To start this business

[Pinkandyellowstars]

for Various reasons I need to work from home or very local to it . I have qualifications in teaching, psychology and Fine Art. I have experience of SEN needs and have a child on the spectrum who’s thriving so I have a very optimistic and parents level understanding as well as the official stuff .
we live in a relatively affluent area ( leafy London) and have a 200ft garden. All the neighbours also have 200ft gardens so there’s plenty of space and it’s all big , old trees so we never hear them either which is nice . All this is relevant I promise !
so I’d like to build a timber lodge at the foot of the garden maybe 30x 15 ft? , accessed by the side gate and turn it into an art studio that is specially set up for children / teens with SEN. I’d put a little library in there of art books to suit all levels /ages . I’d have paint / clay / textiles /audio /video photography / digital arts stuff , everything and a bit more you’d find in a good school.
I’d make the decor very autism friendly with a little sensory / chill zone and I’d have it accessible too so physically disabled kids could use it . The ultimate aim would be to offer little sessions of one to one ( or maybe very small groups if say two friends want to work together on something ) and them being child led projects but with support and encouragement along the way. So it’s both a Hobby and therapeutic session .
it’s a quiet road with a few comings and going from businesses so I don’t see an issue with two or three kids arriving a couple of days a week. I like the idea of it being quiet and nestled away in the trees. The garden slopes downwards and there’s a fence around our pool already so it’s safe and quiet.
I know there’ll be a tonne of paperwork and a big chunk of outlay to set it up legally but is it worth it ? Would people use it ? I think with the plumbing and electrical install and the style of building I want plus art kit it’s a good £60k investment but I really feel like there’s so little for children to do if they are not into sports around here and even less if they have additional needs.

I would love to use that.
What about toilet facilities?

It sounds very nice but how much would you have to charge these 4-6 children a week to recoup your (sounds far too low) £60k?

It sounds lovely and definitely very needed! Go for it!

Yes toilet and sink in the cabin. Air con too I think . I want it self contained . I like the idea of being able to offer a slush puppy in the summer or hot chocolate in the winter and it having the feel of an escape - a sanctuary . I don’t really want to install a kiln but I’m pretty sure my sons school will fire clay for you if you pay a little fee.

It sounds nice but I can’t imagine it being profitable.

Would you be looking after these children or just letting the parents have access

Doesn't sound like a very sound business plan, but if you’ve got the money to throw away and not worry about making any go for it

Sounds amazing. Talk to your local council about the process of being an approved setting/provider and you could get work through them as well.

I am gonna start by saying I have very little knowledge in this area apart from having sen children. But could you maybe look into a specific art therapy course? I think that would open your options significantly if it was officially art therapy as this could then maybe be part of children's ehc or maybe be funded for some children? Might be more appealing to some parents too if some classes where labelled as such.

Very good question ! I really want the sessions to be affordable and accessible to everyone who wants to come so I’d need to find a way of making money out of it when I wasn’t teaching… I wonder if it could be used by someone else who’d be happy to pay?

Remember to factor in time and money for branding, marketing, sales, accounts, insurance, legal stuff etc. I have my own business and spend so much time on all these things, rather than the thing I actually do.

That’s really helpful ! Thank you. It sounds like becoming an official therapy centre would tick some boxes for funding and fill my books more so I’m going to go and research that now :)

Sounds lovely! Don’t forget insurance though. You need public liability and possibly product liability at a minimum.

It sounds amazing! I don't know anything about the SEN world, but with your huge garden and a cabin, I'd be setting up a doggie daycare personally! The setting sounds ideal.

My son hates dogs 😭 I miss having them around. We never replaced our old chap when we lost him when I was pregnant and it was just as well as my son is a total jellyfish around beasts bigger than hamsters. He likes spiders though 😒
so I think I’m stuck with children these days for my sins haha 😂

No idea about the viability of your business, but the lady who does my fillers etc. did something similar - ie had a cabin type structure built in her fairly large garden. It’s lovely, not London though, but North-West, and in a very quiet area and easy parking for her clients. She isn’t paying town centre business rates (like before) and is making a bomb. I know of other beauty therapists/nail technicians who have done something similar who work from their garden. It will add value to your property should you sell up in the future and would appeal to a lot of small businesses should you do sell up. My therapist’s business is self-contained (heating, plumbing, toilet etc. in the cabin) and gives her the flexibility to have easy access to the house to do house related things in-between meeting clients.

Go for it! The initial outlay will be expensive, but worth it in the end. Good luck with your venture. I’m sure there is a niche out there for what you propose to do.

You've said you want it to be accessible for those who are physically disabled - presumably you are factoring in an accessible toilet, rather than just a tiny cubicle size?

Sounds wonderful.
Perhaps to boost income you could do small birthday parties or seasonal events such as a Christmas or Easter workshop and bring a larger group in then?
Or an after school activity once a week?

It sounds like a lovely idea.

I also agree you should look to get some sort of accreditation. Then you could become a provider for the council and support children who are not in school- would also mean you could work school hours as well as after/in holidays.

I'd have a look and see if there's a local business hub near you that would offer grants/ mentoring/ second pair of eyes to run over your business plan to make sure it's solid. Most council areas here have one but not sure about where you are. I'd question will you be the only member of staff in which case how would you manage challenging behaviours? Is that down to the parents and what would your plan be if a parent is struggling to manage behaviour. How would you risk assess for that and would you have the capacity to bring in a support assistant? I would second the idea of art therapy accreditation and then you could freelance your services under the umbrella of a local charity/ local trust etc which might help you build a stable client base.

@Pinkandyellowstars did you do it? Just wondering as would love to do something similar and wondered how this worked out for you?! Hope it did!