Private nursery within school grounds

[Helen]

Does anybody have any experience of setting up a nursery on school premises? I am a governor at a school who is looking to tender for a nursery using their current nursery class and outdoor area. They want to offer full day provision, possibly during school holidays too. Any ideas?

[AnonyMouse_44528]

its not that hard you need to offer a contract and ensure that liability insurance etc is in place up to what the county require.The contract should cover rent, access liability and repairs etc

[AnonyMouse_73]

Hi Helen. If there is already school nursery provision, then is this as an additional provision or is the nursery class breaking away from the school and going it alone?

[Helen]

The numbers are quite low in the nursery- and we think it might be because of the limited hours a school nursery can offer. If a separate provider offered full daycare using the school's premises, and obviously paid the school rent, then the books would balance a bit better!

[AnonyMouse_22106]

Do you offer a school before & after club? That's how our local schools do it, I think Governor run but separate registration.

 

Breakfast club starts approx. 7am then children are passed onto school nursery staff at 8:45am

Then when school finishes at 3:30pm the children are handed back to the after school club staff until 6pm

 

The children can then basically be on the school premises from 7am-6pm for as many hours as they wish obviously paying fees for the hours not funded by LEA

[AnonyMouse_73]

A guess it will depend on the LA model used. As thumper said , some just extend their day with 'private' hours over and above the typical school day.

If the nursery class is going to close and a whole new provision of full day care open in its place, then I would imagine the LA would ask for this to be put out to tender and you'll have to put your bid in same as anyone else.

you'd have to do your research on need, where do children currently go, what can you offer that's different, sufficiency in the area.. you know all that USP stuff.

 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/school-organisation-maintained-schools

 

I don't know if you have seen this but it might help with processes.

[AnonyMouse_11653]

Hi

 

I'm not sure if I'm much help but I'm a private sessional Pre-School and we are based in a Primary School and I rent a classroom and garden from them, we have a license agreement set up through the LA (at my expense). I had to put in a business plan and attend meetings with the Head Teacher as it did have to be put out to tender.

It works really well for all of us, the transition into school is good, although we do also feed into other schools, the parents like it as all their childcare drop off's are in one place. We don't however open during school holidays, we are open 38 weeks a year during school hours.

If you have any questions more than happy to help if I can.

[Helen]

Thank you all so much for your replies. I think the tender route is the way to go then. And see who shows an interest in running the provision. Kristina, is there a standard license agreement do you know, or was yours created specifically for you and your LA?

[AnonyMouse_34182]

Is the setting and school within East Sussex?

If so contact Joanne Grogan at East Sussex county council and she will be able to advise

[Helen]

Yes, it is! Many thanks for the contact info :1b

[AnonyMouse_11653]

Hi Helen

 

The license agreement was drawn up by the school and Essex County Council, I just had to pay for it!!

[Helen]