November/December 2020 Volume 19 Number 6
NURSERY MANAGEMENT TODAY
w F w Ch ollow w ec us .n k m ou @nm t-m t o tm ur ag w a g a z az eb ine i n s it e e. co .u k Main Sponsor
MEET THE FINALISTS
Inside this issue
Standing together Pushing for action to protect our early years
Time to reflect Lessons learned from this year
Powering positivity This year has taught us all to focus more on wellbeing
Looking back: lessons learnt from 2020
SCAN ME
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Inside this issue... NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 ● VOluME 19 NuMBER 6
Editor’s Comment............................................. 3 News................................................................................ 4 Nursery Talk..........................................................14 Finding positives. Craig Burlow shares some of his top activities for keeping team spirits high both at home and at work. 26
Sector Viewpoint........................................... 15 Reflection and action. Purnima Tanuku details the efforts made from organisations across the sector and what needs to happen now for it to remain sustainable.
Focus............................................................................. 16 Buttons & Bows. Haroon Rashid speaks about reimagining Buttons & Bows nursery while moving forward past Covid-19.
Manager’s Helpline......................................20 38
A lot to learn from. Karen Clince looks back at her Tigers journey this year and what she will take forward as growth plans continue.
Training...................................................................... 24 Leadership skills. Kelly Hill and Beverley Bacon discuss term ‘Executive Function’ and how it fosters skills and independence in early years.
Technology............................................................ 26 Living in real-time. John Pickup explores how real-time data can help nurseries track and engage effectively. 40
Westminster.........................................................28 At the edge. Briony Richter warns of significant longterm consequences if the sector isn’t protected through the winter.
Hot Topics................................................................ 34 New editorial adviser. We chat to Clare Roberts who has joined NMT’s board of editorial advisers. Working through a crisis. Dan Weir talks about his admiration for the sector and how Morton Michel can help nurseries feel more secure. No turning back. Bright Horizons discusses how to support and increase the diversity of our workforce and celebrate the benefits it brings.
Special Report.................................................... 40 Road to recovery. The sector has endured unprecedented changes but is now needing to move past the crisis. Heather Welch explains how to support the early years sector moving forward.
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Sector Viewpoint........................................... 44 Lending during a crisis. Mohith Sondhi explains OakNorth’s commitment to supporting the early years sector through the crisis.
Great Outdoors................................................ 48 To the beach. Using the outdoors is beneficial all year round. Bridgit Brown and Chloe Webster talk about embracing your local environment and encouraging outdoor exploration. Nutritional necessity. Katherine Tate details the crucial link between a nutritious diet and a child’s health growth.
Financial Advice............................................... 52
Soapbox.................................................................... 38
50
Solid partnerships. Helen Wong and Daphne Cheung explain the relationship between private equity and nurseries and what makes the sector attractive.
Catering..................................................................... 50
Insurance Advice............................................ 36 48
Management...................................................... 42
The financial impact. Jonathan Amponsah looks back on the financial implications the pandemic has had on the early years sector and the expectations for the future.
Spotlight................................................................... 54 Embrace music. Sue Newman and Louise Bull discuss how Boogie Mites adapted during lockdown and why music is so important for our wellbeing.
Property.....................................................................56
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nmtcomment EDITOR
Briony Richter EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Dr Richard Hawkins MANAGING DIRECTOR
Vernon Baxter ART EDITOR
Rob Wheele ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Caroline Bowern T: 0203 746 2617 E: caroline.bowern@ investorpublishing.co.uk EDITORIAL ADVISERS
Neil Leitch Chief Executive, Early Years Alliance
Andy Morris Consultant
Sarah Steel Managing Director, The Old Station Nursery
Linda Baston-Pitt Chief Executive Officer, PurpleBee Learning
Susan McGhee Operations Director, One Parent Families Scotland
Rosemary Collard Director, Snapdragons Nurseries
Purnima Tanuku Chief Executive, National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA)
Clare Roberts Chief Executive Officer, Kids Planet Day Nurseries SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES
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Lessons learned from 2020
s we enter the last season of 2020, I thought that it would be useful to take a look back at this shocking and yet extraordinary year and see what lessons can be learned from these unprecedented circumstances. It has, after all, impacted on every person, business and sector around the world in one way or another. Indeed, the impact has been so great that many aspects of our society will never be the same again. In this issue, NMT spoke with providers from across the country about their experiences this year and what plans they have going forward. For Bright horizons, equality and diversity is a top priority and the team have a new found commitment to improving diversity across the workplace. Many across the early years sector have not just reflected on 2020 but turned potential barriers into actionable models that will now enable them to continue delivering a high standard of childcare despite the uncertainty. That being said, the biggest lesson from 2020 is that our sector is in dire need of support. Every area of early years pulled together to battle the impact of Covid-19, and unfortunately, battled much of the setbacks alone. The Government must now look ahead and ensure the sustainability of the sector by delivering the necessary financial support. There is still a lot of work to do. However, we have all heard the saying that ‘necessity is the mother of invention’, and there is no doubt that in times of real need such as rapid and tragic changes of circumstances as we have seen in 2020, then matters are often achieved in a matter of weeks. This can most certainly be said for the role that technology has played in supporting providers, staff, parents and children. Child engagement and development are at the heart of what every great nursery does and there’s no one-size-fits all approach to learning. NMT and Connect Childcare discussed how real-time data can help nurseries track and engage children more effectively. Technology has enabled all of
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society to continue working while adapting to the changing nature of the pandemic. Keeping communications open between parents and providers is crucial as we head towards a difficult winter. Prior to the pandemic there was less of an emphasis on digital technology across the sector. While many already websites and mailing lists, few had incorporated additional levels of tech to their nursery to track progress, health & wellbeing and development. This is now far more widespread and should remain where beneficial. Technology can keep us up-to-date with what each child needs to support them as they grow. This is especially important given that children suffering with mental health problems is on the rise. Earlier this year a group of the UK’s largest children’s organisations said years of under-investment by the government had left services overstretched. Analysis by The Children’s Society, Barnardo’s, Action for Children, NSPCC and the National Children’s Bureau revealed that funding for children’s services had fallen by £2.2bn in the past eight years, forcing many early intervention schemes to be dropped. The devastation caused by Covid-19 will be felt for years to come for children and vulnerable families as they struggle to cope. ■ Briony Richter Editor, Nursery Management Today E: Briony.Richter@investorpublishing.co.uk
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nmtnews
Stepping out of shoe poverty Sal’s Shoes, a not-for-profit charitable organisation, has kindly donated 24 pairs of new children’s shoes to Angel Pre School (LEYF) in South Westminster as shoe poverty continues to affect many families living across London. With further restrictions now in place, potentially for six months, parents are quite rightly concerned about the financial landscape and access to childcare. It is especially frightening for those that are among the 14.5 million people who are living in poverty. The UK is now in one of the worst recession’s in decades and all areas of child poverty are on the rise. One area of poverty that is often overlooked is shoe poverty. Good quality shoes for children can be too expensive for many families living in poverty. Shoe poverty impacts a child’s self confidence as they can very quickly identity that they don’t have the same quality as their peers. During the summer, manager at the nursery, Christel Brown noticed that some of the children were wearing winter boots. This prompted her to reach to show companies across Twitter with a request for donations for LEYF’s vulnerable children. Christel Brown, nursery manager at Angel Pre-School in South Westminster (LEYF) said: ‘We are so grateful for the shoe donation from Sal’s Shoes which has made many children from disadvantaged
backgrounds extremely happy. I recently had a parent explaining that she wants her child to return back to nursery but needed to wait for her benefits to arrive so that she could buy some clothes for her daughter to wear. This highlights the extend of the issue and why we must all do our bit for children most in need.’ June O’Sullivan, CEO of London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) added: ‘We know from the latest report by The Food Foundation that the UK’s poorest households struggle to afford to meet the Government’s recommended guidelines on a healthy diet, so you can imagine many families have very little money left over for other essentials such as new clothing and shoes. It’s absurd to think that shoe poverty is a reality in one of the world’s richest countries and that we have to rely on the generosity of brilliant charities such as Sal’s Shoes for vital help.’ LEYF is still appealing for more new shoe donations. Please contact marketing@leyf.org.uk for more information.
Rt Hon. Andrea Leadsom MP visits the Bright Horizons nursery
The Rt. Hon Andrea Leadsom, Member of Parliament for South Northamptonshire visited the Bright Horizons Wooldale Early Care and Education Centre. During her visit she was shown how the nursery garden is used to develop play and learning. Outdoor learning is incredibly important for a child’s development and during difficult times it is a great source of education and exploration. Of course, during the visit, strict Covid-19 guidelines were followed and Mrs Leadsom was welcomed outside the centre on her visit by several Bright Horizons representatives: Ros Marshall, managing director, UK; Caroline Wright, director of Early Childhood; and Pinder Chauhan, client relations manager at Bright Horizons and County Councillor for the Sixfields Division, Northamptonshire County Council. Mrs Leadsom has recently been appointed as the Government’s Early
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Years Health Adviser for review of early years services to ensure that every baby has the best possible start in life. Now, with restrictions tightening, the Government must continue to support the sector which in turn supports working parents and carers. Caroline Wright, director of Early Childhood at Bright Horizons, commented: ‘We were delighted to welcome Mrs Leadsom to our Wooldale nursery and discuss with her the work we do and initiatives we have in place to support early years development. We know how important these years are for preparing children for their life-long journey into learning and the world. Providing the right start for children is critically important. Building confidence and resilience and nurturing their curiosity in the world around them so that they’re inspired to learn and explore every day of their lives is a key focus for us. We’re pleased that the Government is
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recognising the important role that early years play in setting children up for a happy, fulfilling future.’ Mrs Leadsom commented: ‘It was fantastic to see this Bright Horizons nursery and learn more about the work they do and the children they care for. They are providing vital support and education for some of the youngest in our society, and their Bright Beginnings curriculum has an important focus on the emotional wellbeing of children in their first five years. The discussions I have had during my visit will be helpful for the Early Years Review I am chairing.’
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Early years organisations respond to the Chancellor’s ‘winter plan’ Chancellor, Rishi Sunak is going full steam ahead with his ‘winter plan’ to support businesses over the coming months. The Job Support Scheme will help employees on part-time hours as a consequence of Covid-19 disruption to businesses and the economy, replacing the furlough scheme at the end of October. The Government and businesses together will continue to top up wages of workers who have not been able to return to the workplace full time. It will see workers get three quarters of their normal salaries for six months. The announcement comes after MPs and business organisations voiced concerns about mass job losses after furlough ends. Nearly three million workers are currently on partial or full furlough leave, according to official figures. The Job Retention Scheme ends on 31 October. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: ‘The government will directly support the wages of people in work, giving businesses who face depressed demand the option of keeping employees in a job on shorter hours, rather than making them redundant.’ Commenting, Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance, said: ‘While we welcome the news that the government will be continuing to
provide financial support to protect jobs once the Job Retention Scheme ends, it remains unclear how exactly this latest announcement will benefit the early years sector – and in particular, providers who currently receive early entitlement funding. ‘With many providers still feeling the impact of the last-minute government U-turn on the furlough scheme, it is absolutely vital that the Department for Education provides clarity on exactly how nurseries, pre-schools and childminders employing assistants are able to access this scheme now, and not weeks down the line. ‘With so many in the sector struggling to remain afloat as a result of low parental demand for places, the increased costs of operating safely during a pandemic, constant staff shortages as a result of a lack of testing availability, and of course, inadequate government funding rates, the next few months are going to be incredibly difficult for many providers. ‘As such, it is vital that the government steps up its support for the sector and ensures that providers can operate sustainably, both now and in the long term.’ Purnima Tanuku OBE, chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), said: ‘From our research with the childcare sector we know that the pandemic has had a devastating impact on providers and
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the workforce. We have continuously lobbied for more ongoing support and it is good news for everyone that employment schemes will continue beyond the end of the current furlough plans. ‘Given the announcements this week on further measures to control the virus and support businesses, we must see the Department for Education continue support to providers until the situation improves. Given the impact that other funding decisions had on early years providers’ eligibility to the furlough scheme both providers and local authorities need clear guidance well before the scheme opens. ‘While loans are not ideal for providers who are worried about their sustainability, extending access and providing more time to repay them will provide more re-assurance to childcare businesses. We need to see the Chancellor go further and turn the business rates holiday for early education settings into a permanent exemption. ‘Childcare remains a vital part of any plans for economic recovery so providers experiencing lower demand and increased operating costs need support from the Government to remain viable. This will ensure that childcare places are available when parents need to work, enhance their skills or retrain. A plan for jobs needs a plan for childcare.’
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nmtnews
The Professional Nursery Kitchen snaps up SALSA accreditation
The Professional Nursery Kitchen (TPNK) has passed their SALSA (safe and local supplier approval) accreditation on their first attempt. TPNK supplies freshly prepared and healthy food to nurseries across the UK and can now boast the credentials to match the quality service as the team passed with flying colours. This accreditation recognises that TPNK are able to demonstrate that they operate to a high standard of food safety throughout their business, ensuring full traceability and confidence to you the customer, and the reassurance that you are buying from a reputable Supplier. ‘SALSA was developed specifically for buyers and smaller food producers who need to demonstrate that they operate to standards that are recognised and accepted across the industry and exceed the minimum
standards expected by enforcement authorities.’ – www.salsafood.co.uk What is SALSA & The SALSA Standard? The SALSA standard was written by experienced food safety experts to reflect both the legal requirements of producers and the enhanced expectations of ‘best practice’ of professvional food buyers. Approval certification is only granted to suppliers who are able to demonstrate to a SALSA auditor that they are able to produce safe and legal food and are committed to continually meeting the requirements of the SALSA standard Why is this so important when it comes to food safety? ‘Food safety is a scientific discipline describing handling, preparation, and storage of food in ways that prevent foodborne illness. This includes a number of routines that should be
followed to avoid potentially severe health hazards. In this way food safety often overlaps with food defence to prevent harm to consumers. The tracks within this line of thought are safety between industry and the market and then between the market and the consumer. In considering industry to market practices, food safety considerations include the origins of food including the practices relating to food labelling, food hygiene, food additives and pesticide residues, as well as policies on biotechnology and food and guidelines for the management of governmental import and export inspection and certification systems for foods. In considering market to consumer practices, the usual thought is that food ought to be safe in the market and the concern is safe delivery and preparation of the food for the consumer.’
