Inspectors must spend as much time as possible gathering evidence about the quality of care, teaching, and learning. And thats not surprising. My main mistakes were: Thinking the best of people. Providing childcare services in England - GOV.UK Registration can be made by an individual or an organisation. Its good to focus on things you are doing well (rather than what needs some work). It need not be a scary/stressful document. I think they are currently trying to sort out the operations of their business the staff who have been furloughed and the logistics of children returning and social distancing, she says. 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. Talk about their likes and dislikes (as well as any milestones hit since joining your nursery). one of the registered individuals of a school which does any of the following: admits children to their register who are not yet 2 years old, provides care for children under 2 years old where at least 1 child attends for more than 2 hours a day, provides care for children who are not pupils at the school, you are working with 3 or more other adults at the same time, the children are looked after in someones home, either your home or someone elses, background information on childminder agencies on the, your organisations contact details, including individuals who form part of it, the contact details of your organisations nominated individual, details of any previous registration with Ofsted, ensure each person who will be in a governance position. If you know what the inspector is looking for, you can ensure that your setting meets those requirements. (unless concerns are raised). You will already have a full complement of staff. Find a confidential broker who has experience in the nursery sector. So whatever particular educational approach you take (whether it be Montessori like ours or others), show how it centres around the childrens growth. With specialist nursery brokers Redwoods Dowling Kerr reporting enquiries rising by a staggering 142 per cent since lockdown it is currently very much a sellers market. Outstanding settings receive fewer inspections. Other than that, people want much the same as before. My issue is that we have been told by nursery that it is an ofsted rule that nursery staff cannot wake children from their sleep and that it is the rights of the child to sleep. Who would you approach or contact if you had any safeguarding concerns regarding a child or adult? Since 1986, The School Transfer Company has specialised in the sale of nurseries and schools. I dont regret selling the business - I possibly should have done it sooner.. Above all encourage positivity and remember to celebrate your staff and setting. We have heard horror stories of nurseries attempting new activities on inspection day and children piping up saying, Why are we doing this? Section 4: The contribution of the Early Years provision to children's well-being. For further information about buying this book or joining the NDNA, visit the website. Even if now is not the right time, we can offer advice on what you can do to maximise your position. Audit your setting against these criteria. OFSTED's report history is another important consideration. This is what the final I refers to. All of that adds up to a lot less risk, compared with starting from scratch. This may be obvious but be sure to contact previous employers directly to verify their credibility. You can either use the service on this page to apply to register as a childcare on domestic provider with Ofsted, or you can register with a childminder agency. Areas needing improvement will be identified by your inspector. Buying a Day Nursery: Ofsted registration As you probably know, children's day nurseries are nationally regulated by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted), which inspects all childcare provision. Therefore, its important for you and our staff to have a good read of this handbook. How to Buy a Nursery School - businesses for sale Thinking the Ofsted registration process would be straightforward because I am already an early years Staff can ask themselves: Understandably, some of your staff may experience anxiety around the inspection. Certain. Sign up for free, Password must contain at least 8 characters of which 1 uppercase, 1 number and 1 special character, It's been a chaotic year but Year 6 children still deserve the best ending to their primary journey, Lady Macbeth quotes Key lines for studying Shakespeares Macbeth in KS4 English, Sexual Health Week 2022 Great RSE education resources to use in school, Creative writing prompts Best activities and resources for KS1 and KS2 English, Drama games Help SEND pupils explore what makes them unique, Representation and leadership My first placement school was an eye-opener, Student inclusion How to craft PE lessons for everyone, Skills for life Preparing SEND pupils for the post-primary world, Neurodiversity in schools A letter to my ND colleagues. If you have a particular question relating to your sector, get in touch and well get Kate on the case. When you have completed this application, you must also: add a. 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. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. Your inspector will be looking how your intent helps children make progress across the seven areas of learning and is play-based. Nurseries are registered with Ofsted and can then be run by private individuals, community groups, organisations or employers. Here are the documents that need to be readied according to page 9 of The Early Years Inspection Handbook: Blossom customers are able to find nursery, staff, and child files instantly. So, it is worth checking what the most recent reports show. It need not be a scary/stressful document. Well send you a link to a feedback form. No longer practising as a solicitor, she now applies her legal research and writing skills to keep Truelegals team and clients updated with the latest know-how across our specialist business sectors. You will always get 24 hours notice unless Ofsted has received a concern about your nursery. It could mean the difference between making an offer or not, and save you time, money and sleepless nights. Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. And because it had previously been a church, the building already had D1 User the essential Planning Designation anyone must have in order to run a nursery, a school or any other institutional enterprise. Save Time & Money with Blossoms Nursery Management Software. Next, as part of your online application, you will be required to consent to Ofsted carrying out further checks on both you and any other connected individuals, including a health check and checks on premises and equipment. Manage your staffing requirements from a centralized system. Practice your learning walk every couple of months so that when the time comes youre a pro. After the call, you will be surprised how quickly the word spreads of the anticipated inspection in your setting. The reason for the closure is unclear, but it comes around one month after Ofsted found the. A dozen or so years ago, I saw a building in Gravesend that had once been an old farmhouse and thought it would make a perfect day nursery. Where a day nursery changes hands, or a new business is set up, the new owner must go through the registration process. Selling my nursery was the most difficult decision Ive made. There was just something about the way the front door, set within a Gothic arch, welcomed you into a special, homely place. In that case, this will trigger a surprise inspection. And finally, Outstanding. To receive this rating, your nursery needs to be exceeding expectations on every level and stand out from the average. Certain other people involved in your daycare will also need to apply to Ofsted themselves as part of your application to register. Do not ignore this. If, for instance, a child was full of beans at doze time, he or she could go and play in the garden under supervision, rather than be made to lie down. Registering as the wrong type of childcarer may delay when you can start work. Children's Day Nursery - Cornwall. It was more of a celebration of what we had accomplished together as a nursery. If you are registered on the Early Years register, you must meet the early years foundation stage framework standards. Leadership and Management. Running a nursery takes lots of energy and enthusiasm and I felt that I had reached my peak, so it was time to sell the business. Nurseries can be bought from anything from 20,000 for one that has been run in a rented hall, where you're buying the name and goodwill, and up to millions for a purpose-built freehold property with staff and a list of names waiting for places. Many buyers will research other childcare businesses within a ten-mile radius, so know your competition. Lenders generally do not want to finance nurseries which are deemed "Inadequate" or "Require Improvement". As you might imagine, all of this checking takes time. . And you need to be ready. The NDNA can also help individuals looking to buy or set up a nursery, and has a resource pack called Developing a Day Nursery priced at 25 plus postage and packing. With this check, you make sure that prospective employees are legally able to work within the UK. View Full Details. Islamic schools trust praised by Ofsted brands gay people 'evil' Its sensible to think about your eventual exit before you enter into a purchase. We walk clients through how to prepare their business for sale and we can highlight their businesss unique selling points., Willowbrook Nursery in North Mymms, Hertfordshire. You will need to register as a daycare organisation if you are running a childcare business where both of the following apply: This is known as providing childcare on domestic premises. I sold it last year as a 68-place nursery with a before- and after-school club and minibus. In association with Redwoods Dowling Kerr. Parents overall satisfaction with the service and care provided to their child (ren). Nursery Franchise Opportunities For Sale | FranchiseDirect.co.uk 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. Blossoms diary feature sends parents daily updates of their childs activities (photos and videos), as well as highlights golden moments, making it much faster and easier to show off. Sounds straightforward enough, but what you may not appreciate is that this registration process is incredibly thorough, taking up to 26 weeks to complete. All Rights Reserved, Guide toSelling and buying a nursery business. Get the most from our software. Cornwall, England, England. Serious improvements will have to be made immediately (or at least in time for the next inspection in the following 3 years). Active Early Years registered providers at their most recent inspections, by year. Get your parents involved in the inspection, 12. Nursery regulations: what you need to know before starting 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. She adds that it is imperative that owners understand what they have got to sell and whether leases are secure. At the time, the experience was a complete nightmare. The assignment will also require the consent of the landlord. You want to have control over it as you do not want panic to ensue. 