Debt management (half day)

This course offers childcare managers and staff a practical guide to implementing strategies to reduce and manage debt and includes:

• impact of debt on the finances;
• cashflow forecasts;
• impact of debt on individuals;
• supporting parents with fees;
• an example fee policy;
• sources of help with childcare costs for parents;
• discussing fee issues with parents; and
• break even pricing.

Boosting occupancy (half day)

This course offers childcare managers and staff the tools to moniter occupancy at their setting and develop marketing strategies to promote their service and includes:

• occupancy and finances;
• analysing occupancy impact;
• access to data;
• reporting on occupancy using simple formulas;
• staff ratios;
• marketing strategy to maintain occupancy;
• market research;
• collecting current customer information; and
• promotional materials and methods.

Preparing for an Ofsted inspection Ofsted Inspection and the Self-Evaluation process(full day)

This workshop will support childcare managers and staff to prepare for an Ofsted inspection and includes:

• up-to-date information about Government legislation;
• the welfare requirements of EYFS registered on the Early Years; Register/Compulsory Childcare Register and the implications for their setting
• the benefits of clear policies and procedures and understand the full range required by EYFS;
• development of policies and procedures relevant to a children’s centre; and
• developing confidence in creating an action plan to address any areas of concern.

Business planning for sustainability (full day)

This course for childcare managers will include techniques and advice on business planning, financial and operational management and marketing including: 

• the structure and elements of a useful business plan;
• creating and implementing a vision statement;
• the importance of developing and sharing the business plan with staff;
• the range of financial documents that are essential to managing a childcare business, including cash flow forecasts, monthly budget reports, annual profit and loss statements, bank statements, cashbooks;
• how to calculate the break-even price of the service. Market research, marketing & public relations;
• market research/analysis, customer research and promotion; 
• how to deliver the right messages to the target group by designing appropriate and effective promotional strategies;
• measuring the impact of marketing.