Nursery World - From start to finish

Planning a day nursery from scratch needs forethought, says Martin Pace. Here he guides you through the basic decisions you will need to make. The resources you will require for a new nursery are: premises, money, staff and equipment. Consider the choice of a purpose-built nursery or a conversion. Establish where your finance is likely to come from and whether you will own or rent your nursery premises. If you already have childcare skills, consider what other complementary skills you are going to need to make up your team.

The resources you will require for a new nursery are: premises, money, staff and equipment. Consider the choice of a purpose-built nursery or a conversion. Establish where your finance is likely to come from and whether you will own or rent your nursery premises. If you already have childcare skills, consider what other complementary skills you are going to need to make up your team.

Location, location, location

The location of your premises in relation to its customers or marketplace will be a key factor in determining the success of your business. Check with local estate agents to establish that enough families live in the area. Perhaps both parents need to work to pay the mortgage because house values are high. There may be new homes in the area, which means that there will be little or no extended family to look after the children. Local businesses may be in need of a childcare facility, especially if they employ large numbers of women.

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