Congratulations: ICP Nurseries voted top 20 nursery group in the UK for the third year running
ICP Nurseries has once again been named by parents and carers as one of the Top 20 nursery groups in the UK 2020 from the day nurseries review site, daynurseries.co.uk. ICP Nurseries have been highly rated across a range of categories including facilities, learning, resources, care, activities, food and nutrition, cleanliness, safeguarding, value for money along with staff and management. To add to this fantastic group success, a Top 20 Nursery Award has also been given to our St Ives Nursery in Cambridgeshire and our Old Barn Day Nursery in Banstead, Surrey. St Ives Nursery has received an award in the category of Top 20 Nurseries East of England 2020 and the Old Barn Day
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Nursery has received an award in the category of Top 20 Nurseries South East England 2020. Tracey Storey, CEO of ICP Nurseries said: ‘I am absolutely thrilled that ICP Nurseries has, once again, been named as one of the Top 20 Nursery groups in the UK and two of our outstanding nurseries have been recognised as one of the top 20 nurseries in their regions. Winning the group award in 2018 and again in 2019 was a great achievement, but to receive the award for the third time in 2020 is testament to the dedicated and amazing staff in each of our ICP Nurseries. Our absolute focus on providing the highest quality childcare is truly recognised. I would like to personally thank all of our parents and
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carers for recognising the efforts of our staff and for the kind and positive comments given in the reviews. Without doubt, this award belongs to each and every one of our staff who provide outstanding care to all of our children every day – thank you Team ICP.’
Produced by
Food,
Glorious Food Let’s get cooking!
NMT magazine is delighted to announce our new cookery book, ‘Food, Glorious Food.’ The book is packed full of delicious and nutritious recipes supplied by our wonderful nursery family.
Each page will explore different cultures, cuisines and flavours from traditional British desserts to Chinese-inspired curries.
Thank you to our Main Sponsor:
“We were very proud to partner with NMT to sponsor this fantastic idea for a recipe book which we hope will support nurseries and parents provide healthy and nutritious eating ideas for the early years sector and parents at home.”
The Professional Nursery Kitchen
Recipes submitted by:
• Acorn Early Years • Action for Children • Advantage Day Nursery • Archfield House Nursery • Bright Horizons • Busy Bees • Chestnut Nurseries • Dunky’s Day Nurseries • ICP Nursery Group • Kids Allowed • Kids Planet • Kidzrus Nursery • N Family Club • Oakfield Nursery School
• Pembury Community Nursery • Pinnochio’s Nursery • Portico Nurseries • Red Bus Nursery • Red Squirrel Nursery • Rosedene • Snapdragons • The Food Teacher • The Professional Nursery Kitchen • The Old Station Nursery Group • Toad Hall Nurseries • Tops Day Nurseries • Westwards Nursery • Woodland House Nursery
“Collaborating with NMT for ‘Food Glorious Food’ connects with our ethos at The Food Teacher. This book is a fantastic resource that shares good practice and food education between nurseries, colleagues and parents/carers.”
Katherine Tate, The Food Teacher
“It’s so important to introduce a diverse range of delicious foods and flavours early on to encourage good healthy eating habits in the future. This is the perfect cookbook to put the ‘mmm’ into mealtimes!
Bestselling cookery author and children’s food expert, Annabel Karmel, MBE
Pre-order now for only £6 per book!
www.ipevents.net/magazines/food-glorious-food-lets-get-cooking Pre-order by 15 November 2020 to ensure pre-Christmas delivery
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Playroom nursery owner honoured with MBE
Helen Luddington, owner-manager of three settings across West Bridgford in Nottingham – two WBOOSC kids clubs and the Playroom Nursery has been honoured with an MBE in the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours. In a personal letter, her majesty’s chief inspector said: ‘The judgement of outstanding means you are exceptional and significant elements of your work are exemplary.’ Helen’s inspiring leadership and compassion helps ensure that children’s voices are heard, their individual care is second to none, families are supported to a very high level and her dynamic, enthusiastic approach encourages all members of her team to work to an extraordinarily high level. Covid-19 restrictions are currently making things hard for nursery life, but at WBOOSC and The Playroom, the whole management team are doing their best to find unique ways to move forward. Helen kept the childcare doors flexibly open for some 31 children of keyworker families throughout the whole of lockdown and re-opened on the 1st June with 88% occupancy.
On her MBE, Helen stated: ‘My focus over the past goodness knows how many years, has been to ensure as adults we listen to our young children and help them enjoy and achieve through providing a very safe and secure environment both physically and emotionally, create a wide variety of exciting and challenging play and to work closely with families to focus on this goal. To achieve this level of recognition is unbelievable and I am completely overwhelmed. Purnima Tanuku OBE, chief executive of National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said: ‘We are delighted for Helen to be honoured with an MBE which is as a result of her passion and dedication to supporting her local children and families. ‘Her determination to keep her settings open during lockdown meant that many key workers could do their essential jobs on the frontline during the worst days of the pandemic. We are proud to have her as an NDNA member.’
Children 1st Day Nurseries opens 24th setting
Children 1st Day Nurseries has successfully completed the purchase of The Honey Pot Nursery in Breadsall, Derby. The nursery group now has 24 settings across the Midlands and South Yorkshire and will remain fully open to all existing children. Expansion plans As well as this investment in staff, Children 1st also plans a significant programme of refurbishment to enhance the learning environments, outside areas and facilities at the setting. Over the last six years the company has invested significantly into its nurseries developing unique and innovative spaces in which children learn, develop and grow. The Honey Pot will now be called Children 1st @ Oakwood and over a period of time the current nursery premises will be extended into the adjoining property on the site and fully refurbished. This redesign will also
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increase its occupancy levels. Each age group will have its own dedicated and colourful rooms designed to promote independent learning and stimulate curiosity whilst also providing areas for quiet times and relaxing. The setting has a large outdoor space and has an emphasis on outdoor learning. Commenting on the new nursery, Children 1st Day Nurseries’ managing director Adrian Mason said: ‘When we visited the setting we were impressed by how well it was run. It was clear the owners shared our ethos in terms of how childcare should be delivered which means that the transition will be smooth. We are confident that the new Children 1st @ Oakwood will be a hugely positive development for existing and future families as well as the local community. ‘We are planning to invest significantly in the setting and its grounds and buildings provide us with
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a huge opportunity to create one of Derby’s best nursery environments for children to enjoy, both indoors and outside. We can’t wait to get started.’ Suzanne Miskow, owner of The Honey Pot Nursery commented: ‘When we met the team at Children 1st we knew that they would have the best of intentions for the nursery, our children and families. This was very important to us. We are really pleased that the nursery will be taken over by a family run business that will take the setting forward for future generations of children to enjoy. ‘We have thoroughly enjoyed running the nursery and would like to thank all families past and present for their support over the years.’
nmtsurveys
Impact of Furlough ending: Childcare staffing crisis will hit sector hard The NDNA and the Education Policy Institute (EPI) have published new research that reveals a significant proportion of early years settings are relying on the Government’s furlough scheme. The Covid-19 pandemic and the early years workforce: Staffing decisions in an uncertain environment draws upon a survey of 445 early education and care providers in England, Scotland and Wales, active between 4th-26th August. While the month of August showed some hope of a slow-down, the number of
cases and deaths have increased and further restrictions imposed. This will continue to have a detrimental effect on the early years sector, causing mass disruption to providers.
Key findings from the study: Early years settings have furloughed 71% of their staff since March Staff most likely to be furloughed were those who held lower levels of qualifications: ● 79% of staff with no qualifications had been furloughed
79% of staff with level 2 qualifications had been furloughed ● 74% of staff with level 3 had been furloughed ● 59% of staff with level 6 qualifications had been furloughed ●
4% of early years staff have been made redundant Staff with higher levels of qualifications were least likely to be made redundant: ● 6% of apprentices were made redundant ● 5% of staff with no qualifications were made redundant ● 2% of staff with level 4/5 qualifications were made redundant ● 1% of staff with level 6 qualifications were made redundant
New strategy needed to recruit more suggested to boys and men by careers men into UK early years sector advisers or Job Centre staff.
A new strategy is now needed to bring more men into the early years sector, a study by Lancaster University finds. The GenderEYE (Gender Diversification in Early Years Education) study, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, revaled that despite early years education’s continuing status as UK’s least genderdiverse caring profession, the Government and most early years employers have done very little to recruit and retain male staff. The proportion of male staff in early years education is 4%; in nursing it is
11%, in social work it is 14% and in primary education it is 15%. The UK now needs to undergo a drastic change to improve the diversity across the sector. The study reveals that less than a fifth (14%) of early years settings have pursued specific strategies aimed at recruiting men. Researchers found: Positive action strategies – like inviting male applicants for interview even if they are not a perfect fit for the job ‘on paper’, specifically inviting men to open days and making clear in adverts that men are welcome to apply – are extremely rare Early years education is rarely or never
Settings rarely promote vacancies directly to men or inspire potential male recruits. Such approaches have been found to be successful in other countries – including in Norway, which has the most gender-diverse (9% male) early education workforce in the world. They have also proved successful within local pockets of good practice uncovered in the UK, such as the London Early Years Foundation, whose management have championed male involvement and whose male workforce is well above the national average.
Better communications with hard to reach parents and access to technology essential With another lockdown looming, clear communication will be essential to support parents and early years workers. According to the findings of a survey of more than 200 early years practitioners and teachers carried out by Tapestry, 95% of early years practitioners and reception teachers feel better communication with hard to reach parents and carers is needed to support future lockdowns and partial closures over the coming months. As schools and settings open to more children and grapple with possible outbreaks, four fifths of respondents felt families still need better access to technology and more support to help their child with learning at home. Rebecca Swindells, owner and co-manager of Blue Door Nursery, Seaford, said: 'I'm not surprised that early years practitioners feel confident about talking to parents and carers. We have, as a sector, always understood the value of excellent parent partnerships. We know that children do best when they are surrounded by adults that know them and understand their needs. Furthermore, 87% of respondents feel schools and settings will make greater use of technology to stay in touch with parents and 10 NURSERY MANAGEMENT TODAY
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carers where classes or bubbles need to be quarantined, or there is a local lockdown. However, almost three quarters (70%) of respondents believe staff need more training in remote learning to support children. Dr Helen Edwards, co-founder of Tapestry and former early years practitioner said: 'Practitioners and teachers have had to get to grips with lots of new technology in the past few months and I’m not surprised that they need more training. Supporting remote learning requires new skills and expertise, the technology is the enabler, but it’s staff that make it effective.' Following lockdown, the survey also showed that early years practitioners and teachers were more likely to use technology to support their teaching. Their top three uses were: 1. Communication with parents and carers (93%) 2. Sharing resources and activities (91%) 3. Supporting children with remote learning (83%)
Respondents also felt that outdoor learning would be become even more important with 93% agreeing it was something they hoped would increase.
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nmtnews
Ask The Key The team at The Key Leadership have a huge wealth of experience, from managing settings, training, business development and HR. In each edition we will answer the most frequently asked questions… With the dark mornings approaching and nights drawing in, what is my responsibility as a leader for keeping my team safe on their commute to and from the setting?
As a leader, it is important that you do what you can to make your workplace as safe as possible. Lighting outside the setting can ensure the safety of your team when opening and locking up and where possible has two people onsite at all times, avoiding lone working. Encourage staff who walk to work to share the route that they take with you and share safety tips with them such as not wearing headphones, carrying a personal alarm and keeping valuables hidden. By reiterating your sickness policy, everyone should know when to call in if they won’t be attending work. This will ensure you are alerted if a staff member doesn’t show up for their shift and hasn’t already called in.
Due to the recent pandemic, we have had to make staff redundancies. This has affected the morale of the team. How can we bring that spark back to our team once more?
This is a difficult time and it is essential that leaders have an understanding and empathy with their team. Remember what makes you a great team aside from the pandemic, be sure to talk about plans for the setting as it grows and allow the team to be optimistic and excited for plans in the future. Think about ways to bring some fun and excitement back into your team and ensure everyone feels secure in their role. Plan a longer term team project and get everyone involved, puling on their individual strengths and skills. Perhaps a team shout out board in the staff room will help
staff to recognise each others contributions as well as getting a confidence boost from seeing others comments about them! Check out some of our staff wellbeing ideas too. https://www.thekeyleadership.co. uk/staff-wellbeing As a leader, I want to improve my own CPD, but struggle to find the time. How can I fit this in and what would you recommend?
Keeping your own knowledge up to date is essential as a leader. Join and follow likeminded people on social media so you stay ahead of trends and up to date in easy to ready posts and information. remember the benefits of learning from your team, encourage them to share their expertise at staff meetings. Go and shadow another nursery manager or join networking events. Also use your time wisely, perhaps listening to audio books on your commute or whilst cooking dinner in the evening.
