Starting a Childcare Business
This section provides information on starting a Childcare Business and the Pathway to Registration.
Starting a childcare business may be a long term goal, a new interest or the next stage of your early years career. Even if you have childcare experience, starting up a business can be daunting process, requiring dedication, determination and strong will.
Before you begin you need to make sure you are fully aware of what opening a childcare business entails and what the associated legal requirements are for the type of business you plan to open.
For more information, as an introduction, we would recommend you watch the following short vodcast on the Early Years Register;
And the following vodcast on the Childcare Register;
If you complete the Starting a Childcare Business Checklist during your Pathway to Registration it will support you with ensuring you meet your legal requirements, helping you understand the process and requirements of registering your childcare service, before submitting your application to Ofsted.
It is important to carry out thorough research around the area you are considering opening your business, the location will need to be right and the premises suitable in order for your business to be a success. A Feasibility Study is simply a means of finding out whether or not something is likely to work and this document will take you through why they’re important, what they can tell you and how to undertake one.
Fundamentally, they will provide some initial information on whether or not your proposed business idea is needed, and wanted, in the area.
You can also find about more about existing childcare in an area by contacting the Families Information Service and by consulting the latest Childcare Sufficiency Assessment for an indication on participation and vacancy information across the city, as well as information on forthcoming developments.
This vodcast about types of childcare businesses gives an overview of the various governance structures available to new start-up businesses and this Checklist for Voluntary Management Committee's accompanies the section on this business type.
These Key Considerations for starting up a new childcare provision consolidate some of the key information highlighted above.
Once you have considered all the information on this page and completed the Pathway to Registration and Starting a Childcare Business Checklist, please;
- Contact the Families Information Service on 0115 87 65910 to log your enquiry
- Email the Early Years Team at earlyyears@nottinghamcity.gov.uk for support with submitting your application to Ofsted and advice, support and guidance to help you get your business ready for OFSTED Registration.
Once your childcare business is established, Nottingham City Early Years Team are committed to ensuring you continue to have support available.
We have a range of resources to support Looking After Your Childcare Business and support for existing providers is also detailed in the Provider Support Framework.
Ofsted also consider it important that all childcare providers continue their professional development and Nottingham City Early Years offer a wealth of training and development courses, including Paediatric First Aid and Safeguarding Children Training, which it is a legal requirement for you to maintain. Find out more on our latest CPD opportunities!
