Becoming a nursery owner

Becoming a nursery owner

by: hillika - 06-06-07 23:24

Hi Hayleybeale
Opening a nursery is not for the faint hearted, but for the dedicated, determined & strong willed. You can open your own nursery even if you do not have the qualifications, but you must have a qualified manager in place.
It took me 2 years from looking for a place, to getting planning for change of use, buying, renovating, going through building control & finally getting registration from Ofsted. During this time you will be constantly spending money! In fact, you will be spending money before you even get the keys to your nursery! The location has to be right, there is no point in opening a nursery off the beaten track where you will not attract clients & then you will most likely find the perfect location but the local planning department will be sucking through their teeth trying to give reasons to refuse this. After you have fought through all the red tape, don't expect this to be an easy, nice little earner because you will have to work your butt off for at least the first year without taking a salary for yourself/selves (unless you are very lucky to find a place where there are no other nurseries near & a line of potential families wanting to use your services from day one)
For a nursery to sustain 2 owners, you will be looking for a building that will hold many children. Although you can have a high monthly income, monthly outgoings can be equally as high & become capped when you reach your maximum of places taken.
I,m sorry that I sound so negetive, I don't mean to be, but, this is something that you have to go into with your eyes wide open. Having all said & done, it is the most rewarding thing you will ever achieve if it is done right.
Please don't let me put you off, I would encourage anyone to do it, it's fantastic! & I wish I had done it a lot sooner than I did. Your reputation plays a vital part in the success of your nursery, so go out of your way to provide that something special that other nurseries do not provide. Above all, make sure that you do your research & plan your advertising in advance ensuring that families know that you are opening & when, then try your best to keep to this dead line. Oh, & allow time for your registration to come through. Ofsted are a bugger when it come to sending your certificate to you!

Wish you the best of luck, follow your dream!!!

by: scarlett

The hardest part of running a nursery (or any business) is managing the staff.
Try and get onto some sort of management course, you could ask the local early years team if they have any courses.
I also agree about ofsted taking their time, I had to pay 3 months rent before I received the certificate from ofsted (and you are not allowed to operate until you have it in your hand)
I have my dream job though, I manage my own nursery work 4 very long days and have a day off. The pay is not the best in the world though as you need to pay your staff and other overheads first.
The down side is all the paperwork of running a business and not being able to "play" with the children (as stuck in the office 99% of the time)
Good luck..

Becoming a nursery owner - 11-06-07 09:46

by: hayleybeale

Thank you for your advice i know it is going to be very hard work and i really want to do it. I have been trying to research as much as i can but is very hard while doing afull time job and also looking after the kids that is why me and my friend are going in this together. I would really appreciate as much advice as you have as it will very much help me out. thanks again

Becoming a nursery owner - 23-06-07 19:35

by: dimples1988

My name is Kerry. Although young, I have great ambitions of opening my own nursery for 0-5 year olds. I have no idea f the process to which I must follow, although I have vast childcare and nursery experience already. I'm very desperate to get in contact with someone who has undertaken the process andcan guide me through personally. Ie, how to get finacial support ideas etc. I need a bit of support to get me on the right track! I am very determined.

Becoming a nursery owner - 23-06-07 19:58

by: joshuajones

Hi dimples,
I have opened my own and have opened and set up 2 private nurseries for large corporations. I would be happy to help. Post your e mail address and I will be more than happy to get in touch.

Becoming a nursery owner - 16-07-07 13:19

by: hayleyrobbins

Hello,
I am very keen to set up my own nursery...in the future. I am just about to go to college and gain my 'Early Years Foundation Degree' but I am worrid about the change that will be happening in 2010. You will then be only able to run a nursery with a dregree, what happens if you already have a nursery? And also, is there anyway of running a nursery without having a degree and just the Foundation degree? I would be also very grateful for any information regarding setting up a nursery. Thanks.

Becoming a nursery owner - 17-07-07 21:40

by: sweet_female

The propriator at our Nursery School does not have a degree, she has done a management course and employs a Nursery Manager to deal with the day to day running of the Nursery, however it doesn't seem easy as she is constantly in dealing with pay/children/staff problems which inevitably arise in a Nursery full of women...infact this seems to be the hardest issue...

Becoming a nursery owner - 18-07-07 15:09

by: hayleyrobbins

Okay thanks for ithe information. I just wondered what people were going to do who run a nursery who dont have a degree? Does a foundation degree count??
And i know all about how hard it is to work with just women..i went to an all girls boarding school for 7 years!!

Becoming a nursery owner - 21-07-07 13:21

by: maysha

Hello I am planning to set up my own nursery. I am fully qualified to work with children. I have worked as a Social Worker for 8 years. I have worked with children, also in nurseries, for 7 years. I would like some more information on how to set up a nursery. If It is better to buy a property or existing nursery or to rent a property. What step do I take first? All advise that can be given will be much appreciated. Regards

Becoming a nursery owner - 26-07-07 10:28

by: NurseryInsurance

Hi

I don't know a great deal about what qualifications and/or experience you actually need to set up a nursery but we actually insure quite a few nurseries throughout the UK and having spoken to them over the years I wrote a few articles about avoiding the common mistakes when setting up a nursery.

