In particular, s/he will be able to get a copy of the lease and help you understand the significance of its provisions. Remember, these are people who have been Ofsted Outstanding nursery teachers and leaders themselves. Get the latest posts and industry insights straight to your inbox. Expanding your nursery? Do your due diligence - dot2dot Nursery Insurance Be prepared to show how your childrens needs and wants are being met in the context of the virus. Had we been newcomers, this would have broken us. Ofsted will, in addition, carry out a check with the local authority childrens services department to see if you, or others connected with the registration, are known to them in connection with care orders or other information that might bring into doubt your suitability to work, or be in regular contact, with children. All childrens nurseries, therefore, must be registered with Ofsted on its Early Years Register. But there are a few disadvantages too. Talk about their likes and dislikes (as well as any milestones hit since joining your nursery). You will need to maintain your Ofsted registration with an annual fee. Establishing whether or not the lease is a protected business lease can make a big difference to the value of a business where location is important and alternative premises are scarce. Profitability is important to making a nursery attractive, but be careful not to skimp on expenditure to bump up profits. Photos are excellent tangible evidence that your inspector can collect all in support of improving your rating. Such a claim, for example, may occur if you failed to make sure there was an adequate number of DBS checked staff to look after the children in your care during the transition period. Save Time & Money with Blossoms Nursery Management Software. I worked in a nursery & it convinced me I'd never put kids in one - I I did feel I was being deceitful when I told staff that the valuer was from an insurance company, but I did not want staff and parents to be unnecessarily worried. In England, you can go a step further and check qualifications with the Department for Education on the website. ), Encourage staff to share previous inspection experiences, List of current staff and their qualifications, including in paediatric first aid, Register/list showing the date of birth of all children on roll and routine staffing arrangements, List of children present at the setting during the inspection (if not shown on the register), Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) records and any other documents summarising the checks on, and the vetting and employment arrangements of, all staff working at the setting, All logs that record accidents, exclusions, children taken off roll, and incidents of poor behaviour, All logs of incidents of discrimination, including racist incidents, Complaints log and/or evidence of any complaints and their resolutions, Safeguarding and child protection policies, Fire-safety arrangements and other statutory policies relating to health and safety, List of any referrals made to the local authority designated person for safeguarding, with brief details of the resolutions. I was amazed at the amount of documentation I had to provide, from Ofsted registration certificates and finances to building planning permission. What was your childs starting point and what stage of development are they in now? MA Education is part of the Mark Allen Group. Details of all children who are open cases to social care/childrens services and for whom there is a multi-agency plan. (You can unsubscribe at any time.). You may find once you start running the business that youre not completely happy with all the staff and that some of them will be less than entirely happy with you. Yes you can gradually build up staff in a new nursery as long as you are always in line with Ofsted ratios. To register your organisation, you will need to have the following details: Everyone who wants to join your organisation in a governance position, such as a committee member, will need to apply to Ofsted. Its imperative that you answer all questions with 100% honesty because sooner or later the inspector will find out. This 'Guide to' has been produced by Nursery World in partnershipwith Redwoods Dowling Kerr. The nursery was very much my baby and, rather than rush a sale, I wanted to be selective so that it went to the right person, not just for the right price. It is clear that the Covid-19 pandemic has increased safeguarding risks EY settings. Remember, Ofsted nursery ratings are important to your parents as well. I decided to put the nursery on the market with RDK in November 2019 and was reassured that they would keep it confidential, which they did. Clarify confidentiality arrangements and check what fees will be charged and when (these are likely to be linked to the value of your nursery). We decided, for example, that every room in the nursery setting should have one complete wall painted as a mural depicting a different scene. We are assuming that are first steps will be to find . Redwoods Dowling Kerr offers bespoke services aimed at clients who are lookingto expand and grow their nursery business, along with new entrants looking to enter the sector, and those looking to sell to realise maximum value for their investment. She reminds me of a younger version of myself a trained teacher, very caring and has ambitions for marketing the business. OFSTED's report history is another important consideration. They will be able to oversee each aspect of the sale and give professional advice. There was just something about the way the front door, set within a Gothic arch, welcomed you into a special, homely place. At its peak it had 140 places with a waiting list, says former owner Cheryl Connell. Do you like children? Initially, you could contact your local authority who can provide lots of helpful information and advice but then, as a first step, you and any other individuals connected with the application must complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check online. The reason for the closure is unclear, but it comes around one month after Ofsted found the. I agreed a sale two months later after seven viewings and two offers. How to Buy a Nursery School - businesses for sale How well you observe will relate to solutions you put forward to better the nursery and methods you put in place to continue operating at a high standard. By doing this, you prevent employing someone who has been barred from working with children. Here are some policies that you should implement: Write out the approach that you take to recruiting staff or volunteers to work with your children. It is important to consider the positives as well as considering things that dont always go well. One thing becoming more of a necessity for future acquisitions will be outdoor space, says Ms Caldwell. When something catches your eye, call the consultant directly and ask lots of questions. An example of this happening is where a childminder expands their business to join with other childminders or assistants. All of that adds up to a lot less risk, compared with starting from scratch. According to the handbook, they will: Based on evidence gathered (and the criteria set out in part 2 of the handbook as set out above) your inspector will put forward a grade for your setting. Ofsted quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, and leadership and management. You can change your cookie settings at any time. 