Children's & Young People's Services
Careers in Childcare
Childcare Providers
If you wish to set up your own childcare service in part of Bexley you will first need to identify suitable premises from which to operate. To assist you to identify suitable premises there are information packs provided through our Childrens Information Service which outline the minimum standards you need to meet before you will be allowed to open or operate. Further information on the standards required may be found at ![[External link]](../../../images/navext.gif) www.ofsted.gov.uk. Once you have understood the requirements you will then need to complete paperwork and forward it to Ofsted who are the Governments regulatatory body for overseeing all childcare activities in England. Depending on the type of childcare you wish to open there are a range of people available to give you information, support and advice.
The first step therefore for you is to contact the Family Information Service on  020 8856 5398 and they will forward to you the appropriate pack of information relating to the service you want to develop. They will also provide you with the name of
the person you will be able to contact for support.
Once open you will need to ensure that the staff you employ are regularly trained and to support you with this there is a comprehensive training programme which is free to all childcare workers in Bexley which your staff may choose to access. The training programme however is only open to settings that are in the borough of Bexley.
You may be entitled to some start up funding if you are creating new childcare places in Bexley. To find out more providers should contact the Childcare, Play & Family Services on 020 8836 8418. In addition of course, if you are going to be providing early education places for 3 and 4 year olds you will also be entitled to the nursery education grant funding, again speak to Childcare, Play & Family Services who will be able to advise you accordingly.
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Getting Started
To be able to provide affordable, accessible early years education and childcare of a high quality, there are several key items you need to consider. This checklist outlines them.
Checklist |
Premises |
Market research
Fire safety
Health standard |
Location
Environment |
Money |
Business plan |
Funding |
Staff |
Ratio
Advertising |
Qualifications
Legislation |
Educational environment |
Ofsted |
Foundation stage |
Equipment |
Usefulness
Best value |
Safety standards
Availability |
Premises
Start with market research. Is there a need for your service? Is there suitable, available property in your desired area? Local estate agents and other current providers may be able to help answer these questions.
Once you've identified a location, check that it is accessible for parking, pushchairs, and disabled people. Are there simple measures you could take to make it accessible e.g. a mobile ramp, a child's toilet seat and step?
Ask the local fire officer to give the property a certificate and apply to the environmental health officer for a registration form at Housing and Public Protection Department, 2a Hadlow Road, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 4AF. You must do this at least 28 days before you plan to open.
Money
Draw up a business plan. Make a list of your income and expenditure. Get some professional advice especially if you are investing money in property. Assess where your funds are going to come from.
Staff
Read your national standards for childcare and assess how many staff you require to meet the correct ratio. The ratio varies for different age groups, clearly you need more staff for babies than for 4 years olds. Check the qualifications staff require. Where can you advertise for experienced staff? You could try local newspapers or nursery publications, less experienced but qualified staff may be available through graduates from local childcare courses.
These days as an employer you have certain legislation standards to meet regarding the care of your workers. Check the statutory requirements e.g. minimum wage, sickness or holiday pay etc.
Equipment
When purchasing equipment consider the number of children, their age group, the multi-purpose usage of equipment, equipment relation to promoting the early years foundation stage curriculum. Make sure all equipment has a kite standard and can be easily maintained. Think how often it may need to be replaced. Consider how best to use your budget and get best value. Remember not all items will be
immediately available and may require ordering. Will it be delivered on time?
Educational Environment
All providers need to be inspected and at Bexley we recommend you become Ofsted registered. This allows you to access the Childcare Grant for 3 and 4 year olds. It also allows the children in your care to benefit from a planned curriculum around the six areas of the foundation stage. It encourages good observation and assessment techniques to promote progress.
The educational environment should be interactive allowing providers and children to get lots of satisfaction and enjoyment from their daily activities. The Childcare, Play & Family Services will offer support and advice in this area, through our Early Years Manager on 020 8836 8250.
If you decide to take the plunge and get started apply to the Family Information Services on 020 8856 5398 for a copy of the 14 national standards for either Day Care or Sessional Care.
Then go through the checklist steadily. It may seem daunting, but remember you are planning to care for someone else's child. Once you start to tick off your checklist it will seem much more manageable. Go back and click on Careers in Childcare to remind yourself how rewarding this venture will be.
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Become a childminder
Childminding is currently the most popular kind of day care chosen by parents, offering childcare for babies and children of all ages, usually with hours that allow for greater flexibility (see Childminding page for more information).
You'd be self-employed, childminding in your own home, so the hours you'd work and the number and ages of the children you'd care for would, to an extent, be up to you. The maximum number you could take at any time would, however, be set by OFSTED (the Office for Standards in Education).
You may be looking after a child from baby to teenager, able to offer them emotional support and build self-esteem as they grow.
Childminders who join The Bexley Childminding Network are accredited to provide Early Education and qualified provide care for child with special needs - which is a great opportunity for career development and progression.
If you look after children aged under eight for more than two hours a day - for payment or reward - you must be registered by OFSTED. A Childminder Start-up Grant will help with your set-up costs while funding is available.
You'd be: caring for individual babies and children according to their needs - taking them to toddler group or baby gym, for instance, if they're very young, combined with play at home, with plenty of opportunity for one-to-one activity and individual attention.
The first step in becoming a childminder is to let Bexley Childminding Development Officer know that you're interested - you can do that by pre-registering here or by contacting the Family Information Service via any one of the means below:
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Funding Available
Funding streams are complicated and need to be applied for, so it is best
to get started with some of your other homework before you apply as funding often
has time limits of availability.
- Find out about local fees of other providers.
- Find out about the current early years education childcare grant available in Bexley for 3 and 4 year olds, from the finance department at Hill View.
- If you are in a Sure Start (disadvantaged area like Erith, Thamesmead East or Northend) extra funds may be available. Please telephone 020 8311 1974.
- If you are creating new places and especially places for 0-2 year olds funding for the Early Years Childcare Grant may be available. Please telephone 020 8836 8250.
- If you are a childminder a start up grant is available.
Further information may be available within the Funding section.
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