Youll probably have to be prepared to make changes, some of which may be unpopular. As a nursery or other daycare, you must report to Ofsted any significant events affecting your childcare within 14 days. Our Blossomers are able to link all observations to both EYFS and Montessori frameworks, as well as track observations and child development to show the inspector what the 3 Is mean at their setting. The lowest rating Ofsted hand out is Inadequate. This states that the setting does not provide proper or an acceptable quality of education and care for children. They will pick up information from a variety of sources such as word of mouth, and of course your website. Early years settings should be safe environments where children can learn and develop without the threat of abuse or harm. How To Buy A Nursery - Teachwire Personal Development. It may be your pride and joy, but listen to the brokers advice on a realistic selling price or be prepared for a slow sale. When you have completed this application, you must also: You will receive an email telling you to complete these steps. If youre thinking about buying a childrens day nursery, or have already found the business of your dreams, chances are your head is swimming with numbers. To help us show you teaching resources, downloads and more youll love, complete your profile below. For more information, visit schooltransfer.co.uk, You'll also receive regular updates from Teachwire with free lesson plans, great new teaching ideas, offers and more. Gather all the essential paperwork that buyers will want to see. There were complications on my side because of the nursery being on a split site, and there were also delays with the buyers backers. What Do Ofsted Look For During a Nursery Inspection? Whats the local competition? Whats more, until such time as the registration has taken effect, your new business will not be allowed to operate. Some owners are being cautious about putting their nursery on the market, but with buyers' enquiries going through the roof, now is a good time, advises Mr Yates. How involved are the parents at the setting? And it can get those nerves down and your confidence up. 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. Well send you a link to a feedback form. By then we were committed, having already spent a lot of money on converting the building to nursery use and hiring a full staff ready to take in small children all without being allowed to open and actually get any fees in. There are 4 ratings Ofsted assigns. 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. Dont include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details. Its imperative that you answer all questions with 100% honesty because sooner or later the inspector will find out. At an Ofsted Outstanding nursery, your staff are brilliant role models who put caring for the children first. If your nursery follows a specific pedagogy (e.g. 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. If you wish, you can delegate some duties of the walk to other managers/ leaders in your setting. 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. Its sensible to think about your eventual exit before you enter into a purchase. ), 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. buying a nursery: ofsted. A solicitor or business transfer agent with experience of managing acquisitions of nurseries or other educational businesses can help you scrutinise childcare nurseries for sale, obtain and scrutinise relevant paperwork, and conduct productive negotiations and detailed due diligence. Clarify confidentiality arrangements and check what fees will be charged and when (these are likely to be linked to the value of your nursery). I was surprised to be told how unique my nursery was. Lets get down to the specifics. Your application to register as a nursery or other daycare will not be reviewed by Ofsted until these 2 steps are also completed. On top of this, describe to your inspector how well you do in fact know your children. Jenna Caldwellfor buying advice on01772 775763/, 07525 592988 / jenna.caldwell@redwoodsdk.com, Robert Yatesfor sales advice on01772 775759/ 07812 366958/ robert.yates@redwoodsdk.com, MA Education 2023. Things the inspector is looking to find out are: Weve made this easier for Blossom customers with our easy-to-use and modern Parent App. 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. After spending every moment with them since birth, having them go off for days at a time can be strange, and stressful. Combine All property for $1,200,000 and I'll throw in the trucks and bobcats. Buying an out-of-school club is a similar process to buying a nursery - and believe me, I made mistakes. Lenders generally do not want to finance nurseries which are deemed "Inadequate" or "Require Improvement". 65% occupancy To avoid. Mystery as Nottinghamshire nursery announces temporary closure Razia Nurmohamed, Quality Director at our very own Blossom Tree, shares her thoughts: Reflective practice is a critical tool to improve. When business owners looking to sell their business need practical legal advice, delivered by sector experts, they turn to Truelegal. Thankfully, there is a better way to make sure that business continuity is not lost. The Hidden Costs Of Buying A Bed And Breakfast, Buying A Veterinary Practice? Expanding your nursery? Do your due diligence - dot2dot Nursery Insurance Please choose an optionBusiness BuyerBusiness SellerCommercial LandlordCommercial TenantOther. 