All early years and out of school provision should be viewed as a business. Achieving and delivering a consistent high quality of childcare in the long term is impossible without sound business planning and management. Furthermore, continuity of childcare is important to both children and their parents, which means that your business needs to be sustainable. Below are a range of resources for Childminders and Nurseries and Pre-Schools to use to make the most of your business.
PACEY have launched Business Smart - a FREE resource for childminders. Developed by childminders for childminders, funded by the Department for Education and produced in association with Lloyds Bank, Business Smart is a collection of ideas, inspiration and tools to help new and existing childminders in England develop a sustainable business.
You'll find top tips, videos, case studies, downloadable tools and other essential ideas to help you make the most of your business.
The NDNA have launched the Early Years Business Zone - a FREE resource for nurseries and pre-schools. NDNA supported by the Department for Education has launched the Early Years Business Zone to provide FREE online tools, advice and industry expertise to help you sustain a healthy childcare business, developed by the sector for the sector.
Created by the sector for the sector, the Early Years Business Zone is a great new initiative that provides a dedicated, free to access, online resource that is tailored to the specific needs of early years businesses.
There are a number of additional sources of funding available that you can use to support individual children and raise the quality of childcare that you offer. We recommend that you consult the DFE guidance - 'Sources of income for early year providers' to find out if your setting is eligible for extra funding. This could be EYPP (Early Years Pupil Premium), DAF (Disability Access Fund), SEN Inclusion Fund as well as grants, loans and business support.