Having worked in childcare for the past 22 years and as a manager for large chain nurseries I have seen what works and doesn’t when it comes to childcare setting. Being able to offer quality childcare with flexible funding is a passion for me and is often over looked by larger companies running child care settings, this led me to have a complicit against my employers as I believe flexible funding is the way forward.
This led me to start looking in to opening my own small nursery in a village location, that can supply more isolated villages and the larger town of reading affordable childcare that has flexible funding options rather than restrictions and high costs.
Due to wanting to offer more flexibility the start up costs will initially be higher than many other settings face as I won’t be charging deposits to new starters, I will instead be providing set costs and flexible funding which is paid a month in lieu by the local authority meaning although I will long term make a profit (to cover staff wages and the building) I won’t be making instant profit as I have to wait for the funding to be paid. This is why I am looking at seeking funding to help support the concept of affordable childcare.
The other struggle I found when working for other peoples nurseries is the difficulty to access childcare for children with special educational needs. Despite local authorities intentions to ensure access to childcare for all children regardless of any disability or additional need it has been my experience that his is not always the case. Often a nursery will turn away children with special educational needs, And having trained as a Special educational needs coordinator for well over 15 years This goes against everything I have trained for. Children with special educational needs are often considered to be a higher financial burden, But there needs cannot Be met due to financial constraints And staffing issues. I’ve spoken to many parents who have found it very difficult to find quality childcare for their under five-year-old children purely because nurseries tell them they cannot meet their child needs. However, when working for nurseries what you realise it’s quite often they are just not welcomed, These children are considered difficult to manage within the ratios the government provide And therefore stress on staff. I want to be able to offer special educational needs children quality childcare without restriction.