'I am a trained teacher and started the nursery from scratch 20 years ago. Get the most from our software. The impact of this self reflective practice takes us [children, staff and parents] from strength to strength.. If you decide to go forward with an interview, ask them to bring along their certificates and other evidence of qualifications. How well do you understand your nursery business? Lets talk about The Early Years Inspection Handbook, 6. We had gone from there just being one small nursery down the road to competition from around eight settings in a one-mile radius. However, 4 or more adults can also set up this sort of childcare without any being registered childminders. Ofsted Requirements: How to Take Your Nursery to Outstanding The value to be gained from using the services of a solicitor experienced in buying and selling businesses at this early stage is immeasurable. MA Education is part of the Mark Allen Group. You can expect to receive a telephone call at around midday on a working day before the start of the inspection. So send out a notification email or text so that theyre not caught off guard. Buying a Nursery Franchise. 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. In particular, you need to carefully check the remaining term of the lease; it may be there is only a few months tenure remaining, which is clearly unsatisfactory for the future stability and saleability of your business. This chapter explains when you cannot register, and when you do not have. Lets get in touch. The reason for the closure is unclear, but it comes around one month after Ofsted found the. Wed like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services. 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. Show your inspector the impact your setting has on your observations and assessments for each child. Those nurseries that have plenty of outdoor space have found the bubbles and social distancing easier than those that dont. We have heard horror stories of nurseries attempting new activities on inspection day and children piping up saying, Why are we doing this? buying a nursery: ofsted For further information about buying this book or joining the NDNA, visit the website. At the time, the experience was a complete nightmare. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Inspectors must spend as much time as possible gathering evidence about the quality of care, teaching, and learning. What impact have I made as an individual to this setting and its children? A Thornton Heath nursery was rated 'inadequate' after inspectors found children became bored and disruptive after being made to sit for long periods. 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. Children's Day Nursery - Cornwall. This is about how you exercise your stated intent. What do you do every day at your setting that ensures your children are making progress? Be prepared to show how your childrens needs and wants are being met in the context of the virus. What was your childs starting point and what stage of development are they in now? Check benefits and financial support you can get, Find out about the Energy Bills Support Scheme, Parenting, childcare and children's services, Start a nursery or other daycare business, Apply to register your nursery or other daycare organisation (EYO), Add a setting to your application to register a daycare (EYS), Daycare roles that must register with Ofsted, Apply to join a nursery or other daycare organisation (EY2), Childcare: reporting childrens accidents and injuries, Being inspected as a childminder or childcare provider, Early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework, Daycare providers on the compulsory Childcare Register: Ofsted requirements, Daycare providers on the voluntary Childcare Register: Ofsted requirements, Report changes to registered people in your nursery or other daycare (EY3), Add another setting to your nursery or other daycare organisation (EYS), Applying to work for up to 50% of the time on non-domestic premises (EYA), Pay your childcare or social care invoice, Pay your Ofsted annual registration fee by direct debit, Becoming a childminder and running your business, Joining the Childcare Register and running the business, Children's centres, childminders, pre-schools and nurseries, Recruiting and managing early years staff, someones home, working with 3 or more people at the same time. Whats The Difference Between An Asset Sale And A Share Sale? 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. Need help with a feature? You get to select all your own staff. We have reported massive rises in buyer enquiries. For some, maybe those who were on the edge of considering exit, the pandemic will be the last straw along with those at retirement age, although some will want to get back to pre-Covid levels before exiting.. Receiving an Ofsted rating that left you disappointed can be frustrating. Maximise efficiency in your childcare business. It may not be the case for them, but its worth being one step ahead than one step behind. Large nursery groups are currently tending to concentrate on existing operations rather than acquire new settings, which is enabling smaller and more regional nursery operators to snap up acquisitions. This can be your home, or someone else's. You can only have a maximum of 3. 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. 