info on having my own nursery please

info on having my own nursery please

by: natsam - 05-02-08 21:17

hi,

I would love to open my own nursery I have the drive and determination, and a property in mind but do not know where to start, and what to do first?! I have over 2 years experience of working with children but no formal qualifications. I am currently on maternity leave so i have the time to plan and possible complete courses? qualifications and anything that would assist me in completing my dream of opening my own nursery. Any advice or help would be really appricated. look forward to hearing from you.

by: Maestro

Go to college and get your qualification. If you have no clue then get a job in a nursery and see how its run, you will need more than your 2 years experience.

To complete the early years course you will either have to do placements or if you go the NVQ route, you need an employer who will allow you to train on the job. You will have to see how feasible this is whilst on maternity leave. I'm guessing not very.

You better think about it carefully before you start. Its far more work than most people think. You cant just get a building, stick some children in it, some staff in and stick a sign out front.

by: joshuajones

You may open a nursery without any qualifications but you would have to employ a Nursery Manager who does have experience and knowledge of running a nursery.

If you have a property in mind, you will need to check that it has planning permission for commercial use as a nursery first, and whether you can use the whole building as a nursery or if you need to keep part of it for residential use. This will impact on whether  a nursery would be viable or not.

Ofsted and environmental Health would have to be involved in the building, and will check to make sure that you have taken appropriate steps to put in kitchen, toilets etc, and that the bulding is suitable.

It is a lot of work and certainly not cheap to make the necessary changes to the building and then equipping the nursery.

Most Local Aauthorities will do an advisory course on opening/managing your own business, go to one of those. I have to say I don't think that trying to do this whilst on Maternity leave is the best time, as it will take up alot of your time and you are needed elsewhere at the moment !!

Good luck with it all.

by: newsetting

Agree with both posts above, except the "not doing it on maternity leave" bit. I started looking into setting up my first nursery in 2004 when on maternity leave with my first child. For me, having my daughter was the catalyst, and gave me even more drive and determination.

I set up my second nursery while pregnant with number two in 2007 (actually signing the paperwork on my due date!)

Am currently finalising details for nursery number three, and setting up an after school club........no baby on the way this time though!

It is feasible. Just takes hard work and determination.

by: Maestro

The not feasible bit was in relation to the NVQ qualification. If you are working whilst on maternity leave you will lose your maternity pay. Its a naff qualification anyway, so you'd be better off going to college. I doubt you will complete your course in the 39 weeks you have for maternity leave. Most take 2 years. Planning a nursery and getting planning permission, Ofsted checks, building alterations, building regs (if required), CRB checks, Environmental Health checks, H&S checks etc.. can take a few months as our last one did, or a few years!! Depends on how much cash you have to throw at it.

When we opened the last nursery we were constantly asked by parents what our experience was and if we were qualified ourselves. If its your first nursery saying you have 2 years experience is not a lot. I would consider doing the qualification as people would then gain some reassurance to your credability. Even if you employ an experienced manager if all parties concerned look dedicated to the business parents are more reassured.

Opening a nursery is the easiest bit, keeping it going and maintaining a high reputation is the hardest. Why would you open a nursery to just be mediocre? You wouldn't would you. Parent's are being told what to look for in nurseries, and if things are hazy at the top, what to say things are hazy else where. Parent's love that the management are actively involved with the children in our nursery, and not just in an office behind a desk.

Presentation and structure to a business is looked at far more nowadays. Start right, do it right, be successful. It will take years to build a reputation, mere minutes to destroy it!

by: natsam

thanks for all advice and comments. I am not under any misconception that it is going to be easy or that it is going to happen quickly. I just think it is very important to be determined and go for what you want. I do not expect to get everything done whilst on maternity leave as my main priority at the moment is my beautiful son, but being off work and spending so much time with my son has made me even more dertermind to get get the qualifications/experience and everything else needed to fullfill my ambition of opening and running a nursery.

by: bubble_kaz

hey can you help like natsam i would like to set my own nursery i also have the drive and determination. At the moment im unemployed but i have my CACHE Certificate level 2 qualification and want to go back in2 a nursery 2 do a NVQ level 3, which im currently looking into doing, but i also heard that to own a nursery you need to have a qualification such as a teaching degree, how true is this, im only 18 and not thinking about doing it straight away not until i have my level 3 or 4 behind me. But what would you suggest.??