● Do you have a question for The Key Team? Submit your questions here: www.thekeyleadership.co.uk
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nmtspecial feature ADVERTORIAL
Step Start Mountnessing takes a step change to simple, stress-free catering In the second of our three-part feature series NMT follows Step Start Mountnessing Nursery in Brentwood as it mobilises its new meals provision to action a successful and safe way to cater for its children. Here, we look at the logistics of HOW Step Start Mountnessing made change (at a time when food safety and nutrition has never been so important), and explore how the team implemented a simple, stress free catering solution… urther to the rapid growth in numbers since it opened its doors in August 2017, Step Start Mountnessing is a busy, thriving, and happy environment. The nursery is open all the year round, offers full day care, holiday care and seasonal nursery care to its 83 children. The nursery is managed by Sophie England who has responsibility for the day-to-day running of all services attributed to the nursery and is supported by 15 full time staff. In our last issue, in the first of a three-part series, we looked at how Step Start Mountnessing was looking to make change. Whilst there was nothing wrong with its mealtime
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Vegan Katsu Curry
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provision – the team just felt there was something missing. The team took the difficult decision to make change and appointed fast growing provider of meals into early years, apetito – which already has a strong reputation in the provision of meals into the early years sector. In making change there were plenty of factors for Sophie to take into consideration: Fluctuations in seasonal care and holiday cover meaning numbers can change at short notice. Furthermore, as every parent and nursery manager will know - little ones are susceptible to every illness around and there are inevitable instances of absenteeism. ● In some cases, the meals that Step Start serves are the ONLY meals that children will have all day, so it’s very important that little ones are loving their food – and eating their meals! ● Providing nutritious meals for its children is an absolute priority for Step Start. Children are given both a hot lunch and a hot tea, which comprises of a main meal and a dessert. ●
November / December 2020
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Vegetable Lasagne
All these factors alongside food safety and guaranteeing continuity of supply influenced Step Start’s choice in the appointment of apetito.
Making change happen easily…
According to Sophie, ‘mobilisation’ was surprisingly easy and straightforward. She says: “I admit to being very nervous when it came to the day of change, as we have children here every day and it is very important that there are no mix ups with meals and menus across the rooms where children are eating. “Our team does get stressed with any change for obvious reasons – we take our responsibilities to our children very seriously. But the transition worked beautifully! We had our previous menu working fully right up to the last moment. “We took a view that if we were making change, it was a good time to in invest in equipment to enable further growth and efficiency. We bought a new freezer (which was put in place a few days before our date of mobilisation) and a new oven, which was a proper catering oven. A good decision as our freezer enables us to order more meals at any one time and our new cooker has really helped with cooking the meals consistently at the right temperature, giving best results. “As it happened, we had decided to make the change on a Wednesday so we could start our new system from Thursday mid-week so we
nmtspecial feature ADVERTORIAL
Simple, stress-free, safe mealtimes With over 200 meal options to choose from within the whole apetito range - there is something to suit every child’s taste and dietary needs, whilst also delivering great value at a time when cost is front of mind for all. An apetito main meal and dessert (consisting of a protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates), costs on average just £1.80 per child with dessert and lighter tea-time options also available for a small additional cost.
meal which actually looks no different to what other children are eating, as apetito create meals to match the appearance of some others to avoid plate envy (something which can be very important to them so as not to ‘stand out’ or be seen as ‘different’.
apetito’s Amy Wadlow giving a helping hand
could have a couple of days to experience and learn, and then adjust (if we needed to) over the weekend. “The apetito team was brilliant. We had agreed an initial order and all our new meals were delivered by the team who stacked these in our freezers (under contactless delivery – which has become very important for us under Covid), and on Thursday – we started our new system. “It was great – cooking the meals was easy and straightforward – we had ensured that all our little ones’ needs were met where special dietary requirements were in play – apetito’s meals and ordering system makes this easy to cater for individual needs across all 14 known allergens. “Most importantly, we allowed our children to judge for themselves as the final test. They loved our new meals – clean plates, considerably less waste and great feedback all round”.
apetito has a specially developed online ordering system which is very straightforward to plan menus to ensure nutritional balance and great choice across main meals and desserts. Sophie says that her team was a little nervous initially, but this was soon dispelled as it genuinely couldn’t be easier: “The online portal where you create your menus turned out to be brilliant. You can place orders weekly (or more if you want) or you can order further in advance (either for immediate delivery of longer supplies - or opt for a deferred delivery).
Ordering is easy
We had ‘umm’d’ and ‘ah’d’ as to whether to make change but once we realised how much more efficient our new system was, and especially throughout the Covid Pandemic when every nursery has concerns around social distancing and how their catering teams can ensure food safety, continuity of ingredients and fixed costs. For us – this was stressfree as a solution whilst ensuring great food that our little ones’ love. Simon and Amy, (at apetito), were fantastic – constantly checking on things, and any issues or challenge were solved within a day. We had one day where we couldn’t work out how to use our new oven. They literally drove down from Leeds (to Essex), and brought us another oven to cook our meals in – that is unbelievable service… ■
The final countdown
Chicken Tikka Masala
“For us this is fantastic and has made life easy - for example, if I’m on annual leave, I can book three or four weeks in advance and then no-one has to worry about it, our meals just continue to arrive. “And when it comes to allergens, our new system won hands down. We can now just highlight what allergies we want to avoid (you can write in specific ingredients if you need to) and the menu pops up with meals that are suitable. “For example, one of our little ones has a tomato allergy during summer months – apparently the make up of tomatoes change from summer to winter. In the summer, the child has a rash from tomato and in the winter, they are clear. This is clearly not a common allergy. The ordering system allows us to ensure we know which meals have tomato in them, so we can avoid during the summer. “Where we have children who are vegan or vegetarian – any needs can be met by ordering a smaller tray of meals for specific children– which is actually much more cost effective and also enables that child to have a
a selection of self-serve dishes from apetito
● We’d love to tell you more about how we can support your nursery business. Please register your details on www.apetito.co.uk/nursery-meal-services or phone 01225 562937
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November / December 2020 NURSERY MANAGEMENT TODAY 13
nmtnursery talk
Fun in-person events that you can do with your team remotely Your nursery team has had a tough year so as we approach the end of 2020 it will be good to find ways to say thank you for what has been achieved and to have some fun around Christmas or the New Year, says Craig Burlow of Corporate Away Days Online recipe sharing and cooking can also be tremendous fun. Perhaps one of your team makes a particularly delicious Christmas cake or people have tasty party treats they can share how to make. Getting the team together on Zoom or Facetime to cook a chosen dish, bake a cake or create their own whilst judging the end result on presentation - knowing that they all taste delicious – creates a Master Chef show that has never been easier to win. Otherwise there are plenty of celebrities offering excellent classes, information and recipes for you to try remotely. If you need some help or inspiration, we offer cooking classes with all the ingredients delivered to your door and a master cook from an award-winning cookery school taking you through each step on Zoom.
Cooking some treats
ith ongoing restrictions due to Covid-19 you have the option of holding some events that could be held in-person, but which can also be enjoyed remotely. Here are some ideas to inspire you:
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You may have team members who are brilliant at making all sorts of craft creations that can make excellent presents for the festive season. Perhaps they can demonstrate how to make some small gifts, or decorations with packs of materials you have provided. Alternatively, there may be a local artist or craftsperson willing to share their knowledge, artistry and skill.
Holiday Crafts
Music is a great way to relax and connect with others. It doesn’t matter if you’re not the next Taylor Swift or Shawn Mendes, singing also makes everyone feel good and relieves stress so choose a list of songs between you and hold a sing-along. You can share favourite Christmas carols or learn a new song if a staff member wants to teach it to everyone Or just get each team member to share their all-time favourite track or the one song that always cheers them up. You’ll probably end up humming or singing along!
Hold a sing-along
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In a nursery there is a good chance that you will have some great storytellers. Perhaps you can collectively choose a theme and
Storytelling
share stories. They can be as short as 3-5 minutes or longer, but I do suggest having time limit. If you have team members from different backgrounds you could have a mini ‘International festival of traditional tales’ or personal family stories. The choice is yours.
Remote wine and cheese tasting
Provide the team with a bottle or two of the same wine and some cheese samples and chat online about what they think of it. When that’s over, some small talk as you might have at an in-person event, is bound to lead to some giggles, especially if they “forget to spit the wine out”! And it means partners and housemates can also join in the fun. If your singing, storytelling or other activities such as recipe sharing go well you might even think of putting together a podcast – which you can do easily with free software such as Audacity. It’s a way of sharing the fun and preserving memories that the team can treasure. ■
● Craig Bulow is the founder of Corporate Away Days, a corporate wellbeing events company delivering engaging, inspiring and exciting events focussed on Wellbeing and Reward activities. Corporate Away Days also creates, designs and builds corporate wellbeing policies and provides leading experts for interactive workshops, seminars and talks on improving mental health and overall wellbeing. W: www.corporate-away-days.co.uk Instagram: corporateawaydays LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/craig-bulow-3b227721 and www.linkedin.com/company/corporate-away-days
November / December 2020
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nmtviewpoint
How we got here and where next? Working in early years we all know that if we are to improve and learn, it is vital we reflect. As we come towards the end of the year it is a good time to take stock and look back at where we are and where we might go next says Purnima Tanuku, chief exec of the NDNA e’re now firmly in the middle of the second wave of the Covid pandemic with a lot of uncertainty about what the rest of the winter will bring. The crisis was a brand new situation for everyone and guidance was changing daily. We reacted to provide regular updates with all the latest information which members have told us was invaluable. The crunch day for me was when the Prime Minister announced the closure of all schools and nurseries. At the time we were solely focused on how, as a sector, we could survive such a drastic situation. One early success was securing the business rates holiday for nurseries, announced as an afterthought to the Chancellor’s Budget. This is a temporary policy we are working hard to make permanent. Those settings that remained open were a fourth emergency service on the frontline against the virus supporting key worker families, even as many were losing thousands of pounds per week. For those who remained closed, it was extremely tough too. We lobbied the Government on its change of rules on eligibility for the Job Retention Scheme as settings were disadvantaged. Our evidence has been backed up with the Institute for Fiscal Studies now showing that the scheme only provided 55p of support for each £1 of lost income in nurseries. Our NDNA networks have been important sources of support and action at the local level as well. In Wirral, the members worked with the
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council to secure additional funding while at the national level we pushed for access to council’s discretionary funds – but again there was a postcode lottery depending on each local authority. NDNA along with other organisations such as the IFS, the Trades Union Congress and other local councils themselves have put out research continuing to ring warning bells. Our research showed that 71% of nurseries expected to make a loss at the start of the autumn term while attendance figures are still too low in many areas to be sustainable in the medium or long term. We will continue to get live data and information on the impact of the pandemic to lobby government and shout loudly about the need for specific support for the sector. We know how vital investment in a child’s earliest years are when it comes to social mobility and to giving each child the best start in life. With the sector making a £6.7 billion contribution to the economy, childcare is also vital for any financial recovery that enables parents to work or retrain. We also know that efforts to improve quality and upskill the early years workforce continue. Working remotely has seen a boom in online courses and at NDNA we have also developed a Live Virtual Classroom platform as a safe but meaningful alternative to face-to-face training. With sessions selling out fast it’s clearly a mode of training that is supporting staff and settings. While the economic picture remains www.nmt-magazine.co.uk
up in the air we have still presented a full submission to the planned Comprehensive Spending Review. Even if this is not completed this year we needed to make the case for investing in early years. We have set these out clearly in our campaign A Plan for Jobs needs a Plan for Childcare. In this we are saying that in order for the early years sector to survive and thrive, it needs:
Urgent financial support. A funding review to give hourly funding rates which cover the costs of delivery. ● An overhaul of the complex system of childcare support into one simple online account for each child. ● ●
This sector is unique and must be treated with respect and care. We already know about the millions in underspends for funded places which are lost to the sector and now the current underspend for Tax-Free Childcare stands at £1.7 billion. This money was set aside for childcare and should be put to good use, to save early years and allow the sector to thrive. We will not let up in our work to secure the support the sector needs and deserves, regardless of what the pandemic might throw at us. The future may be uncertain but our support to the sector is not. ■ ● Purnima Tanuku OBE is chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA). Twitter: @ndnatalk
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nmtfocus Buttons & Bows have been delivering high quality care for children in and around Dundee for 30 years. Owners Haroon Rashid and Javed Ghafoor purchased the nursery in 2019. Briony Richter speaks to Haroon about the journey so far.
Buttons & Bows nursery: looking past 2020 for growth and development B uttons & Bows Nursery School was first established by Ann Bremner in 1990 and is located within the Stobswell area of Dundee, just a five minutes’ walk to the centre of town. The popular nursery is ideally
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placed to take advantage of the local libraries, parks and the public bus service for outings further afield. The V&A is a must see destination and the owners regularly organise day trips out with the children.
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BR: Haroon, thank you for speaking with me, it’s great to learn more about Buttons & Bows. Can you describe the setting and your background?
HR: Myself and my business partner have been involved in the retail and hospitality industry for some time. Prior to entering this market I have previous working experience in accounting firms. The setting has been in operation for 30 years. It has undergone many changes over the years but has always prided itself in its family friendly and welcoming atmosphere. That was important to us. We are a private partner provider setting based only 5 minutes from the city centre. This gives us fantastic opportunities for the children. We visit the V&A, local museums, and enjoy exploring many more visiting attractions such as a Luminarium, or shows like Funbox. We are also in a great location with large local parks and ponds. Furthermore, we are close to a main bus route that allows us to take trips to the local beach.
nmtfocus
BR: A really wonderful location. You acquired the setting last year. Since then, what have been your goals?
HR: Our long term goal was to make the nursery a strong and committed financial investment. In order to do this, we immediately started a plan to do as much as possible to improve the setting for the children and teachers. Buttons & Bows was already a wonderful and homely environment for children but of course, we wanted to make our own mark on it. For example, we have completely painted the place and made general upgrades to the setting. The outdoor environment is so important and so we worked hard on re-designing the outside space by installing new artificial grass, a play pen and a shed.
HR: We made the difficult but equally easy decision to close the nursery following the lockdown announcement in March. We had a very small number of keyworker children and helped them to find alternative childcare in other settings. Being closed was hard for everyone but looking back it was definitely the right decision all round. All the staff have now come back with a new found passion for the role. They are all eager and committed to learning and
progressing themselves. A strong and solid team makes a strong setting with growth potential. We did keep in touch regularly with the staff. They completed online training throughout the closure, covering new guidelines with Covid19 itself, infection control and hand washing. The manager and senior staff spent a lot of time after the guidance was published for reopening on the 15th June building a plan and risk assessment for the nursery. It was a lot of work and included creating a plan for safely returning our staff to the setting. We have added additional hand sanitisers across the setting and developed the garden area to provide more outdoor experiences for the children. We were lucky in the layout of our rooms as it lended itself nicely to supporting our preparations for the cohorts of children. We used plastic sheeting to extend areas and incorporated small walls to separate groups of children. This meant we could still make use of all our floor space. Having a large garden area also meant that there was plenty space for groups of children to be outside while staying safely at a distance. We stayed in touch throughout the closure with parents giving them updates on our plans to return and shared lots of ideas with them on activities and things to do to keep them busy and the children ➤
Covid-19 has completely reshaped our society and economy. While the UK continues to battle the pandemic, the early years sector has been under enormous strain since March. Difficult decisions had to be made and uncertainty remains.