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. Track child development within your nursery, A summary of all your Enquiries for your setting. This includes audited accounts for the past three years, projections for the current and following years, registration documents, Ofsted reports and property valuations. Providing childcare services in England - GOV.UK We will have an indepth discussion of the current market value, and if this doesnt meet expectations we can provide informationregarding how to reach desired goals, says Mr Yates. Nurseries are registered with Ofsted and can then be run by private individuals, community groups, organisations or employers. Step 3. In these circumstances it is normal to agree and include the following provisions in the contract: a) that the seller continues to provide some form of consultancy to the new business (it may be as little as a couple of hours a week) and b) for you, the buyer, to provide an indemnity to the seller agreeing that should Ofsted make any kind of claim against the seller with regard to the Ofsted registration, you will reimburse the seller for the amount of the claim and any associated costs. It is no secret that your Ofsted nursery inspector will need to review certain important documentation during their visit. This guidance is for those who are registered, or want to register, with Ofsted. We know about OFSTED and nursery fee funding; therefore, we can hit the ground running and deliver solutions not problems. 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. Serious improvements will have to be made immediately (or at least in time for the next inspection in the following 3 years). We use some essential cookies to make this website work. 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. You need to be confident that the numbers stack up. You get to select all your own staff. Steps to buying and selling Find a confidential broker who has experience in the nursery sector. One of the co-founders of The School Transfer Company recalls his experience of setting up a new nursery from scratch, and offers some advice for those looking to do the same. Section 3: How well the Early Years provision meets the needs of the range of children who attend. Childminders and childcare providers: register with Ofsted Get the latest posts and industry insights straight to your inbox. Most childcare providers looking after children under the age of 8 must register with Ofsted (or a childminder agency). The premises must be safe and secure, and any furniture and equipment must be well maintained and conform to safety standards. It was exhausting and made harder because I had to keep it secret from my staff so I did not jeopardise the sale. Its a 40-place setting with more than eight acres of land where we run forest school sessions. However, it should be noted that your inspector will not judge them separately. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Check whether you should be registering as one of the following instead of as a daycare organisation: This is another matter that commonly causes problems for buyers of childrens day nurseries. 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. Take note of your policies and procedures. To register as a childminder with Ofsted, you will need to be looking after other families' children in someone's home. Ms Caldwell agrees, The childcare market, or any market regardless of sector, is always going to be strongest when the buyer market outweighs the supply and that is very much the case. 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. Unfortunately the actual sale was not easy and it was not completed until December. 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. - a childminder 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. The building belonged to the Mormon Church, and they wanted to sell it in order to expand. With advice valuable for staff, children and parents. Anyone you have to tell us about must also apply to join your registration. 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. This was a long time ago now 12 years and I sincerely hope the process has changed since. Blossom customers are able to provide this evidence easily with features such as: It is essential to notify parents that an Ofsted inspection will be taking place. Dont worry we wont send you spam or share your email address with anyone. 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. (unless concerns are raised). You will need to maintain your Ofsted registration with an annual fee. If you are interested in understanding the Areas of Inspection in detail, then please feel free to . 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. Sounds straightforward enough, but what you may not appreciate is that this registration process is incredibly thorough, taking up to 26 weeks to complete. Not only is it illegal, but you want to create a recruitment process that focuses on respect, equality, inclusivity, and diversity. Section 6: The overall quality and standards of the Early Years provision. You will need to maintain your Ofsted registration with an annual fee. Ensure that your nursery is bright, smart and welcoming and that staff are friendly and children engaged. Where a day nursery changes hands, or a new business is set up, the new owner must go through the registration process. Downloadable content that provides real answers & insights. Operational reports to give you the data you need. As part of the negotiations, you should request a provision in the Sale and Purchase Agreement that the seller agrees to maintain their Ofsted registration after the completion date and until such time as your own registration has been confirmed. Buyers are looking for deals and are prepared to work to tight timescales to secure the right opportunities. If you are looking after children in your own home with fewer than 3 other childminders or assistants, you only need to register as a childminder. And you need to be ready. This includes the evaluation schedule which specifically sets out clear criteria for each inspection judgement. Do not ignore this. So whatever particular educational approach you take (whether it be Montessori like ours or others), show