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. Yes you can gradually build up staff in a new nursery as long as you are always in line with Ofsted ratios. We want to help settings do the same. When you have completed this application, you must also: You will receive an email telling you to complete these steps. These may be excellent, but the chances of them according with everything you think and feel is minimal. If you do not qualify to apply to register as a daycare, childminder or nanny you might be able to apply to join the Childcare Register. This is what your inspector will be looking for. On top of this, describe to your inspector how well you do in fact know your children. Telling my staff when the sale was confirmed was hard, but they understood that it was time for me to move on. It is no secret that your Ofsted nursery inspector will need to review certain important documentation during their visit. After you hang up, try to resist the urge to frantically make a to-do list. At an Ofsted Outstanding nursery, your staff are brilliant role models who put caring for the children first. Rather, they will reach a single graded judgement for the quality of education at your Ofsted nursery (backed by the evidence theyve gathered during their inspection). We have reported massive rises in buyer enquiries. Now that weve covered everything you should do on the day, what should you avoid? Staff training for safeguarding practice and procedures, Make staff feel confident and calm (see what we did below! OFSTED. Had we been newcomers, this would have broken us. How To Value A Care Home Or Nursing Home Business. They will be able to oversee each aspect of the sale and give professional advice. You need to be confident that the numbers stack up. Im now working alongside the new owner for a handover period, which is giving us all time to gradually adjust. Although the lease will usually state that such consent is not to be unreasonably withheld, in practice, it is rarely a speedy process for the following reasons: Its important to make sure that you are aware of the terms of the lease to be assigned. This makes sure that you carry out thorough and legal policies and procedures. Profitability is important to making a nursery attractive, but be careful not to skimp on expenditure to bump up profits. What are the different Ofsted nursery ratings, 2. However, it should be noted that your inspector will not judge them separately. Failure to comply with this may not only result in heavy legal penalties for you, but makes children vulnerable to potential risk. Get your rating from Good to Outstanding with our methods, tools and advice from Early Years experts who actually did it. To standardise this process, all children's nurseries must be registered on Ofsted' Early Years Register. Nursery Solicitors | Selling & Buying a Nusery Solicitors in Birmingham London (Day Nursery / Nursery School For Sale) Established in 1995 by the current owner Fees income for year-end 2021 of 169,381 with an EBITDA of 51,107 Rated 'Good' by Ofsted on its last inspection Brand new 5-year lease Places for 32 children. Oh, and nurseries now have to contribute to all their staffs pensions too Therefore we are hoping you wouldbe able to offer us some advise on general start up costs for any business. My nurserys reputation and close proximity to the other three settings influenced the sale, along with the potential for growth. Kate Truman, Solicitor (Non-practising): Business Sector Research and Marketing at Truelegal Solicitors: Kate qualified as a solicitor over 25 years ago specialising in intellectual property and technology businesses. This is what your inspector is evaluating. We designed our own logo and adopted the strapline Intelligent Daycare, based on the way our focus was on the child, not merely the convenience of the staff. She reminds me of a younger version of myself a trained teacher, very caring and has ambitions for marketing the business. I can see that Im leaving the nursery in good hands., Smart Start Private Day Nursery in Oldham, Greater Manchester. Make The Early Years Inspection Handbook familiar and readily available. Most childcare providers looking after children under the age of 8 must register with Ofsted (or a childminder agency). According to the handbook, Joint Observations should enable the inspector to: What they are mainly looking for is the managers ability to recognise anything done well and more importantly anything that needs improving. As you probably know, childrens day nurseries are nationally regulated by the Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted), which inspects all childcare provision. People have seen how resilient the sector is and lending has remained in place so while the banks, and well-funded, cash-rich investors are supportive of the sector, people will continue to invest. 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. . Heres what you can expect from this guide: 1. With around 90% of day nurseries still small and held in private hands, all this represents something of a threat to the livelihoods of thousands of less-than-hard-nosed nursery practitioners. This 'Guide to' has been produced by Nursery World in partnershipwith Redwoods Dowling Kerr. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. We decided, for example, that every room in the nursery setting should have one complete wall painted as a mural depicting a different scene. How to avoid 2 common problems when buying a children's nursery While some want a profitable and cash generative business, Robert Yates, head of sales at Redwoods, says others are looking to turn around closed or underperformingsettings to gain healthy adjusted profit levels. Tips to help staff prepare. It helps us to think honestly and raises our self awareness. You get to select all your own staff. Your application to register as a nursery or other daycare will not be reviewed by Ofsted until these 2 steps are also completed. 