Coping with Covid-19
BR: How has the Covid-19 pandemic impacted your setting and what have you done to ensure the wellbeing of children and staff?
Jennie Johnson CEO of the Year 2017
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November / December 2020 NURSERY MANAGEMENT TODAY 17
nmtfocus ➤ learning. We also called every
parent before coming back to check on them and see what they needed for coming back. It is an anxious time and we wanted to reassure each parent that it was safe for their children to return. For staff, everyone had a one-to-one meeting with the manager upon returning to the nursery and a big part of this chat was around mental health as we know it had been a tough time all round. This highlighted anyone who needed extra support at this time. Everyone was happy with the plans we had put in place and the new routines and way of working. BR: It certainly has been a difficult time for the sector. While communicating with your team were there any significant concerns?
HR: Through the manager, there was a group chat to update everyone as well as emails sent to all staff. We knew how important staying in contact was. Our staff’s wellbeing and safety was a top priority. There were also meetings with each room before we re-opened to discuss everything and organise the spaces for starting back. The staff team are very close so they were in constant contact throughout and any issues or concerns raised on anything were passed through Nicola. The main concerns were based around length of closure and the general unknown of it all. We did our best always to keep updated and connected. The one-to-one meetings were positive and the staff did not raise any additional concerns other than the ones we were all thinking about. Our staff knew all about our strategy
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to re-open and the safety measure we planned to put in place. BR: How long do you think it will take to reach pre-Covid-19 occupancy levels?
HR: Our re-opening was successful and we now have the ability to work to our usual capacity, however, as is the case with many settings, the demand is not quite what it was. In the first few weeks of re-opening we had a high number of enquiries. That being said, the levels are now dwindling back to normal. With the pandemic still raging through the country, parents are just not back to work in the same way, or still feel nervous to bring their children to nursery. Some of our existing parents have shortened sessions due to being furloughed or sadly in some cases being made redundant. Being able to provide the 1140 funded hours expansion has been great for families who otherwise would not be able to have their children in the setting. We hope it will pick back up as more places re-open and things get back to a little more normal. It would be great to be sitting at more our usual numbers by the New Year.
Looking ahead BR: Looking ahead, what new strategies/methods will you continue to take forward as we all move towards creating a new normal?
HR: Having the parents drop children at the front door of the setting was something we were initially concerned would cause distress for the children and parents, however the feedback all round has been very positive. Children who would usually be unsettled for a long period have settled back much faster, and even parents have said how much easier they have found it. We will be looking to keep this method of drop off and collection for a long time, as it also reduces the contact between adults of course.
November / December 2020
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Nicola Martin is Nursery Manager at Buttons & Bows
BR: Do you have any concerns for the sustainability of the sector?
HR: Unfortunately, yes, I do have concerns. While the Government has delivered some financial support, it has not always been accessible by all settings who could use it and this had led to many closing their doors for good. We have been lucky and have been able to claim grants but other settings have not. Being able to deliver the 1140 hours for Dundee City Council was a relief as this was not guaranteed due to Covid-19. It must be recognised that the stability of the sector is under threat and more needs to done to support us. BR: It’s really great to hear that you and your team have been able to come through the initial hardships of the pandemic. Looking ahead, what’s on the horizon for Buttons & Bows?
HR: We are really positive about the future. We have a really dedicated staff team from our manager to our trainees who all want to continue to learn and develop the setting. The manager is about to complete her BA and has lots of ideas from that to improve the setting and opportunities for the children. We want to continue to develop our outdoor environment and maintain our homely atmosphere. This is especially important following lockdown when so many children need to feel safe and secure at nursery. We hope to develop the business and expand to other settings in the future. ■
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● For product enquiries and prices you can email Ontex at salesandmarketing@ontexglobal.com 0800 3896 185
*Research taken from 100 respondents via SurveyMonkey
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nmtmanager’s helpline
Society must stand with the childcare sector and learn from 2020 There are many lessons to be learned from how society reacted to the pandemic. CEO of Tigers Childcare, Karen Clince details the highs and lows facing the industry and her next steps to continuing to deliver high quality and accessible childcare. he Covid-19 crisis has upended the childcare sector by further crippling an already financially fragile and long underfunded system. Looking back on this year we have witnessed tragic closures across the UK and further afield, often impacting children living in the most deprived areas. 2020 must serve as a stark warning that our industry needs protecting. Karen Clince and her team have been working tirelessly during the whole of the lockdown and the re-opening phases. For her, these past six months have been a time of quite drastic changes to how Tigers Childcare operates and how staff communicate.
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BR: Thanks for speaking with NMT again. Can you tell us what you have learned from the pandemic that you will take forward regardless of whether the situation with Covid improves or not?
KC: The first thing that has always been on my mind has been the health and safety of our children and that is far more present and prominent now. All nurseries are used to having germs spread between children, parents and staff, and we also clean frequently, but it’s never been looked at as incredibly dangerous. Covid-19 changed that outlook and we have even more strict and stringent 20 NURSERY MANAGEMENT TODAY
policies to make sure cross contamination is as limited as possible. We will continue to do that because, regardless of Covid, our new policies will continue to cut down the spread of germs and infections. Parents are now looking at health and safety even more closely than before. The pandemic is going to be on everyone’s minds for a long time to come. As well as health and safety, the use of technology is another area that we have picked up on even more because of the change of how we are communicating with parents. They are now not as present at the settings as before which is a shame and we hope that changes, but using technology to talk with parents on a regular basis has been extremely beneficial. We were able to give them guidance even when our services were shut. For children that were with us during the lockdown we were able to do zoom calls with their friends and that helped keep the attachment going with their peers which was great to see so we will continue using technology where it benefits the most. I think then there’s a note to be made on the vulnerability of our industry. We have learnt just how fragile our sector is without support. We need to do more lobbying to
November / December 2020
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make sure that the right changes are made so that we don’t get left behind even more than we have been during this pandemic. BR: The vulnerability of the sector is also extremely worrying and without it, many children face increased mental health and development challenges. The system is showing cracks everywhere.
KC: It’s just so unnatural what has happened. I mean generally with children between the ages of 6 months to 4 years its normal for them to have difficulty being away from their parents but what I think we might start to see is children at an older age (7,8,9,10) regress and have more difficulties with attachment and development. We will see more school age children exhibiting behaviour expected from a 4-year-old and will need the security of their parents. So unfortunately, there will be children with more anxiety and separation issues.
nmtmanager’s helpline BR: Is there anything that you would leave behind, apart from Covid?
Adapting to change
KC: Yes, I would definitely love to leave Covid behind. It’s a tough question because actually there is so much that we want to gain back that the pandemic has taken. Not having our parents as involved has been really hard for both us and the parents. It’s not always easy for parents to hand over their baby, especially when they can’t stay inside and help settle them. So that’s something we really miss. That being said, digital has been so useful and I think we will use that more frequently and leave more paperwork behind. We have learned some new techniques and routines with the children and all of that has been useful. BR: Does that include using digital methods for staff more often?
KC: There are definitely pros and cons for that. As a board it has been useful to have digital meetings instead of physical because I have to self-isolate if I travel from London to Ireland and vice versa. However, I think staff missed the conversation and enjoyment from being with their colleagues. As for me, I would normally visit two services a week in Dublin. I would sit in a classroom and observe and give feedback to the staff, but that has had to stop and I think those visits are really beneficial to me as CEO. You can’t get that from digital. BR: Looking back, what are 2020 highlights
immensely proud of is the dedication of our staff throughout it all. We had some who were on furlough but both those working from home and in the settings showed incredible resilience and commitment to their groups of children and families. The crisis has made us all more driven as a team.
Looking ahead BR: One of the challenges that has plagued the sector for years is retention. What advice would you give to other providers for improving that going forward?
KC: You know I think the problem is significant and we have the same retention issues here in Ireland. Of course, we want to have people working in childcare because they really love it and we know the incentive isn’t a high wage. The low wages are an embarrassment. We try to award and incentive staff during their whole journey with us. This starts by delivering a high standard of training and support. Once a staff member starts work, they will have a weekly meeting for the first two months and then after that every staff member has a supervision meeting once a month. We do a lot of internal training but we will also support and pay staff if they want to do external training; things like a degree or upgrading their diploma level. We try to pay above the average level for each staff role and we pay non-contact time to everyone above a junior staff member. So, for managers have 5 hours of non-contact time a week and our room leaders have 2.5 hours a week. We don’t manage it all, it’s up to them and they can do it at
work or at home, but what we do expect is that there is a high level of planning and preparation within in the services when they have that non-contact time. We also have the ‘Tigers Stripes Scheme’ so everyone who comes to work for us gets a points card. On the voucher system everyone can earn up to £500 a year. We add money on special occasions such as International Women’s Day and everyone got £50 for returning to work during the pandemic. People can also nominate each other for their work. It’s a way to acknowledge and reward the staff’s work. In Ireland they have actually increased the allowance this year due to Covid to €1000. The board and I continued to lobby to the Government to push for a wage subsidy to support our staff. When we re-opened we had all staff coming back but not nearly the same occupancy levels. Now, on the back of the Covid crisis they have listened to that and we are now receiving €200 per staff member that we have in our service. BR: It’s encouraging to know that steps are being taken, of course there is much more to do. What’s next for Tigers Childcare?
KC: We are certainly looking for growth both in the UK and Ireland and further afield in the later years as we do feel that we do things a little differently. There are a lot of great services out there but we want to spread our message and ethos as well and at the heart of everything we do is focusing on having excellent care for children. ■
KC: Definitely opening in the UK, that was a labour of love and took three years to get there but there have been some highlights even during Covid-19. Our team is so important to us and from day one we made a stance that for as long as we possibly could all our staff would get paid and that was before we knew what funding was available. Now we thought we may be closed for weeks not months. As a board we have made sure that the wellbeing of staff, children and families has been at the forefront since March. Something I’m www.nmt-magazine.co.uk
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nmtspecial feature ADVERTORIAL
Family First embeds new culture after doubling in size With the Family First nursery group growing to 10 nurseries within just six months, we find out how the organisation has set about embedding its new culture within the group, as it moves beyond Covid-19 and back to business as normal. Taking a different approach
Andy Morris
rowing a business through acquisitions poses many challenges, not least when the country is gripped by a new wave of the coronavirus pandemic. But the Chairman of Family First, Andy Morris, remains resolutely focused on moving the business forward, having initially acquired four Little Garden Nurseries and, more recently, three Headstart nurseries in Potters Bar, Enfield and Barnet, along with Bizzy Bees in London, Acorn Montessori in Harrow and Prima Montessori in Gillingham. “Times may be challenging for business right now, but as our names suggest, we’re putting families first and investing in new premises, our people and technology,” he said. “We can’t do this unless we empower our teams and provide them with the resources and information they need to drive their nurseries, backed by clear communication and understanding. “At the same time, the safety and wellbeing of all our children, staff and parents remains our top priority.”
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Among those steering the group is Director of Operations and Quality, Dianne Lumsden-Earle, who has been in the industry for 33 years, working her way up from Nursery Assistant to Manager and into senior Director roles. “It’s fantastic to be involved from the start because we are trying to create something that is totally different,” she said. Dianne, whose responsibilities include quality assurance and Ofsted, plus overseeing health and safety, is passionate about giving children the best start in life and that involves ensuring nursery staff understand the planning process for every individual child to help them achieve their milestones. “A key focus right now is keeping everyone safe, with different areas of the country entering new tiers of coronavirus restrictions,” she said. “As a group, we have gone above and beyond the guidelines laid out by the Government by appointing a Wellbeing and Safety Manager and an Infection Control Specialist. At the start of the pandemic, most of our nurseries remained open for children of key workers when others were closing. “We removed carpets from all the nurseries and gave parents PPE packs with hand sanitiser and face masks and we have adapted to
November / December 2020
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Dianne Lumsden-Earle
working in a Covid-safe way with resources constantly sanitised. Children now play with water, sand and playdoh that is disposed of daily. “We have increased the time we spend on health and safety training, moving from 130 measurements to 560 measurements without losing sight of a child’s education and wellbeing.” There to give training and undertake unannounced health and safety audits on each of the
Prioritising health and safety
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nurseries is Chris West, Director of Health & Safety at MCW Nursery Support Services. One of Chris’ first jobs when a nursery joins Family First is to work initially with the nursery management team to develop them to an outstanding level on health and safety legislation, policies and procedures ensuring they have all the right checklists and documentation to keep everyone safe and secure. He then returns to train the whole nursery team and will subsequently audit them and conduct random spot checks to ensure they always stay alert. They are awarded either a red or green rating, red for no, green for go. If the nursery requires additional support to reach a solid ‘green’, Chris will work with the team to achieve this as soon as possible. “I always look through four sets of eyes: The Health and Safety Executive, Ofsted, prospective parents and Andy Morris,” said Chris. “I’ve worked with Andy for over 25 years and I can always hear his words ringing in my ears – ‘You do not want to be the person sitting in front of a parent having a difficult conversation about the wellbeing of their child’.”
Nursery Director Nicola Reed has been in her current role for a year and worked within the childcare industry for over 30 years, successfully achieving Outstanding status as a Nursery Manager three times and involved in the Ofsted of nine Outstanding inspections.