how it centres around the childrens growth. The law states that under the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, as amended by the 2016 Immigration Act, employers need to check this. Buying a Nursery: Ofsted and Assignment of a commercial Lease The legal forms you need to complete before registering to open a nursery. This may be for no other reason than the fact that youre simply not the old owner and have no relationship with them! For guidance on how to register with a childminder agency, or if you are already with an agency, contact the agency directly. I contacted Redwoods because Id seen adverts in Nursery World and found them really knowledgeable. They will conduct sufficient research on you and your setting. It enables parents to: It is vital to have and practice strict recruitment policies at your setting. Look critically at your nursery through the eyes of a buyer to decide what needs improving before you put it on the market. Sorting documents for the inspection can get a bit confusing and stressful. I would encourage anyone considering their exit within the next two years to contact us to discuss if now is the right time for them to exit, he says. Despite the many government grants currently available to those engaged in providing early years education, looking after children is a costly business. With this check, you make sure that prospective employees are legally able to work within the UK. Rent review frequency, repairing obligations and service charges are other key areas. 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). 04002826. It was more of a celebration of what we had accomplished together as a nursery. Outstanding settings receive fewer inspections. Having the Right Finance is Key when looking to buy a Nursery for sale. Currently there is not a rise in people wanting to exit the sector, but Ms Caldwell predicts it will happen. Read the latest EYFS topics. The nature of these inspections covers such things as suitability of premises, staff, resources and activities, ratio of adults to children, and health and safety. It was good that I had an honest and open relationship with the buyer and that I had a network of other owners in the sector who I could turn to along with my advisor at Redwoods. Ofsted nursery ratings are stressful for any setting. You need to ensure that you monitor and improve your recruitment processes. Compare your rates, services and occupancy and demonstrate to buyers that you are competitive. We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services. Guidance for preparing for your OFSTED visit | Stonebridge Associated And finally, Outstanding. To receive this rating, your nursery needs to be exceeding expectations on every level and stand out from the average. The 3 Is: (Intent, Implementation, Impact), 15. Paul Edwards, managing director at . The Charity Commission has launched a compliance case into the Abu Bakr Trust, which runs three schools and a nursery in Walsall, in the West Midlands, after staff used social media channels to . Offers only become binding once it satisfies any stipulated conditions you may set out. They are national organisations and will typically look at any large nursery in an urban area, but a note of caution they can be very tough to deal with, so youll likely need good advice and help (which STC is happy to provide). After the call, you will be surprised how quickly the word spreads of the anticipated inspection in your setting. To help us improve GOV.UK, wed like to know more about your visit today. What are the different Ofsted nursery ratings, 2. You should read this guide if you will be looking after children aged between birth and the 31 August following their fifth birthday and you will be doing this in: If you want to look after children in this way, you will need to register your daycare. This process, while sounding simple enough, can be tedious and costly if not done. And, of course, you will be inheriting someone elses name, brand and management style. If you are registered on both registers, you will need to meet each set of requirements. Nurseries have remained open during the tough times and continued to generate income obviously not as high as what it should have been but the sector has shown resilience.. Starting from scratch Of course, setting up your own day nursery has a number of advantages. Only individuals who will have certain roles can apply to register a daycare. Your inspector will be looking how your intent helps children make progress across the seven areas of learning and is play-based. This 'Guide to' has been produced by Nursery World in partnershipwith Redwoods Dowling Kerr. It is clear that the Covid-19 pandemic has increased safeguarding risks EY settings. Some suggestions to encourage reflective practice at your setting: At some point during your inspection, there will come a time for joint observations. The Covid-19 pandemic has a very real and serious impact on children and their development. I get that if a child is tired then should be allowed to do so, but surely a parent has a right to request that their child is woken after a certain amount of time in . After all the effort put into your setting, it doesnt seem right. When Ofsted using the word intent they are referring to your settings overall way of working. 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. In that case, this will trigger a surprise inspection. How to run a nursery - businesses for sale It is important to make sure that all these are up to date and filed in order, ready to be quickly produced when requested. The inspection at the nursery, which has 122 children on roll, took place on January 21. We held viewings out of hours.