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. Downloadable content that provides real answers & insights. I liked that I never felt pushed by Redwoods and they gave me good feedback. The value to be gained from using the services of a solicitor experienced in buying and selling businesses at this early stage is immeasurable. Boosting your rating from an Ofsted Good nursery, to an Ofsted Outstanding nursery will not happen overnight but its clear that its not impossible either. I agreed a sale two months later after seven viewings and two offers. Razia Nurmohamed, Quality Director at our very own Blossom Tree, shares her thoughts: Reflective practice is a critical tool to improve. Remember, these are people who have been Ofsted Outstanding nursery teachers and leaders themselves. Its worth thinking about whether you will be able to pass on your business before you start. You may be interested to know that the night before our own inspection, we threw a pizza party! Cover your policies and procedures in detail. This includes audited accounts for the past three years, projections for the current and following years, registration documents, Ofsted reports and property valuations. Fiddling around at the eleventh hour to find papers is the last thing you want on the day (and it is avoidable stress). So, if youre interested in buying a childrens nursery, as well as giving your attention to the financials, the best thing you can do to try and avoid problems both with Ofsted and the landlord of the premises is to give them your focus early on in the transaction process. Although inspectors will not provide a separate grade for this crucial aspect of a providers work, they will always make a written judgement in the report about whether the arrangements for safeguarding children are effective. The necessary planning permission will have been secured. Find out how to register with Ofsted as a nursery or other daycare, and what you will need to tell us about. If you wish, you can delegate some duties of the walk to other managers/ leaders in your setting. You can change your cookie settings at any time. Consider how effectively the manager supports staff to promote the learning and development of all children. You will need to apply to register as a daycare if you will be looking after children aged up to the 31 August following their fifth birthday in: You must register with Ofsted unless you plan to work with 3 or more people in someones home. This excited and relaxed energy carried into the inspection the next day which the inspector immediately picked up on. Check whether you should be registering as one of the following instead of as a daycare organisation: You can configure the nursery exactly as you want to. A Thornton Heath nursery was rated 'inadequate' after inspectors found children became bored and disruptive after being made to sit for long periods. 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. There were complications on my side because of the nursery being on a split site, and there were also delays with the buyers backers. Early years settings should be safe environments where children can learn and develop without the threat of abuse or harm. Resource packs to supercharge your planning, I would like to receive regular updates from Teachwire with free lesson plans, great new teaching ideas, offers and more. I was amazed at the amount of documentation I had to provide, from Ofsted registration certificates and finances to building planning permission. 'I am a trained teacher and started the nursery from scratch 20 years ago. It will also have a link to an overview page where you can check the progress of all these connected applications. The right buyer came along in December. Published by MA Education Limited, St Jude's Church, Dulwich Road, Herne Hill, London SE24 0PB, a company registered in England and Wales no. Not paying for enough legal advice - thinking I could do it all myself. To avoid the possibility of your day nursery being unlicensed for any period youll need to be proactive with the seller early on in the transaction process. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Register your details with us, and be sure to let us know exactly what you are looking for, so we can actively look for you. 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. One mai 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. A person might purchase a nursery franchise for a variety of reasons. Ofsted nursery ratings matter to staff very much as well. OFSTED Requirements All nurseries must be registered with the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (OFSTED). We are assuming that are first steps will be to find . This is another matter that commonly causes problems for buyers of childrens day nurseries. Remember, Ofsted nursery ratings are important to your parents as well. If the childcare takes place in someones home, you must tell Ofsted about any changes to who is living or working there. However, they most likely will consider your settings: When it comes to Ofsted nursery ratings, consider the 3 Is. Show your inspector the impact your setting has on your observations and assessments for each child. Nursery and Garden Centers For Sale - BizBuySell By signing up you agree to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. So, for the sake of committing to a consultancy fee for your sellers continued involvement in your business for a limited period, these extra provisions in your sale agreement make sound commercial sense and will ensure that your business remains licensed to operate from day one.