So You Want To Open A Nursery? Read This First
Angels at Play director Angela Spencer offers some words of warning for those thinking about opening a nursery of their own…
Having owned and operated nurseries for almost 23 years now, I am often to be heard reminiscing, “Those were the days…” So many things were different back when I opened my first little 30-place setting at the age of 21!
Ofsted had not yet been invented, for a start. We were under the governance of Social Services and our local ‘under-eights officer’. Ours was a wonderful lady named Linda. When I first approached her about opening a nursery I didn’t have an ounce of knowledge about the profession (I can hear the horrified gasps from here).
Let me give you a brief background – I had worked in personnel for a large pharmaceutical company, visiting all the maternity leavers when their babies were six weeks old, which was where my passion started. You see, very few mums returned to work due to the lack of childcare at that time. As my father had always had his own business and my mother had been his ‘admin team’, I figured ‘how hard could it be to run my own business?…’
//crosshead// So with my business idea in hand (it wasn’t quite a ‘plan’ yet), I made contact with Social Services and the lovely Linda. From the very beginning she was brilliant; a mine of information, guidance and support, she coached me through the regulations and paperwork. She came and viewed the premises I found, listened to my ideas and offered advice when she thought I was going in the wrong direction. Most importantly, though, she did all of this before I had to sign a lease and spend any money.
Once the lease was signed and sealed, the work to convert the building began. We had a tight schedule, and the night before she was due to officially inspect my nursery for registration, Linda even came in to help make sure we were ready. The next day, with her official ‘under-eights officer’ hat on, she thoroughly checked everything and we passed with flying colours. This was in 1993… Changing times Some time later, the under-eights officers were disbanded. Although some stayed on in the newly formed Ofsted, sadly Linda decided to take the opportunity to move away with her family. For me, this is the perfect illustration of a change that has had a huge impact on the quality of childcare available today.
You see, we replaced what had been a locally-focused service that knew intimately the providers under its jurisdiction. It also knew the professionals within those settings (and those who were childminders) and visited them all on a regular basis in the form of annual inspections and quarterly drop-in visits. For us, there were near weekly coffee visits too, as we helped to train new childminders or other providers setting up – which often had national teams with no knowledge of the locality.
Instead, Ofsted now prefers a more ‘hands-off’ approach when it comes to new registrations – and even worse, 2- or 3-yearly inspections that are feared, instead of welcomed.
A good nursery doesn’t come cheap
Over the years I’ve advised a number of people wanting to open nurseries – we’re currently in the process of expanding ourselves – but things are very different today. There is no ‘Linda’ to guide you. Just a couple of documents on rules and regulations that are vague and nowhere near helpful or specific enough to reassure you that you’re doing everything right. And if you do receive your registration, it will only be after spending hundreds of thousands of pounds. Yes, that’s correct – a good nursery with everything it really needs in place doesn’t come cheap!
You are faced with having to interpret rules and regulations regarding what types of location, buildings and floor space is appropriate. You must apply and pay for your planning application; enter into a lease and pay for that too. You must pay for, and complete a full refurbishment and install of all the equipment, furniture, toys and sundries you need. You’ll then need to advertise for, interview and hire the basic staff required for opening, and be 100% ready as if you were opening your doors to the public.
All that before Ofsted even visits your premises.
Taking the plunge Even then, when they visit to perform your registration inspection, they can still refuse your application – and there’s not a lot you can do about it (apart from liquidation and lots of tears, probably!). I’ve heard rumours of this happening locally to me at a cost of over £700,000, but as yet have been unable to completely verify it. However, as with most rumours, there’s almost certainly an element of truth behind the talk. It just goes to show that this current ‘regime’ needs fixing.
When I started this article, I had hoped to have many words of wisdom for those thinking of opening a nursery. However, with the ‘glory days’ of guidance and support presently behind us, my advice is simply this: don’t assume that you can just go it alone – or that because you have worked in a nursery, or had your child attend one, you can do it too.
Before you take the plunge, you need to make sure you have covered every possible interpretation of the regulations that are there as basic guidance – and where possible, surpass the minimum requirements.
If you can afford it, it’s worth the cost of a consultant who has dealt with Ofsted before in registering nurseries, as it’s not something you can become an expert in overnight. I’ve been doing what I do for 23 years now, and there are always things to learn!
Finally, though, don’t be put off. It’s extremely hard work setting up a nursery and growing your business – but this is an amazing profession, and despite the challenges, it’s definitely worth it!
Angela Spencer is the director of Angels at Play – a Hertfordshire-based childcare setting that runs three nurseries; for more information, visit angelsatplay.co.uk or follow @AngelsatPlay