Nicola’s role in the business is to support and guide the Managers, ensuring the highest levels of quality, standards and business acumen are consistently maintained. This is achieved by regularly visiting the nurseries and staff and performing peer-onpeer observations. “Parent partnerships are essential in ensuring our families are happy and feel part of their child’s journey here at Family First,” said Nicola. “With my love of children and being a mother myself, I understand the importance of keeping close communications with a child’s nursery team. Having a united connection between home and nursery ensures nurturing togetherness, giving the best start in a child’s life.” Continually reviewing and updating company policies forms a large part of Nicola’s role. From HR processes and policies to, more recently, a major focus on the Covid19 pandemic and health and safety across the group. “I enjoy motivating our nursery teams and feel passionate that the business invests in training and development across all areas so that our people are versatile, we can empower our staff to perform multifunctional roles,” she said. The organisation has also recently invested in its Customer Service Team by introducing a Parent
Putting our Families First
Driving up standards
Liaison Advisor and a Digital Marketing Executive, strengthening the support team to four. Kirsty Miller oversees Sales and Parent Liaison, ensuring that families receive a first-class customer experience, every step of the way. “Childcare is an important part of our parents’ lives; it enables them to do their jobs and is one of the most important decisions a parent makes. It is a privilege that our parents choose us as their provider. We owe it to them to deliver the best customer experience, the best childcare, given by the best people.” Digital Marketing Executive Jody Matthews joined in September, bringing over 20 years’ experience of marketing within various industries and sectors. Jody said: “I joined Family First at a very exciting time. The business is experiencing rapid growth and its success so far is testament to the team and their consistent dedication. My job is to give regular, clear and consistent messaging digitally, ensuring our families are up to date with our news, events, investments and plans. “This is achieved via our social media platforms, newsletters and regular parent updates. I also manage the company websites, drive change and amends where required; I am looking forward to the exciting future project of a new Family First website, which will encompass who we are as a nursery group, our ethos and our culture.” Despite Covid-19, the nurseries’ occupancy continues to grow and whatever happens to the economy over the next six months, Family First is determined to be there for its staff, for the children and for all the families it supports. In order to succeed, Andy Morris has some simple advice. “Don’t keep talking about things – just do them!” Given his successful track record, it is advice worth heeding. ■ ● If you are interested in finding out more about Family First group, please contact: andy@lgdngroup.com T: 0207 622 0484
Kirsty Miller
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nmttraining
Executive Kelly Hill and Beverley Bacon, co-founders of The Key Leadership discuss the launch of the Development Matters document and explore the term ‘Executive Function’. ast week, we saw the launch of the new Development Matters document, for use by early adopter schools in Sept 2020 and wider role out in Sept 2021. A new addition to the document is the term ‘Executive Function’. This is firmly linked with self-regulation and described in the document as the child’s ability to:
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Hold information in mind Focus their attention ● Regulate their behaviour ● Plan what to do next ● ●
Often it is presumed that these are skills children learn when they reach school age, however, children need to learn prerequisite skills in their early years in order to be able to develop the necessary competences for executive function.
The skills required for Executive Function are essential for thinking through and completing given tasks. These competences allow children to solve problems, sustain their thinking and attention and become skilled in staying on task until completion. This may seem like a difficult string of tasks for a little one, but perhaps consider a young child learning to put on their socks. They firstly need to know that socks belong on their feet, have the focus to sit and reach out, bring their feet close enough to reach their little toes and attempt to get that sock on. They need to control their frustrations when it becomes difficult and have the skills to find an alternative method to try again. Or maybe they are creating a tower with wooden
Let’s explore this further...
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blocks. The child needs to firstly know what they are attempting to create, have the focus to place one block on top of another, find pleasure in the tumbling of the blocks, rather than frustration, and think about what they can do to enable to blocks to balance more easily. Clearly, when broken down into these steps, executive function is not a new concept. In early years we often see children bring forward their ideas, focus their attention on those ideas, regulate their behaviour and keep on trying to reach their desired outcome. These skills are not new, but they are a necessary and important part of early development, required for almost every aspect in life. Fast forward a few years and these executive functioning skills are very much a requirement in our role as an early years leader. We need these skills to plan and organise our workload, manage our time, control our emotional responses, develop our higher order thinking, support the management of others and so much more in our day to day life. Let’s take each area of executive function, as described in the development matters and consider what we can do as leaders to improve these skills.
The amount of information an early years leader keeps in mind is extraordinary. From the name of a child’s special pet, to the next available first aid training date, we know and hold a lot. Psychologists and neuroscientists refer to this information holding as our ‘working memory’. Our ‘working memory’ is central to everything that we do; for
Hold information in mind
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example, planning ahead and making quick decisions requires us to have the information we need already ‘in mind’, enabling us to draw on this information quickly and come to a conclusion. So how can we improve our working memory, enabling us to hold more information in mind? Visualisation is a great technique, whereby an image or visual representation is connected to the information, enabling the information to be recalled more easily. The use of mnemonics can very much help connect information; there will be a certain generation of leaders who will recall using the PILES mnemonic to remember the child developmental areas of Physical, Intellectual, Language, Emotional and Social. However, we cannot remember everything, and it is necessary to have systems in place to allow information to be stored securely for when required. On any given day, we can be given information in various forms that we need to remember, action, process or communicate and it is important that we rely on systems rather than our memory for this. I have a particular dislike for post it notes or scraps of paper as they are so easily lost. A simple yet effective method is an internal communication book. Kept in a safe place in the office, this allows practitioners to share nuggets of information and pass on messages. I always recommend leaders keep a small pocketbook with them at all times to write down information they are given, as we all know how easily it is to forget things once we leave the room and get distracted by the next thing.
nmttraining
function How many times have you been talking to someone, but they are clearly thinking about something else? Or perhaps you're trying to submit the termly headcount but your mind is wandering onto other things? Being able to focus your attention on one task at a time is an important factor in achieving success. The first thing is to prioritise your to do list. What are the most important tasks that need to be actioned and who can action some of those tasks on your behalf? Once you have a priority list, start with the most important action, set a time frame for completion or action (a timer helps) and focus on that one task. Ask someone else to answer the phone for 30 mins, put a do not disturb sign on the office door and focus! Often just prioritising your workload, setting time frames and not allowing other distractions to creep in is all we need. A ‘brain dump’ at the end of each day can also work well. Before you leave your setting at the end of your shift, write down everything you need to do and remember for the following day. This will enable you to switch off and focus on family and personal matters when you close the doors to your setting for the evening. Then when you arrive the next morning, prioritise these things and create your focussed plan for the day ahead. This doesn’t always go to plan, but who doesn’t just love ticking things off a list!
Focus attention
Have you ever heard the Native American story called "The Two Wolves."? It begins with a man telling his grandson about a battle that often goes on inside people. He says, "My son, the fight is between two wolves. One is evil. It is angry, envious, jealous, sorrowful, regretful, greedy, arrogant, self-pitying, guilty, resentful, inferior, dishonest, proud, superior, and egotistical. The other is good. This wolf is joyful, peaceful,
Regulate behaviour
‘Great practitioners will know the next steps of their key children and great leaders will know the next steps of their team.’
loving, hopeful, serene, humble, kind, benevolent, empathetic, generous, truthful, compassionate, and faithful." His grandson thinks for a while, and then asks: "Which wolf wins, Grandfather?" The grandfather replies, "The one you feed." Working with children and families can often be an emotive, frustrating, astonishing, wonderful experience – and that’s just before breakfast. As a leader, we feel emotions, we worry, we get annoyed, get excited, however we also need to be able to regulate those behaviours. First and foremost, it is important to recognise our behaviour patterns and reflect on our triggers for certain behaviours. If we can recognise what pushes our buttons, we are more in control of our response and subsequent actions and can improve our behaviour going forward. ‘Always moan up’ is a mantra we often use. If you are frustrated, upset, angry or unable to control emotions, letting it all out to your room leader is unlikely to be the best move. Link up with another setting manager to air your woes, speak to your area manager or discuss in an online community like The Key Leadership.
manager is achieved, many great leaders find themselves stuck without a real plan for their growth. Think about your goals for the next 1,3 and 5 years. What do you want to learn, see, understand, achieve and experience? How are you going to get there and what support do you need to meet those goals? Write a plan or design a vision board for your future. Then get the support in place and make it happen! ■ ● For more support in your leadership journey visit www.thekeyleadership.co.uk
Great practitioners will know the next steps of their key children and great leaders will know the next steps of their team. But what are your next steps? What are your plans, goals and future aspirations? Often, once the role of setting
Plan what to do next
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nmttechnology
How can real-time data help nurseries track and engage underperforming children more effectively? When it comes to monitoring child progress and ensuring an enriching learning experience, real-time data can help practitioners to do this more effectively – especially in relation to handling the ‘under-performer’. John Pickup, Connect Childcare’s head of new business and management software expert explores this in greater depth
Digital data and reducing the disadvantage gap
ackling disadvantage and underperformance within the Early Years (EY) sector has long been a prevalent issue, and it’s one which managers, practitioners and governments alike are continually trying to remedy. As we know, there’s no one-sizefits all approach to learning, and that’s why every child needs to be monitored and assessed on an individual basis – giving them the opportunity to learn and grow through activities which appeal to their own preferred learning styles. But with the busy days and workloads of practitioners, the ability to quickly gain access to information about a youngster’s performance and personalised observations is of paramount importance, especially when it comes to identifying whether a child needs additional help to achieve learning outcomes.
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It’s no secret that we are ebbing increasingly closer to being a digital-first society – and even more so in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has seen a significant uptake in nurseries ditching their paperbased systems and using software to manage daily operations more effectively. But it’s this transition from paper to online which has allowed many settings to uncover the ‘power of data’ and the impact it can have not only on child development but staff wellbeing and parental engagement too – plus how they’re all interlinked. For instance, if a nursery professional wants to see whether a
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child is underperforming – and the evidence which backs this up – having records on paper increases the risk of certain documents being ‘lost’, not up to date and, in some cases, hard to read. In contrast to digital profiles, which contain all and infant’s observations, assessments and attendance history in one place, this allows for a realtime overview of all key areas which could be impacting their performance.
nmttechnology ‘Child engagement and development are at the heart of what every great nursery does – right through from its observations and assessments to parental engagement and staff training sessions.’ It’s a seamless way for colleagues to understand the progress a child has made in their development journey at any given moment in time – which is crucial for activity and observation planning, as well as reflection. Having more clarity over children’s individual progress – which all colleagues within a setting can access – also creates a more unified approach to staffing. Managers are able to easily reject any observations which don’t meet Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) standards and also offer their staff more support if they spot any children who may need additional assistance. Also, when it comes to children that aren't at the same stage of development as their peers, a savvy system can flag up evidence for areas where the child has fallen behind. This is not only less timeintensive for staff – compared to if they were finding this information themselves from multiple files and spreadsheets – but it also enables them to investigate further into where any concerns lie. For instance, they’re able to view whether there’s perhaps an issue with the quality of staff observations, if there’s no extended learning taking place outside the setting, or if their attendance is poor – all of which could be contributing factors to underperformance.
The importance of parental involvement
However, in-setting observations and activities are only one side of the coin when it comes to maximising children’s learning progress. The fact that infants respond differently in their behaviours and attitudes depending on the person whose company they’re in, means
that diversifying the learning process outside nursery and inside the home can help to identify areas in which the child is particularly strong, as well as those which maybe require further improvement. For example, if parents have an app which enables them to upload observations – either word, image or video-led – of their children at home, they can then send them directly to practitioners to grade against the EYFS framework. This collaborative approach allows both parties to have greater oversight and a more accurate view of how that child is advancing, as well as provide ideas as to how parents can further develop their child’s skill set. Data is crucial in this respect, as parents are able to see their youngster’s latest observations and compare this to what they’re seeing at home – and vice versa. And, being able to access suggested activity ideas and learning resources from the nursery also helps parents to feel supported from a distance – giving their home-based learning time and subsequent observations some structure. Parental engagement is vital for every child but when it comes to the ‘under-performer’, it’s arguably more pivotal than ever, as increased care and assistance is required to help them develop effectively.
The value of setting-related insights
It isn’t just information which tracks child progress that offers insight into performance though, utilising data – such as for staff and occupancy – can also provide an important piece when understanding the underperformance puzzle. www.nmt-magazine.co.uk
If nurseries are able to digitally track ratios and child familiarity statuses among colleagues, this enables them to better plan their staff weightings. Additionally, if a certain child responds more positively to one member of the team, they’re equipped with this data and can timetable the rooms accordingly – helping to maximise that youngster’s time with that practitioner.
Many people feel that the term ‘data’ on its own sounds too impersonal to be applied to a nursery setting, but what it really means is information about a child, staff and parents, which helps to tailor an infant’s education journey – and this can only be viewed as a good thing, right? When it comes to enhancing the learning experience for children – and particularly those who are seen to be behind in their development – it’s essential that a cohesive approach is adopted by both staff and parents. And, it’s only when data and humans work together that we can produce the best support anchor possible for our future next generations. ■
Using data for good
● W: www.connectchildcare.com
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nmtwestminster
The sector is at the edge with no time for complacency As we head towards a turbulent winter, Briony Richter looks at the efforts that have been made and why it is so important now not to let things slide. uring the month of August and into the beginning of September the situation, on the face of it, seemed to be improving. The Government had launched Eat Out to Help Out and encouraged people to get back out into society, back to offices and back on public transport. However, this was short lived and the rush to re-open as much as possible led to a surge in cases across the country. After the first lockdown Westminster vowed not to close early years settings and schools again but Norther Ireland took the first steps to another lockdown in the form of a circuit break. Unpredictable and surprise announcements is only going to cause the sector more uncertainty and it’s getting too close to the point of no return. Prior to the pandemic the early years sector was already facing serious problems with funding, recruitment and retention levels. In fact, it had been plagued by these problems for well over a decade but
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Covid-19 has now pushed the sector into a full-blown crisis that must be addressed. In some ways the recovery has already begun and occupancy is growing gradually as parents return their children to settings again. The Department of Education released its weekly data, published on 6 October, ‘Attendance in education and early years settings during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak’. It revealed that estimated 52,000 early years settings were open on 24 September. This represents 77% of all settings, with 13% closed and 10% unknown. That being said, this is not the time to be complacent and let the sector ride its course. We have seen how fragile our whole economy is when cracks start to appear and are not supported. The NDNA and the Education Policy Institute (EPI) published new research that reveals a significant proportion of early years settings are relying on the Government’s furlough scheme. Now that the scheme has ended, there is little
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confidence on the next scheme fully being able to support the losses from this quarter. Researchers found that 4% of staff in surveyed settings have been made redundant and 7% of staff voluntarily terminated their contract, with 30% of settings reporting ‘finding alternative employment during furlough’ as the reason for termination. Indeed, settings reported employing 9% fewer staff in August than in March. Despite regular changes to guidelines and support, providers are expected to make staffing decisions for the coming months. If a solid and long-term solution is not put in place as an alternative to furlough then we will continue to see rising unemployment and staff shortages across the early years sector. Plans for winter have been put in place and we are all bracing for a difficult couple of months, but if childcare isn’t at the centre of the economic recovery then we will open the door to a crisis that could last for years to come. ■
MAIN SPONSOR:
Virtual Awards We are thrilled to offer our support to the National NMT Nursery Awards 2020 as the main sponsor We understand how much effort it takes for nursery practitioners, leaders, managers and owners to achieve success within their settings, each and every day. The level of enthusiasm which goes into building and maintaining innovative, creative spaces for children to thrive in, is highly recognised by us. That’s why we believe The National NMT Nursery Awards provide a fantastic and relevant platform to celebrate all of the nurseries doing this. As main sponsors, we don’t only give our full support to The National NMT Nursery Awards, but to the dedicated staff at each and every nursery setting around the UK, who do their very best to support the growth and development of the children in their care. We also hope that our collaboration with NMT will allow us to learn and grow as a business, with our customers remaining at the forefront of our minds.
