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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Aibu to set up a private day nursery?

161 replies

Wonderponder · 26/07/2017 09:35

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!

OP posts:
Whatawaytomakealiving · 27/07/2017 14:32

Crossed post iamembarrassed but much in the same vain as my thoughts. Hope in the future to see some links for this new super nursery!

BadLad · 27/07/2017 14:50

but of course you have costed this with your apparently endless supply of money.

I think this must be the OP

Aibu to set up a private day nursery?
Wonderponder · 27/07/2017 15:25

I do hope you enjoy laughing at my expense. Might make you feel a bit better about yourself ey!

OP posts:
Wonderponder · 27/07/2017 15:36

Last one before I leave this thread and go outside. Rather than bashing the keyboard and snickering at others. I came on this thread to ask if it was feasible to set up a day nursery. It is in its infancy, and obviously I am still working things out. I'm not going to reveal my financial situation. However, what I am proposing is this : A day nursery that opens at 7 am and closes at 6 pm. QUalified staff paid a above minimum wage. The POSSIBILITY of wrap around care. The site I have is massive and has several sections, for the poster who questioned how it would work. Organic meals prepared in the onsite kitchen ( without being too outing- the site is attached to a farm shop/butchers and playpark) I would also sell these meals in the farm shop. A qualified early years specialist, a well qualified manager, nature walks and hopefully an excellent ofsted report!

OP posts:
Iamembarrassed · 27/07/2017 15:37

Good luck to you let me know when you've got it up and running and I'll come visit !!

Wonderponder · 27/07/2017 15:39

Dont think it would really be your crowd darling!

OP posts:
Whatawaytomakealiving · 27/07/2017 16:03

Not 'laughing at your expense' just many experienced people, trying so hard to give you the advice you asked for, but are determined to ignore.

LaurieMarlow · 27/07/2017 16:38

I'm not quite sure what you wanted from this thread OP? Lots of people telling you its a great idea and you should just go for it?

I think people reacted to the arrogance in the assumption you could 'do better' than those in the industry for years and your idea that you would be the first to think of running it like a business - when it became clear you were pretty ignorant of a lot of the basics.

That stuff gets people's back up.

There's a lot of good advice for you on this thread, I hope you heed it.

LoobysMummy14 · 27/07/2017 16:50

Honestly I would personally wait a couple of years of at all to see how the 30 free hours pan's out. Everything seems to be changing dramatically.

insancerre · 27/07/2017 17:35

As a nursery manager I'm fantastic at the childcare side
I'm still struggling with the business side as its huge and the success of the nursery all hinges on my ability to sell the nursery and increase occupancy
Every nursery is run like a business, even the ones that fold
To make a success you need to concentrate on securing customers, selling organic meals will be a distraction you really
don't need

Brittbugs80 · 27/07/2017 21:18

Then let me give you some (more and probably unwanted advice)

Staff. Get the staff in place asap. I worked in a new nursery from start up. She only looked for staff once the children started coming through the doors. This wasn't the best way, as more children came through, then she had trouble recruiting staff. She didn't have the money to pay staff without children.

Get yourself a good cook. Don't put the burden of meal prep onto your staff as well. It's a waste!

Consider being the Manager yourself, you save a Manager's wage until the business sets off. You don't count in ratios.

Don't give the jobs to young, just qualified staff. Make sure you have a reasonable selection of older and experienced. In my experience, parents feel more reassured with older staff. I'm not saying young ones are no good and everyone has to start somewhere but if you don't have early years experience, you need people who do.

Avoid wrap around care/school runs until you are established and have sufficient staff.

Get the basics in place and right then expand ideas. Start off with organic meals there, then expand to offer them as takeaways for busy parents then for sale on the shop.

Visit as many nurseries as you can. Don't walk in with an I can do better attitude. Walk in with the desire to learn.

Our LA has meetings whereby Managers from outstanding nurseries all meet once a month to share ideas. Get yourself into one as soon as you can.

Good luck. I really do hope it works out. There is no better job than a Nursery nurse and having done it for 20 years, there's no way I'd want to run a nursery, purely because I've seen the strain staff are under, nevermind the managers.

Despite people's misconceptions, it's not an easy playing with children day job. It's tiring, none stop, stressful and exhausting but those children are the ones who make it worth it.

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