervised by the manager, I don't think I would actually"

Sorry, but that is not all he needs
He needs a thorough induction process that is documented
That shows he understands all the policies and procedures
He needs to have had training in safeguarding and to know who the safeguarding lead is and how to report concerns about staff

He also needs to have an undestaning of fundamental British values and the prevent duty
He needs to know about individual children and their allergies and any care plans
He needs to know the evacuation procedure in case of a fire
He needs to know about food hygiene and how to prepare food, and have received training on this
The thing is a nursery is only as good as its least qualified and least experienced member of staff because if you have an inspection and the inspector asks about all of the gongs I've mentioned and they cant demonstrate their knowledge, then you will get requires improvement

The only thing he doesn't need is a first aid certificate, as that's not a requirement
As for the manager supervising him, how would that be even possible?
I work 10 hours a day, I haven't got time to supervise randomers

I forgot references
The safeguarding policy should say all staff have 2 references on file
You also need to do extra checks if he has ever worked or lived abroad
You will also have to know about his health and any medication he is on and also who he lives with, as this will affect his ability to be able to work with children. You can be disqualified by association

Such a great thread, which clearly I have over invested in😉. In one of my earlier post OP I said that I had considered opening a nursery. It was a few years ago and I know lots has changed, but at that time, when things were much better in terms of EY, I made the decision to stay in teaching rather than take a huge risk.
However, during my planning process, it became clear that, rather than opening nursery, I would be better to register as a childminder. Although childminders have all of the curriculum and safeguarding regulations, the regulations around premises and staffing were far less. For a nursery I needed the manager or deputy on site at all times, I needed room leaders, I needed the deputy to be qualified for so many years etc etc. I needed to provide staff toilets, a staffroom, particular amounts of floor space. I had large premises, a large house. It was much more appropriate and financially beneficial to set a couple of rooms aside in the house, set it up as 'nursery' type rooms (equipment, toys, garden) and register as a childminder. I know this is full time too and you are going to have to be able to cover, without fail, childcare for working families but you seem to be committed to that. It would lessen lots of wider regulations.
It just might be worth doing a business plan for both. When I did, as a 'large' childminder, the finances were less risky and the responsibility of providing for a large body of staff negated.
I am still involved, through my HT role, in local EY provision. I know of childminders who work with an assistant, so adding to the number of children they can register to care for. I also know that for babies and very young children, premises that are much more 'homely' can be preferential to a large industrial unit.
Just might be worth considering the pros and cons of this whilst doing your business plan for your nursery.

My mum did this. She too was a qualified teacher with many years experience in early years. She couldn't make the economics work, though she struggled on for 5 years making no money.

Financially, it's a hugely challenging sector. I wouldn't if I were you.

Funding is crippling lots of nurseries and parents just can't see it. free childcare, why should they care

Parents do see it. We all know what's happening. You mean the government don't care-they put this in place.

Another playschool just started where we live. They take the year before nursery. They are doing 9-12, run by teacher with an assistant. They set up in a local hall. Set up costs are lower, term time and seem to be always full. No free hours you pay monthly upfront

I just saw your post about 'running it like a business'. Do you really think no one else in the sector is trying to do this?

The economics of it are simply impossible. You mention cost cutting - well there's very little of that parents will put up with given that it's the care of their flesh and blood at stake. Especially as you seem to be targeting the premium market. Where do you think you're going to cost cut? Staff, food, buildings, decor? How are you going to sell that into your clientele?

And its difficult to get parents to pay more of a premium than they do already, considering what a huge monthly expenditure nursery is.

You haven't thought this through.

I agree with people saying that coffee shop, playgroup, child minder might all be more feasible options.

Op

How about opening a soft play centre with a Creche attached?

Ooooh I'm in the south west! Is it newton abbot? Lots of industrial/ business parks there.

TiggyD, exactly! Love your no, no, NO, NO ....Yes thread. Really made me laugh. That's what made me think the OP* isn't being realistic. She doesn't really want advice.

Two friends run a childminders with a (what they tell me) Swedish model of kids from birth, in a home that they will grow up in. Turnover is approx 110000 a year. They are just looking in to offering free places as losing some of their older kids but as CM they don't have to offer this. Could this be an alternative option for you?

So there are no success stories? Only failures? All these people that have replied- do you guys own/ or have owned your own nurseries? I love the idea of running a drop in element, great idea!

We are also going to offer organic home made meals to take away!

And thinking of using the space for Nct/ breast feeding support in the evening. Thinking about combining (somehow- not figured out logistics) a wrap around school care- including pick ups and drop offs

Op

don't forget to come back and update us on your success

profit margin matters because it shows the margin you have to absorb cost shocks and therefore be a sustainable long term business.

I'm not sure I'd start any low margin business at the moment because of Corbyn's min wage commitment on one hand, and the poorly funded 'free' hour commitment on the other. If that doesn't give you pause, you need to ask yourself why.

Sounds like you have no experience of nursery budget planning, the real costs involved or day to day running of a nursery, so it'll be unlikely you'd pull this off when many others have failed.

I'd say the fact there are few nurseries around you means there is little need for it in your area.

Got to be worth a try. Thanks for everyone's opinions I really appreciate them. Much food for thought. This forum is full of so much support. It lovely to see women (and some men) supporting other women.

I meant try to figure out costing etc. I'm not sure that the fact that there is no others is an indicator of failure. Anecdotally, the people I have spoken to, have used a nursery by work as the opening hours by their homes was too late.

As in, if you are commuting into a traffic ridden city. You need to leave before eight o clock!

Make sure you have a clear view of the costs involved in wrapping the business up if it doesn't work out too. Meet a small business adviser at a bank to go through business your plans when you've got more detail.

I love threads about possibly starting up a business. This one had some really interesting insights.

I'm just laughing at your organic made meals your going to serve and sell to take away, you have no idea do you !!
Pick ups at school so your going to need additional people to do that and walk back to you or need a car with car seats and business insurance but of course you have costed this with your apparently endless supply of money.

I shall go back to my business which I have been running for many years and laugh that you think any of what your saying is realistic

Mmmmm, good luck anyway.
You seem to have many, many bright ideas which you seem to drop in to make this seem viable. Anecdotally and through my wide experiences in the sector, there are pitfalls with all.
After school care is a nightmare to staff, I know of nurseries that have taken out this element just because it isn't viable, financially or staffing wise.
You seem to have very confused ideas too. Babies - two year olds and before/after school care, but no three and four year olds; organic takeaway food, is this cooked and sold by the same staff who are in a 1:4 ratio for your two year olds or would this require even more staff and cost.

You don't seem to be very far on with the real requirements and have little idea of legislation, cost, staffing, hygiene requirements, health and safety, staff CPD, etc etc yet make statement like 'we are going to offer organic meals to take away'....as well as evening NCT classes.
I fear for you, in your attitudes, for your investment, for any future staff and more than that for your health. Just when are you going to sleep?

I would think about providing wrap around care and holiday activities for school aged children. They are like gold dust around here. The local company who provides most of the care in my town started off tiny a few years ago and now has a large building and fleet of minibuses serving all the local schools.