Meet the finalists Thank you to everyone who entered the 18th National NMT Nursery Awards. We at Nursery Management Today were inspired by the outstanding quality of entries.
The Gala Evening and Awards ceremony will be held virtually on Thursday 26th November 2020.
elebrating its 18th annual year, The National NMT Nursery Awards 2020 will be a night to highlight and promote excellence in quality standards in management, training, teamwork and the vast pool of talent in our sector. Those shortlisted can already consider themselves commended.
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Read on to meet our finalists...! nmt-magazine.co.uk/awards CATEGORY SPONSORS:
We anticipate a fantastic year working closely with NMT and look forward to celebrating successes in November at the awards.
@NurseryManagementToday Chris Mahady – Managing Director
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Nursery Training and Development Award 2020
Edwina Revel & Georgia Leech
Ben Clay & Mandy Cuttler
Early Start Nutrition, Early Start Group
Learning and Development Team, London Early Years Foundation
Liz Bayram
Linda Baston-Pitt
EY smart, The Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years (PACEY)
PurpleBee Learning
Individual Nursery Award 2020
Razia Nurmohamed
Robert Danks
Nola Jackson-Boot
Sarah Smith
Blossom Tree Montessori, Blossom Educational
Honey’s Nest Pre-School & Nursery
Hydra Tots Private Day Nursery
Little Acorns Nursery
Nursery Indoor Learning Environment Award 2020
Kellyann Spellman & Harley Keogh
Shanti Flynn & Rageena Tahir
Dunky's Day Nursery Runcorn, Dunky's Day Nursery
Fennies Christchurch Road, Fennies Day Nurseries
Emma Carter
Sarah Hood
St Ives Nursery, ICP Nurseries
Naturally Learning Treyew Road, Naturally Learning
SPONSORED BY:
Nursery Room Leader Award 2020
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Jessica Angell
Petronela Atomei
Catia Moniz
Jane Muffett
Kindred Odstock, Kindred Nurseries
Fennies @ Hook Road, Fennies Day Nurseries
Seahorse Nursery Wimbledon Park, Seahorse Nursery
Kiddi Caru Peterborough, Kiddi Caru Day Nurseries Group
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Komal Toor & Katie Murphy Happy Journeys Day Nursery, SJV Group
McQueen’s Dairies
Heather Robertshaw Spring Bensham, Spring by Action for Children
Main Sponsor
nmtnursery awards 2020
Nursery Team Award 2020
Elena Martuccio
Julie Molyneux
Sharon Ryan
Aine Sattaur
Bensham Team
Acorn Day Nursery, Kents Hill, Acorn Early Years Foundation
Dunky's Runcorn, Dunky's Day Nursery
Kiddi Caru Day Nursery – Abington Park, Kiddi Caru Day Nurseries Group
Noah's Ark Nursery & Pre-School, London Early Years Foundation
Spring Bensham, Spring by Action for Children
Community Nursery of the Year Award 2020
Sarah Hickling
Nicola Fleury
Jade Edwards-Mills
Gemma Morris
Katie Garbutt
Cherubs Edwinstowe, Cherubs Nurseries
Kidzrus Media City, Kidzrus Private Day Nursery
Little Einstein’s Day Care
Mark’s Gate Nursery and Preschool, London Early Years Foundation
Rosedene Northallerton, Rosedene Nurseries
Nursery Manager Award 2020
Carolyne Daly
Joanna Davis-Bate
Gerry Garvey
Elena Martuccio
Razia Nurmohamed
Naturally Learning Lemon Street, Naturally Learning
Dunky's Day Nursery Runcorn, Dunky's Day Nursery
Muddy Boots and Little Oaks at Muddy Boots, Muddy Boots Nursery
Acorn Day Nursery, Kents Hill, Acorn Early Years Foundation
Blossom Tree Montessori, Blossom Education
Nursery Business Development Award 2020
Laura Leigh Davies
Jyoti Jaspal
Child’s Play Private Nursery
Little Folks Day Nursery & Out of School Clubs, Mishi Nurseries
Sarah Mackenzie & Phil Sunderland
Alex Wolfe & Nikki Broom
N Family Club
Seahorse Nursery Wimbledon Park, Seahorse Nursery
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@Nursery-Management-Today
Nursery Operations / Area Manager Award 2020
Emma Jones
Gemma Lester
Clare Porter
Sharon Thompson
Carly Wray
The Village Nursery Group
Inspire Montessori Group
Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries
Spring by Action for Children
Seahorse Nursery
SPONSORED BY:
Nursery Chef Award 2020
The Professional Nursery Kitchen
Kate Draycott
Kate Harris
Joao Mendonca
Djelloul Mokeddes
Wendy Pulizzi
Rosedene Guisborough, Rosedene Nurseries
Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries - Chalfont St Peter, Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries
Advantage Day Nursery
Happy Journeys Day Nursery, SJV Group
Townhouse Nursery Audley Road, The Village Nursery Group
Nursery Outdoor Learning Environment Award 2020
Sara Dibley
Ailsa Wilkie
Joanne Whiley
Annette Derby
Kaye Kilsby
Alfresco Childcare and Forest Preschool, Alfresco Childcare
Bardykes Farm Nursery School
Bumbles Nursery Orrell Park, Bumbles Nursery
Elmscot Broussa Day Nursery, Elmscot Group
Tynemouth Nursey at Billy Mill, Tynemouth Nursery Group
Nursery Childcare Practitioner Award 2020
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Leann Banks
Lucy Fitzgibbon
Molly Graham
Sam Pearson
Nancy Walker
Poppies Day Nursery, Elmscot Group
The Old Station Nursery Faringdon, The Old Station Nursery
Kiddi Caru Leighton Buzzard, Kiddi Caru Day Nurseries Group
Seahorse Nursery Southfields, Seahorse Nursery
Academy Gardens, Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries
NURSERY MANAGEMENT TODAY November / December 2020
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Main Sponsor
nmtnursery awards 2020
Forest or Beach School / Kindergarten Award 2020
Sheena Wood Friends Forest Nursery, Shere, ICP Nurseries
Hannah McFarlane & Amanda MacDonald Arnhall Day Nursery, Pear Tree Nurseries
SPONSORED BY:
daynurseries.co.uk
Nicola Oxley
Sarah Latto
Spring Wittering, Spring by Action for Children
The Secret Garden Outdoor Nursery
SPONSORED BY:
Nursery Personality of the Year Award 2020
Dot2Dot
Harry Barnes
Anna Gent
Monique Migallos
Sue Morgan
Tammi Ryley
Kindred Mayflower, Kindred Nurseries
Snapdragons Nursery
Northolt, Hungry Caterpillar Day Nurseries
The Old Station Nursery Innsworth, The Old Station Nursery
Little Einstein's Day Care
SPONSORED BY:
Nursery Group (Under 10 settings) Award 2020
Nicola Fleury
Helen Turpie
Kidzrus Private Day Nursery
Learning Curve Nursery Group
Jo Kinloch, Paul Robinson & Andy Robinson
Sarah Mackenzie & Phil Sunderland N Family Club
Hope Education
Julie Lightley The Village Nursery Group
Mulberry Bush Nursery Group
Nursery Group (Over 10 settings) Award 2020
Kirstie Davis & Dane Hardie Fennies Day Nurseries
June O’Sullivan London Early Years Foundation
SPONSORED BY:
Hope Education
Alice McCullagh & Jodie Hutchinson
Corinna Laing & Joanne French
Rosedene Nurseries
Spring by Action for Children
For more information on the 18th National NMT Nursery Awards contact: events@investorpublishing.co.uk
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nmthot topics
Meet our new editorial adviser:
Clare Roberts, CEO of Kids Planet Clare Roberts has spent years growing and establishing quality childcare across Kids Planet settings as well as building a committed and highly qualified team. She speaks to Briony Richter about her journey BR: Kids Planet has remained a family run business but how did you get started in it?
CR: Kids Planet initially started in 2008. My oldest daughter was born in 2007 and I was starting to look for childcare as I worked in the pharmaceutical industry and was planning on my return to work. I decided I couldn’t find suitable childcare and took voluntary redundancy and the rest is history. We initially bought 2 separately owned settings and grew from there. BR: When you did launch what were your initial goals for the business?
CR: Being a first-time mum myself it was to provide the best possible care and environment for my own daughter as well as all the other children in the safest possible way. BR: I’m sure there are many, but what are a few of your favourite things about working in early years overall?
CR: The fact that you get to work with influence so many different people along the journey. Helping children to consistently achieve at the highest levels, the fact we are always changing and always reflecting on how we can do things better as a company. The fact we are 34 NURSERY MANAGEMENT TODAY
able to support within our academy so many come to us unqualified and see their journeys progress all the way to gaining teaching qualifications. Also, to see the journey people have come on over the years as they have developed in their own professional journey. BR: Are you proud of how you and your team coped with Covid-19 and the changes you have had to make to adapt?
CR: I am immensely proud of how everyone behaved in our company particularly so during Covid-19. Everyone worked so hard to digest and understand as quickly as possible everything we were facing in terms of guidance and adapted this into practical guidance and there was a real sense of team spirit across the whole business of carrying on and doing the best for everyone who needed childcare as a key worker at that time.
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BR: As a business owner, what advice would you give to those wanting to open their own nursery?
CR: It’s a lot of responsibility and hard work but you have the ability to influence so many people along the way that its very rewarding. Always know what regulations and law you need to work within and ensure you are always up to speed if anything changes. BR: Where would you like to see Kids Planet in five years time?
CR: To continue to grow and to be probably at least double the size of where we are now and to have grown even more nationally. ■
nmtinsurance
Working through the crisis together This has been a year when the childcare sector has really shown itself at its best. For obvious reasons, these have been incredibly trying times, says Dan Weir, research analyst at Morton Michel proof of how seriously nurseries take the quality of their provision, even in trying times. It is also important to us because it shows the work everyone here has put in over the years to really understand the childcare sector’s needs is paying off in benefits for our policyholders. urseries found themselves at This is something we pride the forefront of the Covid-19 ourselves on, and it is something crisis, expected to work that I hope providers consider when harder than ever both to keep their reviewing their insurance. businesses viable during the Good insurance has to reflect the lockdown and to open up again in a policyholder’s business and looking way that keeps children safe. after children comes with unique Working at Morton Michel, I saw risk and obligations that other how difficult it was and as ever, I sectors do not face. This means that was incredibly impressed to see ordinary commercial insurance how nurseries managed to work policies, or those taken out by through the crisis, keeping their charities and faith organisations do standards up to the best that they not always meet the needs of a could be. nursery in the way that a specialist Morton Michel policyholders policy like ours is designed to. have access to online training from It is not just about benefits like Flick Learning. It has always been a access to training. The cover itself popular benefit, but we have seen offers more protection when it is increased usage this year; eloquent written with the childcare sector in mind. Even the best setting may be ‘Good insurance has to subject to an allegation of abuse, or even have their reflect the policyholder’s registration temporarily suspended despite doing business and looking after everything right, and perhaps it is all the more children comes with unique heart breaking in a sector
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risk and obligations that other sectors do not face.’