by: joshuajones

You don't have to any qualification to OWN a nursery. But you will need a qualification to MANAGE a nursery. At 18 I would suggest you get your level 3 then go on to do a degree in Childcare and Education + EYPS, then you will be able to own and manage the nursery and save yourself a salary !!!

by: newsetting

Agree with joshuajones. I had no qualification when I opened my first nursery but after the first few months I began (and very quickly completed) my Level 3 as I believe that qualifications are essential if you are to manage your setting effectively. Even though I have a manager at both my nuseries, I am doing the EY degree with them (to be a good example and to have it under my belt) and I am also completing the NVQ Level 3 in playwork in order that I understand the role of our Out of School Club Manager. Phew! Keeps me out of trouble anyway!!

by: Tina

Hi i am in the same boat as natsam.

I hope to open a nursary in the future. I have a management degree.

I have been told that i would need 3 years experience and NVQ level 3 to own a nursary. is that true? is their any other qualifications i would need.

Any advice or help would be really appricated. look forward to hearing from you.

thank you

by: Berty

Before opening my nursery I went on a five day course with one to one support services. They went through all the practical sides of running a nursery , staff supervision, Proforma, Operational assurance , marketing, apprasials, IT, legal requirments....   you name it we covered it. really opened my eyes in to what is actually needed to run a top notch nursery. not just the therotical side but from a person that has been the operational manager of a large nursery chain. I would recommend the course to any one thinking of starting their own nursery or even to polish up on what they already know! If you mention Berty may be i will get a discount on the next course me and my team take!

by: clare

hi there i am a first year student midwife with a NC in early education in childcare but i wish to leave uni and complete my hnc. i would also love to open my own nursery so please tell me if a absolutley need a degree to do so or can i just own and manage my own one with a hnc also what is the level above a hnc that i can study in childcare? 

by: Nads

Hi Berty

Can you please give more details on the course you mention.

Thanks  

by: vix30

there is a chain of nurseries that do a franchise option,

i know that i could actually run a nursery to parent, children and ofsted standard, because i do that already, whilst my boss is reaping in the profit.

my problem is that i dont know where to start, first, need a business plan? to get a business loan blah blah,

how dya do the business plan in the first place? lol

i would seriously need a partner who is more business minded than me, i would take care of running day to day things n they could sort out the business side of things..... maybe? ;?

by: Maestro

A whole thread on opening a nursery that I have not been sarcastic in......

by: vix30

lol...  yet

by: Berty

hello

  As i have said previously i took a course with one to one support services. I now have three and looking for my fourth. Property prices being so low i cant miss!But it is all about being in the right location with some thing special to offer the clients. I send all my managers and deputies on training with one to one support services. Melanie even tweaks her course if i know one of the guys needs more in a certain area. 

http://www.onetoonesupportservices.co.uk/Early%20Years%20Management%20Training.htm

 Hope this helps, i am back off looking through the property guides.

Bertybelly

by: katie oreilly

do you have to go to university to be a manager of your own nursery or can you take a course at collage? i am currently doing my A levels but im not sure if i should be in collage? i would love to open my own nursery in the future i just need advise on which path to take. can i hear your advice please?

by: Tunja

Not only will you need a degree in the future but you will also need lots and lots of practical experience!

by: Kathryn Cooke

This is my first posting.
I'm sorry to have to say this, but maybe instead of sitting thinking how great it would be to own your own nursery, you might actually learn how to spell nursery (Tina) and college (katie o'reilly).
I'm sorry if this offends, but it's true.

by: Dilwara Begum

Hi, 

by: Haysworld

Hi Dilwara

If you contact the Early Years service from the Local Authrity where your premises is based, they will be able to give you some some advice and do a site visit of your premises to make sure it's suitable!

When you advise Ofsted the will come out to see if your premises are suitable (so make sure they are when they come :) and register you. Then they will do a first full inspection 6 months after your registration date.

Hope it all goes well!!

by: Dilwara Begum

Thank you for the advice. I have contacted my local authority and they will come to view property with me before I rent/buy, which is great! I am currently trying to do research on the birth rate in my area which is almost as high as the national average but poverty is just as high. Anybody know where I can find 'percentage of working families' statistics in any area. I have asked the local strategy team these questions though I feel I could be in for a long wait!

by: Haysworld

Your LA should have a child sufficiency assessment (or something similar with another fancy title).  They are usually available online if you google it for your LA.  That will given you all the info you need for your Market Research!