'I am a trained teacher and started the nursery from scratch 20 years ago. 4 Providence Court Pynes Hill Exeter Devon EX2 5JL, Truelegal Solicitors 4 Providence Court, Pynes Hill Exeter, Devon, EX2 5JL, Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance. Inspection outcomes where there were no children on roll. Its important to create an open and honest dialogue with your Ofsted nursery inspector. Unless you are buying a freehold property from which to run your nursery business, you will as part of the purchase process also require a deed of assignment from the seller, transferring ownership of the premises lease to you or your company. Some are directed at the manager, others Room Leaders, and so on. Anyone you have to tell us about must also apply to join your registration. The African veldt; The Lake District; the seaside at Broadstairs; the sky at night, complete with little green spacemen for the Baby Sleep room all charming scenes with lots of things for children to discover and help them exercise their imaginations. SENDING your children to nursery can pull on the heart strings. At an Ofsted Outstanding nursery, your staff are brilliant role models who put caring for the children first. . This excited and relaxed energy carried into the inspection the next day which the inspector immediately picked up on. Choose a broker on their experience, references and whether you feel you can have a good working relationship with them. However, they most likely will consider your settings: When it comes to Ofsted nursery ratings, consider the 3 Is. And this is the time to let the nursery shine! This, it turned out, was nothing to do with fillet steak in a plastic bag; rather, it meant you just had to make your best offer and hope for the best. Overall, make it a celebration of your nurserys achievements and what impact it has made. This is where youre most likely sitting. Gain an insight into the effectiveness of the provisions professional development programme for practitioners, Learn about the providers view of staffs interactions with children, See the quality of the implementation of the curriculum/educational programmes. However, 4 or more adults can also set up this sort of childcare without any being registered childminders. Seek out expert advice on tax issues to ensure you have everything in place to pay the correct amount of tax. Talk to the children and practitioners about the activities provided, Talk to parents to gain their views on the quality of care and education provided, Observe the interactions between practitioners and children, Gauge childrens levels of understanding and their engagement in learning, Talk to practitioners about their assessment of what children know and can do and how they are building on it, Observe care routines and how they are used to support childrens personal development, including the settings approach to toilet training. In that case, this will trigger a surprise inspection. Setting up a Nursery MoneySavingExpert Forum If you had any safeguarding concerns about a child, what action would you take? Despite the many government grants currently available to those engaged in providing early years education, looking after children is a costly business. The government is planning to increase this from 15 hours per week to 30 for all nurseries as of September 2017, but many providers feel that the money the government intends to pay settings to finance these hours barely meet their costs, let alone generate any profit. I liked that I never felt pushed by Redwoods and they gave me good feedback. Early years settings should be safe environments where children can learn and develop without the threat of abuse or harm. Buying A Nursery Business UK | Nursery Solicitors | Sale Or Purchase Check out these examples of inspection questions: The inspector will most likely ask several staff members about one of their key children and their development questions such as: Your inspector only sees a snapshot of your setting on inspection day. These are: Inadequate, Requires Improvement, Good, and last but not least, Outstanding. Telling my staff when the sale was confirmed was hard, but they understood that it was time for me to move on. Fiddling around at the eleventh hour to find papers is the last thing you want on the day (and it is avoidable stress). Those nurseries that have plenty of outdoor space have found the bubbles and social distancing easier than those that dont. Buying a Nursery Or Pre-School? Avoid Costly Mistakes - True Legal We held viewings out of hours. What buyers are looking for in a nursery is very personal. It is no secret that your Ofsted nursery inspector will need to review certain important documentation during their visit. You may also find that you dont like the way the nursery is run, that its inefficient in terms of its budgeting or cash flow, and perhaps wasteful when it comes to resources. Ofsted nursery ratings matter to staff very much as well. You will always need on site, at all times, a qualified first aider and a nursery supervisor (With qualifications of at least a level 3). Our reputation for identifying and prioritising the value-driving aspects of a business transaction and our get-it-done attitude have won us repeat clients and multiple referrals from business brokers and transfer agents. The value to be gained from using the services of a solicitor experienced in buying and selling businesses at this early stage is immeasurable. Working on the assumption that your application is successful, you will need to be one of the following: You can find out more information on registered individuals as well as the registered person and the nominated individual of a daycare. Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. Obviously take on a few to begin with and gradually increase staff as children's numbers rise. Weve never done this before, Ensure that all staff have a clear understanding of the Early Years inspection handbook, Audit your setting against the grade descriptors in the Early Years, Ready all documents and tidy anything necessary during the 24 hours notice period, Notify parents immediately and encourage them to be a part of the inspection process, Establish an open and honest dialogue with the inspector from the outset, Be able to provide evidence of the high quality care being provided at your setting, Be ready to demonstrate that all children's needs have been assessed in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, Be prepared to discuss policies and procedures at your setting - and how they place paramount importance on children's well being, Ensure that your learning walk is well-prepared and highlights the positives at your nursery, Also provide evidence of reflective practice - with relevant examples, Encourage staff to focus on their valuable contributions and achievements during the inspection, Help prepare staff by familiarising them with expected questions and encouraging calmness with open discussions on previous inspection experiences, Try not to panic and remember not to attempt anything new or untested on the day. Manage your staffing requirements from a centralized system. After spending every moment with them since birth, having them go off for days at a time can be strange, and stressful. Not only is it illegal, but you want to create a recruitment process that focuses on respect, equality, inclusivity, and diversity. Currently there is not a rise in people wanting to exit the sector, but Ms Caldwell predicts it will happen. In addition, the costs of the landlords solicitor (to be met by the seller or buyer by agreement) are often a surprise not budgeted for. From practitioners to administrators to children. If the childcare takes place in someones home, you must tell Ofsted about any changes to who is living or working there. Covid-19 has left the economy reeling and hit the already under-funded early years sector with many nurseries left struggling to fill places but, perhaps surprisingly, it has not dented confidence among potential investors in the market. We incorporate the 3 is into everything we do from planning to behaviour management to any change we wish to implement. Any concerns they may have/ areas for improvement, Receive diary updates, highlighting special moments, Be involved in their childs learning and development with Learning Journeys, Continue their childs education at home with Home Observations, Enjoy paperless billing (with automatic reminders), Communicate with the nursery instantly with 2 - way messaging (in beta testing), Vulnerable children, including those with SEND, are encouraged to attend the provision, Your procedures remain effective for supporting those at home and those attending your setting, Parents and carers are informed of any developments/ changes. Buying a business Registration can be made by an individual or an organisation. Make all events past and present shine, 17. Whats more, until such time as the registration has taken effect, your new business will not be allowed to operate. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. Unfortunately the actual sale was not easy and it was not completed until December. Summary of how to go from Good to Outstanding. Section 3: How well the Early Years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend. They will be able to oversee each aspect of the sale and give professional advice. Allowances could also be made if a child was hungry or not hungry. - a nanny. I can see that Im leaving the nursery in good hands., Smart Start Private Day Nursery in Oldham, Greater Manchester. If you have certain activities planned, again inform your inspector so that they can make time to observe this. The impact of this self reflective practice takes us [children, staff and parents] from strength to strength.. Redwoods recommended a solicitor, which made the sale smooth because they were used to working together - it was just slightly delayed because of lockdown. Lets break it down. So whatever particular educational approach you take (whether it be Montessori like ours or others), show how it centres around the childrens growth. Even if now is not the right time, we can offer advice on what you can do to maximise your position. You can expect to receive a telephone call at around midday on a working day before the start of the inspection. Our full contact details can be found on ourContact Uspage. Applicants for registration must be aged 18 or over and have the right to work in the United Kingdom. If youre purchasing an existing nursery, why is the setting doing badly or well? Nurseries across the UK use Blossom to increase efficiency across their finance, learning journeys, operations & occupancy. The building belonged to the Mormon Church, and they wanted to sell it in order to expand. If you are only looking after someone elses children in their home, you must read the guidance on becoming a nanny instead, as you may not need to register with Ofsted. Get your parents involved in the inspection, 12. The anticipated phone call finally comes. Get what you need to become a better teacher with unlimited access to exclusive free classroom resources and expert CPD downloads. News stories, speeches, letters and notices, Reports, analysis and official statistics, Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports. New entrants and people who have registered with us say that this was always going to be their year to enter the sector, and Covid hasnt changed that, says director of childcare and education, Jenna Caldwell. Sorting documents for the inspection can get a bit confusing and stressful. The Covid-19 pandemic has a very real and serious impact on children and their development. The more staff understand what constitutes an Ofsted Outstanding nursery, the more confident they will be on inspection day. The more staff understand what constitutes an Ofsted Outstanding nursery, the more confident they will be on inspection day. You want to have control over it as you do not want panic to ensue. How involved are the parents at the setting? As a future owner of a nursery business, any buyer is required to go through the registration process, which may take up a number of months to complete. If you are registered on both registers, you will need to meet each set of requirements. This may be for no other reason than the fact that youre simply not the old owner and have no relationship with them! We use some essential cookies to make this website work. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. Nursery regulations: what you need to know before starting We are after some advice,We are thinking of setting up a business and have seen a nursery for sale that we are thinking of trying to get a mortgage on and that i would run. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Think about the potential how could you improve, expand or transform the nursery youre looking to buy? Nursery groups are the quickest, best-resourced and easiest people to sell to, but will not normally look at anything with fewer than 50 places 70 or more is usually preferable.