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where everyone is working so hard to do the right thing. A policy designed to protect organisations where these things cannot happen may not offer sufficient cover to a business where they are a possibility. That could make a huge difference to the support a business could expect in the event of a claim. Then there is everything nurseries do to make themselves unique. When you have put serious thought and time into an idea, the last thing you want is your insurance standing in the way, at least without a very good reason. However, activities such as some kinds of outdoor learning do carry additional risks that might cause insurers some concern. At Morton Michel, we always want to help our policyholders develop their settings, and we put our sector knowledge to use ensuring our conditions align with providers expectations as far as possible. Every nursery manager wants their setting to be the best, and a lot goes into achieving that, especially in challenging times. Insurance is only one of a thousand components in a great nursery, but it is one that it is important to get right, especially as however unusual 2020 was, 2021 will come with its own challenges to face. ■
● Dan Weir is a research analyst at childcare insurance specialists, Morton Michel. T: 020 8603 0944 W: mortonmichel.com Connect with Morton Michel on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/morton-michel-insurance
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nmtsoapbox
Focus on equality and diversity creates a professional working environment for staff and a bright beginning for children The promotion of equality and diversity is important in all aspects of our lives. As childcare practitioners working with children every day we hold a greater responsibility in our hands, and with that an amazing opportunity. Briony Richter speaks to a number of Bright Horizon leaders on the importance of diversity. e know as experts the impact and influence we can have on children’s awareness of diversity and in helping them have positive attitudes to difference. As an employer, Bright Horizons supports and celebrates the diversity of its workforce in the same way as it cherishes and respects the individuality of the children in our care. This is an intrinsic part of the company’s culture, illustrated by our HEART principles: Honesty, Excellence, Accountability, Respect and Teamwork. As part of a global organisation Bright Horizons is close to the challenges faced by colleagues and families throughout the geographies where its people live and work. This
year, the pain and outrage of our colleagues in the United States, arising from the killing of George Floyd and other racial injustices, was shared here in the UK. ‘We need to start by recognising fundamentally that inclusion is not enough,’ said Stephen Kramer, global CEO at Bright Horizons. ‘The starting place for how we treat each other as colleagues, needs to go beyond simple acceptance: we need to embrace and celebrate what is unique and different about each one of us in order for everyone to be equally valued, respected and heard. At Bright Horizons, we also have the responsibility for educating the next generation, and with that comes the additional opportunity to make a difference by modelling for others a mindset that is open, curious, and genuinely interested in what is different.’ Leandra Greenaway‘Involving parents is key to McKenzie has been the Nursery Manager at ensure we don’t overlook a Bright Horizons West festival or event that may be Hampstead Day Nursery and Preschool important to their culture.’ since January 2016, and under her leadership
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the nursery achieved an “Outstanding” grading from Ofsted in 2017. ‘How we as teachers educate and conduct ourselves on diversity is vital to most effectively support and teach the children,’ she said. ‘Because of this, it is my belief that equality and diversity must always be high on the agenda for every room, setting and larger organisation throughout the sector. For us, our HEART principles and our company culture make it clear to all of our team how to treat each other and the children. We all receive training in diversity and equality, as do all the office and field based teams who support us.’ Leandra sees positive value in having a “fully diverse team” so that experiences can be shared between members regarding cultural backgrounds, family patterns and more personal challenges and strengths. ‘We are then able to build on this by ensuring that we recognise all cultural and religious celebrations with our children and families. Involving parents is key to ensure we don’t overlook a festival or event that may be important to their culture. We are very conscious to not assume that we know what is important to each family, whether staff or child, and work in partnership with them, as part of the settling in for children or induction for staff, to capture and educate ourselves about each new member of our community.’ Like Leandra, other Bright Horizons nursery managers will take inspiration from their own nursery community alongside national and global events to find opportunities to help children understand and respect the lives of others. Examples include nursery children exploring what it is like for participants in the
nmtsoapbox
‘We need to embrace and celebrate what is unique and different about each one of us in order for everyone to be equally valued, respected and heard.’
Paralympics and another nursery incorporating Pride Month into their “Wonderful Me!” Project celebrating each person’s uniqueness. Richard Waite, Deputy Manager at Lewisham Day Nursery and Preschool, has been with Bright Horizons for more than 15 years and was a founder member of the company’s diversity and inclusion initiative. This initiative supports four areas in particular: race and ethnicity, men in childcare, mental health and LGBT+. ‘One of our goals was to increase the number of colleagues from different ethnic backgrounds moving into senior leadership roles such as regional directors or operational directors,’ he said. ‘We were also looking at how we could understand and challenge some misconceptions in society, for example, a parent potentially feeling uncomfortable at the thought of a man as a child’s key worker within a nursery setting. This can mean some difficult conversations but it is important that we stand by our commitment to diversity and against prejudice. It’s all part of the wider education
process in which as educators we can play a significant part.’ Bright Horizons’ commitment to equality and diversity, and to family partnerships, does not stop at the nursery door. There’s a wide range of family advice and resources for further learning available for parents in regular nursery newsletters and on the parent section of the company’s website. These were particularly appreciated when many nurseries were temporarily closed during lockdown, as an ongoing source of support, and were also supplemented with parent webinars. Topics ranged from bedtime routines, temper tantrums to helping children understand the impact of the pandemic, but also included ideas for conversations about racism or advice on how to talk to children about being in a blended family, or “having two mums or two dads”. Looking ahead, Bright Horizons is currently rolling out its new “Bright Beginnings” bespoke curriculum, which commits to putting children’s www.nmt-magazine.co.uk
emotional wellbeing at the centre of practice. The intention is to equip babies and toddlers with the skills they need to understand their own emotions and build resilience, in equal emphasis as helping them develop the traditional ‘skills and competencies’ needed to access the National Curriculum when they enter school. In a world in which prejudice and injustice persists, Bright Beginnings is designed to enable young children to develop the self-esteem and courage to be themselves, and to respect and speak up for others: for the early years practitioners delivering this new curriculum it brings them an opportunity to make a real difference in the celebration of equality and diversity. ■
November / December 2020 NURSERY MANAGEMENT TODAY 39
nmtspecial report
Road to recovery How can we help our children to catch up in the early years? oving forward, the government is determined to keep educational institutions open, however many challenges lie ahead for nurseries, schools, teachers, families and children to negate six months of missed nursery and school time. Our children have been trying to keep up with all that’s going on as their world was turned upside down. As parents and caregivers, we have had to navigate what learning from home entails. During lockdown we have heard many creative stories on how to keep children entertained, from ‘learning from home’ ideas, to indoor obstacle courses, great den building in the living rooms, painting in the bathroom to save on the mess or the everyday struggle for many families of not having enough space! The immediate future may look different to life last year, with limited social bubbles, plenty of handwashing and being careful with social distancing rules, however children are excited to see their friends, teachers and have routines back in their lives.
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The road to recovery after what can only be referred to as an unconventional year for children around the world is hopefully within sight. We have faced challenging and uncertain times here in the UK with schools closing, parents working from home and limited face-to-face contact. Heather Welch, international brand manager, Edx Education explains how to support the early years sector moving forward.
There is lots of discussions at the moment with many educational and medical professionals fear the increase in children’s mental health issues, especially for the more vulnerable children, and the possible long-term effects of lockdown. Even the broadsheets and broadcasters are quoting the respected journal, The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, saying that there are long-term consequences for children and
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adolescents not seeing their peers during this period. When it comes to early years, it’s not about playing catch-up, it’s about continuing to play, or as we like to say learning through play. As the new school year gets underway ‘play’ is perfect for helping children feel confident. Dr Cindy Hovington, founder, Curious Neuron, quoted in a video on learning through play for Edx Education, says: ‘School readiness means being able to build relationships with peers and
nmtspecial report
after covid teachers, follow instructions, and regulate emotions and behaviour. But research shows children are struggling with social and emotional skills these are the skills that will lead to academic success, but can be improved simply by playing. Unstructured free play indoors and outdoors with peers and caregivers creates brain connections that will serve children the rest of their life, so let’s play!’ To the untrained eye ‘play’ can look meaningless, however there is a lot more going on than you can see. When children are playing, they are engaged, their imagination is sparked and they are developing key foundation skills. Children are naturally curious; they like to explore and experiment with the world around them. So how do we foster and encourage this? Home learning toys contribute to the way children play, especially in their early developmental stages. During children’s early years we want them to develop skills through play from fine motor, gross motor, speech and language, social and emotional, problem solving and creativity. There are many ways parents and caregivers can support these developments and their transition back into their Nurseries, here are just a few:
Most importantly make time for Play: Children need encouragement to play independently, so try to start the activity with them, and then when they are engaged you can move away and let them continue to create magic. Play will help to develop fine and gross motor skills, cognitive development, curiosity, speech and language, and so much more.
Actively take the time to listen: to your child when they are trying to explain why the sky is blue or grass is green, or that a spider has eight legs,
or as they tell you about their day or a game they played. Ask open ended questions, so they have to explain the different concepts to you, developing language and social skills. Encourage children to use their imagination to play, learn and create, and to tell you a story.
Allow children the time to explore: do they want to make their own potions with water play in the garden or bath, play with water, sand, climb trees, build forts, make up their own games at the park and many more activities. Take a (parental supervised) risk. They will naturally learn STEAM concepts through exploring their play.
Provide many different Experiences: try different activities be inclusive and gender neutral. Allow them to find their passion, whether that’s unicorns, fish, boats, cars or dolls. What do they love doing? What do they find hard? Try to engage with them with their interests. Take them for a walk in the local area, talk about the culture
around them, climb a tree, ride a scooter/bike, find activities that are accessible around you so the children can try to gain more confidence with these activities.
Empower your child: as simply as allowing them to choose their own clothes, cook with you and measure ingredients, or deciding what activities they want to do in the day…play games, reading books or playing with toys? Show them routines, such as cleaning up their toys or making their bed. Explain your reasons for a good choice, why certain activities are a bad choice. This will help with problem solving, perseverance and persistence in school and life. Learning is about trying again to solve the problem. As we all know, we are not always correct the first time around. Reflect and spend time with your children, engage them in your interests or even things you used to do as a child. Make them feel safe, supported and help them to learn without realising through experiences and play. If we encourage children to think, we are teaching them how to be leaders in their school, community and workplace or ready for the world we leave them. ■
● To read more, Edx Education have a play blog on the website, podcast, games & videos and free downloadable resources for home learning in the teachers / parents section head over to www.edxeducation.com/teachers/parents. Let’s play and learn together.
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nmtmanagement
Private equity and nurseries Helen Wong, partner and Daphne Cheung, paralegal at Charles Russell Speechlys LLP speak to Briony Richter about the partnerships between private equity and the early years sector. Why are private equity houses interested innurseries?
What makes agood nursery?
here has been continued interest in investing in the nursery sector from private equity houses. Whilst the sector is highly regulated it is also cash generative and can deliver steady income streams with financial support from the Government. Many nurseries also own their own freeholds. All of these factors help make the sector attractive to private equity investors. The nursery sector has around 20,000 sites worth £5.5bn but multisite groups only represent 5% of the market. In 2019 approximately 60 % of sales were for single site operators against a backdrop of continued growth in demand for nursery places. Multiples were extremely strong before Covid-19 and will remain strong post-Covid due to a lack of good targets to acquire. Notable deals include Busy Bees acquiring Treetops Nurseries from Epiris in 2017 for £93m, a 6.5x return on Epiris’s investment and Bright Horizons acquiring Asquith Nurseries Ltd for £166m in 2018, a 13x EBDITDA multiple. At Charles Russell Speechlys our team of lawyers represent both nursery operators and private equity houses and in this article we look at the landscape post Covid-19 and provide our predictions as to whether this sector still remains of interest to private equity investors. This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice.
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The location Location is very important as families primarily look for convenience, mostly within a 5-mile radius of their home especially now more people are working from home. Where locations are within inner cities, convenient commuting routes and public transport will be necessary. Locations with a higher household income are likely to have higher fees and lower levels of funded childcare, which results in a positive impact on margins. When deciding on the location of a nursery, the number of existing nurseries in the area should also be taken into consideration.
The people Staff make up approximately 80% of a nursery’s running costs and a passionate and motivated workforce is crucial and investors should be dedicated to nurturing such people. The workforce should receive ongoing training and development to encourage career progression, alongside benefits, which results in higher retention rates. Moreover, recognition is highly regarded to ensure that the passion and quality of work of the workforce continues. In order to maximise understanding of the quality of a nursery, key performance indicators should also be considered. The brand and reputation Whilst good or outstanding Ofsted ratings are important, word-ofmouth recommendations from other parents are key for a nursery’s longstanding reputation. We have
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also seen nurseries embrace technology and marketing to distinguish themselves from others.
The policies and procedures The implementation of strict policies and procedures will enable a nursery to deliver safe and high-quality childcare. In a post Covid-19 world this will be key to winning the confidence of parents, staff and stakeholders alike.
What to look for when selling to private equity Support post-completion Some acquirers do not require the seller to stay on post-completion. However, with a post COVID-19 environment, the seller of a nursery may be expected to stay on for a number of months or years postcompletion to ensure a smooth transition and help settle the children and reassure the parents during these times of uncertainty.
Deferred consideration Nursery occupancy rates post lockdown have ranged from 25% 65% and it will take a while for occupancy rates to return to prepandemic levels. This may be reflected in a slightly lower purchase price or the acquirer may ask the seller to share the risk. For example, 70% of the consideration is paid on the completion date, and the remaining 30% is paid over a period of time post-completion based on targets being met (known as an earnout). Where we have acted for the seller, we also try to structure the
nmtmanagement The table below shows key investment activity in this sector:
Who has invested in whom? Target
Investor
No. of sites (as of 31st October 2019)
Busy Bees
Temasek (Singaporean sovereign wealth fund) and Ontario Teachers Pension Plan
378 sites
Bright Horizons
Bain Capital
315
Just Childcare
Phoenix Equity Partners
60
Kids Planet
Business Growth Fund
52
Betram Nursery Goup
Apiary Capital
42
Kiddi Caru
Les Petits Chaperons Rouges (supported by Eurazeo)
39
ICP Nurseries
Innervation Capital Partners
33
Old Station Nursery
Le Maison Bleu (supported by TowerBrook Capital Partners and Bpifrance)
19
Peekaboo
Foresight
9
Mini Rainbows (Murrayfield) Ltd
Puma Investments
5
Little Garden Day Nurseries
August Equity
4
deal to include a bonus so that where a target threshold has been exceeded, the seller also gets a bonus on top of the earnout amount.
Warranties and Indemnities Sellers are asked to provide warranties concerning the business, the staff, intellectual property, pensions, the property through to Ofsted reportable situations. Added to that list now are Covid-19 specific warranties regarding Government support such as furlough, grants and tax holidays. Where there is a specific problem identified in the due diligence, the acquirer may insist on an indemnity – which protects them pound for pound. So, if there is a tax clawback potentially of say £12,000, then the acquirer is covered for £12,000 payable by the seller.
Retention The due diligence process is looked at even more carefully now. As a seller it is vital to disclose as much as possible to get a clean break in the sale process. As an acquirer looking at risk mitigation is key. Where a problem has been identified in the due diligence, the acquirer may insist on holding back a part of the consideration as a form of retention. In the event that problem does not manifest then the retention is released to the seller. Where the problem does arise, the acquirer keeps the retention to rectify the problem at hand. Restrictive covenants The seller will be held to restrictive covenants, for example, noncompete and non-poaching clauses,
which will last for a specified geographical area and amount of time. Where a private equity house is acquiring in many geographical areas, this geographical area restriction may cover a much wider area.
