how to increase numbers

[ouchinmypouch]

I am chair for a pre school in a rural community. We are struggling big time and need to increase numbers

Any ideas how to do this

I am thinking of:

leaflet drop to immediate and surrounding areas

big signs up on the mainroad

leaflets in the local places - eg doctors, shops etc

fundraising things will be in local paper

constructing website

Is there anything Im not doing that could help?? How do other preschools advertise/ get children in?

How about approaching toddler groups?

Rather than leaving leaflets in doctors maybe you could speak to HVs to see if they can mention you if people are looking for pre-schools

Do you have a good ofsted or are you due one? Make sure that is in the papers.

Is there a primary school nearby which you can set up links with - shared outings, visiting school plays that kind of thing. It would raise awareness.

DS2 went to a rural pre-school which did very well but I can't think what they did - DS2 is in yr 2 now so it was a while ago. Most of their children seemed to come via word of mouth recommendations.

Oh I know, though I am loathed to say it, Netmums have local lists of pre-schools so it might be worth getting yourself mentioned on there.

Are you on all the LEA websites so people can find you via their searches?

I'll keep thinking.

Best way is always word of mouth - and your current/recent parents will be the best ad: and very likely with connexions to people with similarly aged children.

Do you know what they are saying? What would they say are your strongest points? Can you play this up in your PR? Do they have any recommendations on what you could change?

Do you have local competition? How are they doing?

Anything unusual/brilliant that you've done as a group? If so, tell your local paper.

Create a facebook group for the pre-school and invite all parents of current children to become your friend/like you.

Offer a discount simply to get a piece in your local paper, for example first 20 people to sign up get 50% off (if you can afford it).

there is a toddler group in the village which we do take leaflets there

health visitor has just changed so i will go and meet her and give her someleaflets

we had a good ofsted report a few months ago

we are on the grounds of the local primary school - we feed to them - it is fairly small school - maximum 100 children

Ive already put details on netmums

not really much local competition - its about 7 miles away

we have been in paper for easter fundraising day and we are holding breakfast with santa day in December so will get press on it

I like the facebook idea

discount idea quite good

Think main problem is we dont offer wrap around care so only use to parents who SAH - hoping this situation will change soon so we can offer proper full time care rather than 9 - 3pm

is a a natural dip or are there parents going elsewhere with their children?

What age do you take children from? We had a couple of low years and lowered the age to 2 yrs which helped us survive. Two yrs on some children start at two but others wait a bit longer. In our area (also rural) there aren't many Pre-Schools that offer full day care - if you do this you may find you need to offer holiday club as well - running at a loss to start with may not be an option so will need good cash flow forescasts.

I went on a business planning course run by the Local County Council which was a good way to pick up new ideas for marketing. Are there any NCT sales nearby you could advertise at? Deos the school have your fliers to give to parents? Estate agents are good places to give information to.

Good luck,

We take children from 2 but as we dont have wrap around care we are at a disadvantage as we dont currently offer that but Im hoping thats going to change soon.

I think that we currently only have immediate village people rather than those from surrounding areas - may be they dont realise we are here or how good we are

I like the idea of estate agents - there are some new houses being built in the village i may get some leaflets in there

Most of the parents with children in school already send their children to pre school - its getting hold of the ones that dont

Where could i find out about NCT sales?