how are you going to implement the flexible offer?

[misshardbroom]

A question for preschool staff and committee members...

How do you intend to implement the preschool flexible offer from September 2010?

We currently have 9 2.5hr sessions running throughout the week, (Mon - Thurs am & pm, and Fri am).

We could increase these to 3 hours without too much problem (a bit tricky for staff breaks etc. but could be worked around).

However, the bit about offering 5 hours on one day could be a bit tricky.

And how do you balance being flexible for what parents want, and being able to manage your admissions properly? If you don't know what people will want, how do you know how many children to admit?

We are looking at big changes for our setting - i think i've mentioned this in another thread. A lot of work for our Committee and staff to do!

We're having a new build, going to open from 8.00 - 4.00 (rather than four mornings as we are at present)term time only and plan to offer a three hour morning and afernoon session, with wrap around care available before/after each session and offering a lunch club. So if a parent needs full day care, we can provide it.

We're in the process of carrying out some market research in the form of a questionnaire which we've distributed to our current parents and new ones (the local school have helped us reach these parents through their database). We hope that the findings will show there is a need for more flexible childcare within our community and that the move will be financially viable.