Starting a nursery

[mitfordsisters]

I'm just looking for a bit of feedback here. The deputy head of my son's nursery (children's centre) has told me that she could fill the nursery twice over, she has that many babies on her waiting list. And I know that recently a local authority nursery in our area closed down. So I know there is demand for good quality childcare.

Have any of you started up a nursery, either private or in association with the local authority? Would I be mad to get into this - I don't have experience in early years though do have an education background.

I've been trying for the past 2yrs. I keep hitting a brick wall with my LA's planning dept, they are so not helpfull. I have now reached the conclusion that I will need a property that already has planning permission, or buy one already operating.

If you can get over the planning issues, you will then have ofsted to sort. They take up to 26wks to register you once the premises are taken care of, so you need to factor in the costs of havng a building empty for up to 6mths before you can make a bean. The financial investment is pretty heavy, but if moneys not an issue I would prob reccommend that you buy one, I've seen some on the market in se Lond, not too £ I don't think. Or how about getting in touch with your LA and seeing if you can do a deal on the one they have just closed, as its still reg'd (in all probability) and has planning.

If you are not qualified to be the manager - need a min of level 3, 2 yrs managerial experience in a nursery (rising to level 4 in 2012) you will have to find one. All other staff must be suitably qualified also with level 3 with no more than 50% level 2.

Thanks for the info atwork. Really helpful. I am going to talk to the LA about the closed down nursery. Sorry you are having difficulties - you think given the call for decent childcare that LAs would be bending over backwards.

Hi all, I'm thinking of setting up a childcare facility in the Burnage area (Manchester) but want to know if there is a demand for one. I would be interested to hear about your childcare needs.

Rx