Not sure I can post a URL here so if you'd like a link send me an email to markb@northerncounties.com

Becoming a nursery owner - 02-08-07 12:37

by: laineyreidy

Hi, I have myself been a manger and opened and set up a whole host of settings. It is very confusing as to what to to and where to go for advice. I now work for a company called Parenta we offer a wide range of products, training and consultancy that can help you get on you way. Please visit www.parenta.com for more information.

RE: Becoming a nursery owner - 03-09-07 16:42

by: shezmin

Hi, would you mind telling me about your experience in the chilcare business and how you've come to set up your own nurseries? my email address is shezminmadhani@hotmail.co.uk. Im a graduate in chemistry and want to go into chilcare, im not sure how to go about it. Thanks

RE: Becoming a nursery owner - 24-03-08 11:31

by: Shaba

Hi Joshua,

 

My name is Sabina, I have always wanted to have my own nursery and find working with children highly rewarding.

 

Though I am currently in Marketing - I'm not making as much money as I could be and always go home with a sore head!  However, I had worked in a kindergarten in the Middle East for just under 2 years and have had a huge level experience working with family and friends children.  Hence my decission to work with children.

 

I do not have any qualifications in Child care but I do know people who do and would be happy to work with me on this.

 

All said and done, I really need some sort of guidance / advice and you seem to have done well for yourself in this, so would you mind giving me a bit of advice / help on this?

Would you be so good as to give me a miss-call /leave a message on my mobile no: 07908 207 831 and I will call you back.

 

I would sincerely appreciate this and look forward to hearing from you. 

 

Regards ~ Sabina 

RE: Becoming a nursery owner - 31-03-08 20:45

by: Julie

Hi joshuajones,

not sure whether this will get to you since it's been a while since you posted this but I thought I'd try anyway. I am a student writing a business plan for a nursery and I thought it would be helpful to discuss this with someone who has some practical experience. I have a few questions, would you be happy to answer them?
Thanks.

RE: Becoming a nursery owner - 17-05-08 15:20

by: Mariam

Hi Joshua,

Today is the first time that I came across this site.  I read few forums, of great interest and your comments are always so encouraging, useful.

I done a basic childminder course, then a distance  learning Level 3 Diploma in childcare.  I have been looking for the right premises to open a nursery in south london for nearly 2 years.  Some of them were unaffordable rent, or given to experienced nursery owners, I have been missing my chance.

I am still employed as a civil servant in city of London, and recently started undergraduate course of Leadership & Management, as I was having no luck of starting my own nursery.

Last week I came across a premises which is still under negociation with landlord, and I started looking at my business plan again. Since this morning I am reading these informative forums, and I really can't wait to make a start.

I will most probably use this forums for help, its useful network with people of same interest.  Can't ask you for help or advice to set up my nursery. Please contact me on e-mail maali19@gmail.com

 

RE: Becoming a nursery owner - 24-11-08 00:49

by: positive

hi i was just reading your post and i to was intrested in opening a day nursery, like with everything in life we all need help, so if you dont mind just explain to me as far as i need to know thanks

by: student

Hi Hillka,

Your business sounds great you are very brave and lucky !

I wonder could you maybe give me some advice ? I am studing childcare and early years education at the moment but only at NC level (as this is a total change of career for me). I have come across a business opportunity, a nursery near me is closing down and no other facility opening. I would like to open the facility to replace this but i am unsure of how to go about this and who i should contact. To do this and own a nursery would i need to have any qualifications or like you could i just employ an education manager or such ? My intention would be that i would conduct the everyday business and running of establishment and maybe work on to achieve a higher qualification and i would employ some one to run the education and childcare area, do you think this would work ? Could you maybe point me in the direction of who i could contact to help me with this ?

Many thanks

by: deniz

hi,

My name is Deniz and i am a montessori teacher for 5 years,i worked as a pre-school teacher and i also have worked with babies in a private nursery in Camden-Regents park.

i really want to open my own montessori school-nursery but i do not know how to start or how to start.l i have found a lovely church hall in north london area ,(i have searched some information about the area, there are 2 nurseries) now i do not know what to do,or i even do not how much i need to open a nursey!

Could you please guide me, what to do or how  to start! i hope to hear from you... Thank you for your help and sharing your experiences with us..

Kind Regards,

Deniz Gonzalez

denizgonzalez0578@yahoo.co.uk

07988246877 

by: jennifer

hi im jan.

i was hopeing somebody would help me out? i always wanted to open my own nursery it has always been a dreanm of mine but dont know wear to go from now i have just finshed betc in health and social care level 3 but i dont want to work in the nursery but will i need any qualifications and ware do i start? my boyfriend said i should ring bussine link and ask how to set a plan?  please help hillika or anyone please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!