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Original poster

I need advice about setting up a before and after school club.

47 replies

Xena · 03/07/2005 19:08

I am a childminder and so far could fill all my vacancies for before and after school at least 3 times over.
I pride myself on being a good c/minder, providing good healthy meals and lots of thought out activitys and also free play.
A governer of the school suggested that I propose to the head about setting up a before and after school club on the premises?
I'm going to send a letter to the head teacher and phone the CIS tomorrow and find out as much information as I can.
As I am providing a service to the school it seems that I don't have to pay rent??
What sort of insurance do I need to have??
Obiously I will need to register with the LA and Ofsted but what else?
Any Ideas or thoughts would be great.
Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 20:58

DOes it have to run even if you are a private company? Or is that just if you recieve a grant?

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KatyMac · 03/07/2005 21:00

Well it's hard to say to your staff, "everyone that's booked for tomorrow has cancelled/is ill/changed their mind...so you don't get paid"

People often book on the day...or not

Say staff work Fridays normally and the schol disco is on - you still need to pay them....

Really hard

bambi06 · 03/07/2005 21:00

whic area are you hoping to set up/ in london?

KatyMac · 03/07/2005 21:01

But if even with booking in advance noone comes on the thursday - your staff can't just be laid off for that day

bambi06 · 03/07/2005 21:03

but if the parents pay up front you give them acancellation charge ..they have to give you 48 hrs notice ,you write onyour bumph that you still ahve childcare costs to pay therfore you pay up front and ask them for a weeks money in advance

KatyMac · 03/07/2005 21:05

Most OOSC don't have full week children it's occasional days (ie Mon & Tues each week)

so if it goes wrong you could have empty or half full days

My local one went out of business cos of staff costs

Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 21:05

Yes in London
And yes true about the staff and paying them hopefully it would be profitable enough if I could transfer the lot I have book for this year across to the club. It would depend on the provision for my under 5's though I would need to work soemthing out. TBH if I can't be with my 2 that are under 5 I don't really want to do it although I would still have them 9-3.30 the idea of being a childcarer in this way stemed for not wanting to leave them.

OP posts:
Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 21:06

5/8 of mine are full weekers so this could hopefully float it?

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bambi06 · 03/07/2005 21:06

have you sent out a questionnaire to the parents in the school to see how many might be interested then you`d have some idea of numbers?

Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 21:09

As a childminder I have already have double the enquiries for my spaces b4 and after school. At least 10 children from our school are picked up by the other after school club, but as I said before the school are keen for there own as this particular club has an issue with being on time when its only a 5min walk!!

OP posts:
bambi06 · 03/07/2005 21:12

so what will you do with your two of your own as they`re under five annd couldnt come to the after school club as it would affect your staffing ratios

Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 21:17

What I was hoping was that I could set up a provision within the school for 0-4's. For the hours 8-9 and 3.30-6 and then provide c/minding for the middle of the day.

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Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 21:19

If its not against the law then I don't care if i'm not counted in the staff ratio, I will manage and take my little ones.

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bambi06 · 03/07/2005 21:20

are you super woman or something!!!

Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 21:23

No, but I think that the parents are v.happy with my childminding. The most important thing to them is that there children aren't 'schooled' after 3.30 but loved, liked, amused and laughed with and that is what my house is after school, the kids love it.

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Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 21:25

As long as I make as much as I'm making now I am happy to provide the service.

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bambi06 · 03/07/2005 21:26

what about carrying on as you are but take on a ssaistant childminder until yours are i school and it makes life much easier for all plus you can have more after schoolies then if you have them already queuing up at your door ..good on you i dont know how you do it , i`m childminding until my dd is in fulltime school but havent had any enquiries since jan!!!

Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 21:28

Yes i'm taking on a couple of assistants in sept (one b4 sch the other after) So that I can go over my numbers by 2 u8's, although i'm hoping that ofsted will register the assistants for more than that as they are going to register as proper c/minders

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KatyMac · 03/07/2005 21:28

Xena - I can ony find guidance to the standards on OFSTED not the actual standardds.....have you found them?

Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 21:29

tbh I think thats what I'm going to do.
Abit of me is worried that someone else will beat me to it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 21:30

Yes I found both finally do you want a link. I think that I have pretty much decided its a no go though. I will enquire with the CIS tomorrow to see if I can run it with a under 5's unit but if not then I won't propose it.

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Original poster
Xena · 03/07/2005 21:34

forget that I can't find it either now!

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