Proposal Document:
Legislation
As far as I can tell, a crèche would be exempt from registration with OFSTED.
Exemption From Registration Order 2008
Exempt temporary provision
5.?(1) The circumstances referred to in articles 2(2) and 2(4) are where the provision is made?
(a) for a particular child?
(i) for two hours or less per day, or
(ii) for four hours or less per day and the provision is offered?
(aa) on a day to day basis with no longer term commitment to clients, and
(bb) for the convenience of clients who intend to remain on the premises where the provision is made or within their immediate locality;
It would, however, need to meet
? Safeguarding children guidance
? Food Hygiene regulations
? Health and Safety at Work regulations
Safeguarding Children
Due to regulations and best practise surrounding safeguarding children you would need a minimum of 2 staff on the premises at all times. Allowances need to be made for comfort breaks for the staff.
Staffing
? Ratios
1 Adult to 3 children under 2
1 adult to 4 children aged 2-3
1 adult to 8 children aged 3-8
Generally, when mixed ages are present the ratio reverts to the youngest child present. So if there is a 6 month old, 5 x 2 year olds and a 5 year old then that requires 2 adults.
? Costings
Staffing costs are complicated to calculate. Although minimum wage is £5.80 an hour, I would question the possibility of recruiting for a 2.5 hr session.
In addition NI costs at 11% plus 28 days holiday means for each 2 hour session a staffing cost of around £35 with the crèche running for 48 weeks of the assuming the staff can be persuaded to take their holiday at the same time.
? Training
The staff would need to attend a child protection course and a 12 hour paediatric first aid course and these would need to be renewed 3 yearly, at a cost of approximately £120 per staff member.
Resources
To set up a crèche, you should expect to spend between £200 and £300. There needs to be a range of toys and activities plus some safety and nursery equipment.
Insurance
This can be obtained from Morton Michel or the Daycare Trust. The cost is approximately £180-£200 per year.
Conclusion
Unfortunately I don?t think that WC would be prepared to fund running the nursery. A basic crèche has an opportunity cost of approximately £50 a session, with further sessions in the same week costing £35.
This would mean the charges for the crèche would be at around the £8.50 per session for the first session and £6 per session for further sessions in the same week; assuming that all 6 spaces could be filled.
If you were to fund the cost of the crèche, I would be prepared to manage & staff the site.
Currently I offer Ad-hoc or Occasional childminding at the following rates:
£10 registration fee then £4 per hour (with an additional charge of £1 if the child attend across mealtimes)
I may be able to offer reduced rates for people attending the Sports Centre:
£7.50 registration fee then £3.75 per hour (with an additional charge of £1 if the child attend across mealtimes)