Change Change is hard for many people to accept. Sellers need to be realistic and accept that the nursery will likely change after being sold to a private equity house, such that it will become more professional in its outlook and have a more streamlined central management system as it operates to achieve higher levels of fees. The biggest fear is that once sold existing staff will be made redundant and not looked after. In reality, for ambitious members of staff, by virtue of the sale they have a greater remit of scope to be promoted within the organisation and grow professionally.
Predictions post-Covid: how to retain and grow value
Occupancy rates, staffing costs and a looming recession are concerning to any acquirer. However, good nurseries will always be in demand. A successful owner may have accumulated considerable amounts
of goodwill, which is vital when it comes to retaining the workforce and parents. To ensure such retention, where an owner is exiting, the continuity of the operation of a nursery, alongside open communication, is key. Other factors that a nursery should take into consideration to retain and grow value offering extensions to the childcare service itself, such as outdoor space, longer opening hours, chef designed meals and better nutrition, bilingual services and technology-led practices. Despite the recession and change in working patterns, the nursery sector remains very attractive to private equity investors. Childcare in the UK has that golden standard that is appreciated by parents whether they return to the office or work from home. The pattern of occupancy may change from say a 5 day week to 3 longer days at nursery and for those nurseries that can embrace flexibility and brave this new post Covid-19 world, the offers from private equity will continue and come thick and fast. The key though is how to protect your consideration, mitigate any potential breaches of warranties and projected earnings figures in this very uncertain world. ■
● Charles Russell Speechlys’ team has produced a series of webinars to help operators and those in the nursery sector to understand what others are doing pre-during-post COVID-19. To view the webinars and for more information please visit nmt-magazine and click on Links.
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nmtviewpoint
How OakNorth Bank navigated lending to the early years sector during Covid-19 Despite the disruption and economic challenges the pandemic and subsequent lockdown caused, the early years sector has remained resilient throughout this year. Mohith Sondhi, senior director, debt finance at OakNorth Bank explains how the sector has been impacted by Covid-19 including the successes and challenges of lending during the pandemic. rior to the pandemic, the early years sector was seen as a relatively “safe bet” for lenders. As one of the only recession-proof industries, it’s continued to be an increasingly active sector. According to LaingBuisson’s 16th report on the Childcare sector, the UK day nursery sector has continued to grow in real market value at c.7 per cent per annum. This has largely been driven by socioeconomic trends such as the age of parents giving birth and more women working full-time. Based on conversations with borrowers and potential prospects in this space, we’re hearing that many are starting to look for less aggressive leverage options and are interested in building long-term partnerships with lenders. This creates a unique opportunity for us. As a still fairly new lender, Covid19 is surprisingly not the first unprecedented event we’ve continued lending through. In June
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2016, just nine months after our launch, we experienced another unprecedented event – Brexit. Of course, the pandemic is a very different situation, but some of the trends we’ve seen are the same. For example, in the six months following the Brexit vote, our loan book tripled in size to £300m as a result of larger lenders retrenching from the market. We’ve seen a similar trend this time, which is why for several months this year, we saw twice as many new loan applications going to Credit Committee than during the same period the previous year. We felt it was our duty as a lender to continue supporting businesses through this period. As such, we: ●
Became one of the first new lenders to be accredited for the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) and the Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CLBILS).
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●
Lent over £250m via the schemes from March to August, including loans to Bright Minds Daycare and Little Explorers Day Nurseries.
The structural changes that were made throughout the pandemic, will continue to be a driving force for how nurseries are shaped in the future. The way early learning is delivered (i.e. technology-adoption in the form of virtual classrooms) will forever be altered and accelerated. Health and safety standards will continue to be a top priority for parents and teachers, as well as open, outdoor spaces for kids to play and learn in. While structural changes will have a lasting effect on the sector, I think we’ll also see more consolidation in the market. Sadly, some smaller operators will be forced to shut down and sell to larger players, but this creates opportunities to acquire those nurseries and bring on new talent. Although the industry has faced numerous challenges throughout the year, we firmly believe there’s still tremendous opportunity in the sector. As a lender, we still think the industry has space to grow and are keen to continue supporting it. If you’re looking to grow your business, please come talk to us. ■
Post pandemic
FINALISTS ANNOUNCED SEE WEBSITE
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EducationInvestor Global annual subscribers with active subscriptions on the day of the event will be able to gain complimentary access to both the Awards and the Summit (01-03 Dec). For more information about the event, registrations or sponsorship, contact our events team on +44(0)20 7104 2000, email events@investorpublishing.co.uk or visit our website
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nmtrising star
Many congratulations to our first winner for 2020 Suzanne Lovie Trainee Practitioner
2020
e have a rising star that is shining through with absolute love, passion and dedication during this Covid-19 pandemic. Morning, noon and night Susanne Lovie is bustling with ideas, enthusiasm and all-round cheerfulness about how to make the next day even better for the key worker children in our care. Demonstrating true flexibility and being up for the challenge when we started to receive primary aged children in the setting alongside our
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Flowerpots Childcare Ltd under-fives. Susanne got her thinking cap on and designed a range of different activities that all ages could enjoy. These have included so far, a drive in movie with each child making their own car, spells and potions day involving foraging and collecting useful props at the woods. Flowerpots Festival making bunting, wrist bands and
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performing our special talents for each other to enjoy. This lady is very special. So many ideas blended with the ability to always let the children take the lead and set the direction for their play. It doesn’t end there, queen of the fire pit, Susanne comes to work with a homemade wind shield to help keep her fire alight (it can be very windy in the North East!), already been to the shop for the sausages and buns, ready to cook up the lunch outside and for all the children to enjoy the experience. Homemade utensils then come out of the kit bag, forks attached to canes and handed to
nmtrising star
each of the children to enable them to toast their marshmallows whilst being a safe distance away from the fire. This lady is not only training to be a practitioner but is also training to be a forest school leader. Before joining Flowerpots Susanne had enjoyed a long and successful career as a hairdresser. After being in the team for only a few weeks, we both knew she had found her calling. This lady was destined for the early years and we are just so grateful that we recognised the potential, made the appointment and are watching the magic happen! Covid-19 is all but forgotten when you spend a day at our nursery, jam packed with Susanne’s creative ideas and the children are loving it. We have primary aged children wanting to stay and not return to school! The best bit though is she never asks for anything in return. It all comes from a heart of gold. â–
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nmtgreat outdoors
Embracing beach schools During a time where being outdoors is paramount for safety and minimising the risks and spread of Covid-19, utilising your local environment and natural play resources and opportunities has never been more beneficial for young children. Bridgit Brown and Chloe Webster of Pebbles Childcare detail the importance.
he concept of ‘Beach School’ originated from Scandinavia and places emphasis upon children’s holistic development within a limitless, ever-changing outdoor environment. During a beach school session, children are encouraged to explore the environment independently and all of the changing landscapes, opportunities and natural play experiences that the coastline offers; allowing these natural opportunities and natural play resources to shape their session as they explore, learn and discover in their own way, in their own time and all the while gaining a deeper insight into their natural world. Beach school sessions allow children the freedom, independence and confidence to explore a vast array of natural play and learning experiences and facilitate and lead their own play and learning inspired by their natural world and the constantly changing environment as they gain a deeper insight into the natural world as they learn to observe tides, currents and gain a new found respect for risk, water and the elements. Experiential and in the moment learning constantly challenges the thought processes and curiosity of children alongside teaching them skills for life, and beach school
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sessions are a fantastic opportunity to support and develop this type of learning and these skills. Whilst locality clearly plays a part in the accessibility and logistics of incorporating Beach School sessions into your curriculum, the innate curiosity in discovering elements of the natural world and children facilitating and meeting their own learning and development needs as they explore and investigate this natural play space, is truly invaluable. The benefits of outdoor play are unrivalled across the sector, but never more than in the current climate and the return to Early Years Settings post Covid-19, and so where possible we should all be spending as much time outdoors as possible, and so we truly feel that by utilising our Beach School training and knowledge, we are able to offer the children in our care a diverse range of outdoor experiences. There are of course safety elements to consider when using the beach as an additional outdoor classroom, particularly as this particular natural space is considerably unpredictable with the current and tide set to change your entire experience, but these variables are also invaluable learning opportunities for children of all ages. Whilst the beauty of Beach School is that planning is not required, and the over-arching principle is the children lead and facilitate their own learning based upon what they witness and experience throughout
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the session, however it is important that an initial boundary setting activity/experience is re-visited on numerous occasions whilst children adjust and become accustomed to the freedom, risk and independence of these beach school sessions. It is good practice to outline a parameter with the children within which they can independently explore and roam without adult support, and by setting these parameters you are not only instilling boundaries for children, but also promoting trust and independence, from which children will thrive and benefit significantly from as a result. Ideally these boundaries should be re-visited for at least a month or alternatively until each child has had ample opportunity to experience and re-visit these boundaries. When talking about setting a parameter during these beach school sessions, we refer to in our instance, signposting our children to the areas in which they can visit and explore, how close to the water they can visit
nmtgreat outdoors
for early years without adult intervention and practice returning to your predetermined ‘base’ (for us a beach hut, but your base can be a picnic blanket further up the beach – as long as your children know where they need to return to when they hear your signal.) when they hear your chosen signal (for us, a whistle.) For us as practitioners, we believe our role in any element of children’s learning and development is ‘the knowledgeable other’ and we are huge advocates of children being in charge of their own learning and development and we only step in to support when asked to by the children, or in order to teach them a new skill or develop their learning in some way, and this is no different for the role we must take on during beach school sessions. Essentially, we are the facilitators of the environment and our role is to support and develop the children’s learning by introducing vocabulary, skills and to develop their understanding of the natural world, not to lead or change their play or interests for the sake of a pre-determined plan or agenda. Children’s learning is holistic and the depth of knowledge and learning that can be accomplished through supporting children’s natural curiosity within an intriguing and enabling environment is a key factor in children acquiring and learning skills simultaneously rather than a diverse range of activities ‘planned’ to meet our ideas of children’s ‘Next Steps’. Important to note, just as outdoor play is not exclusive just for the summer months or more favourable weather, nor is Beach School. Beach School should be offered to children throughout the year, regardless of the season or weather. The natural world itself changes with the seasons and it is paramount that children are not only aware of these changes, but experience and explore them first-hand in order to cement their learning and in our opinion, bring their learning full circle.
Our setting’s Beach School journey started in January 2018; our first session was spent battling bitter winds and as the season progressed we experienced many a session in the snow and ice, naturally children will be reluctant and apprehensive when encouraged to explore such harsh and extreme elements, particularly within such a significant outdoor environment, however, these early experiences and opportunities will promote resilience, confidence and a deeper understanding of the landscape and it’s varying appearances throughout the seasons and allow children to successfully and independently identify and manage their own risks in a diverse range of circumstances. Whilst some settings may choose to limit their beach school sessions to their older/pre-school cohort of children as a result of ratios/logistics and accessibility, but in our setting and our experience, we offer these opportunities for children of all ages. No child is too young to be exposed to natural play and the elements, and the earlier we expose children to these experiences, the more confident and knowledgeable they will be within an outdoor environment such as the beach. We are incredibly proud that our two-year olds are able to independently identify when the tide is in or out, find and name a cuttlefish and discuss wind directions in order to successfully fly a kite during their session; this in itself not only demonstrates the benefits of Beach School sessions within the Early Years, but also highlights how hands-on and reallife experiences can positively impact on children’s learning and development from the earliest years. Locality is obviously a factor in offering these sessions but the principles of Beach School can be applied to any outdoor learning experience when done by knowledgeable, supportive and
Our journey
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confident practitioners and at a time when being outdoors is most preferable, as a sector we need to be advocating, acknowledging and promoting outdoor learning as a holistic and essential experience for all children. The learning opportunities that the great outdoors and play that involves significant risk, challenge and investigation provides for children enable our children to develop not only essential life skills, but remarkable independence, confidence and resilience that can simply not be replicated within the walls of your setting’s outdoor play space. Natural, outdoor spaces such as the beach, forest, woods or even a large field are an invaluable learning resource and should be utilised and used to support and facilitate handson, natural learning wherever possible throughout a child’s early years, but are even more essential in the current climate. ■
November / December 2020 NURSERY MANAGEMENT TODAY 49
nmtcatering A nutritious diet supports a child’s healthy growth and enables them to learn more productively. Katherine Tate, founder and director, The Food Teacher speaks to Briony Richter about the importance of nutrition in early years.
Nutrition and learning behaviour hildren tend to be naturally inquisitive and boundless in their approach to understanding the world around them and learning new concepts. The early years setting provides an opportunity to work with children and their families/carers on the foods they consume. By helping them understand some basic nutrition and the importance of balance in their diet at an early age can impact them in the short term, as well as setting them up well for their long term health as they mature. Both factors are also fundamental to behaviour,
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as a child who can focus for even short periods of time, will be able to engage with new experiences which will assist their processing, understanding and ultimately their progress and development.
Brain structure is laid down by both genetics and environmental factors such as food, learning and exercise. Early nutrient deficiencies can impact on the growing brain and an awareness of key nutrients for brain development can be a factor that parents/carers can influence and
The developing brain
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therefore can help support optimal brain health for their child/children. Brain development is on-going inline with its amazing plasticity though significant stages of brain development include the third trimester until age 2 when the brain undergoes rapid growth and adolescence when the brain undergoes pruning. Key nutrients for brain health include:
Nutrition
●
Protein provides the building blocks for brain structure and neurotransmitters. Focus on: Eggs, fish, meat, nuts, seeds, legumes, lentils. ● Fats are essential for all cell membranes, cognitive function and mood. Omega-3 fatty acid DHA is key. Focus on: Eggs, fish, meat, nuts, seeds, avocado. ● Carbohydrates provide glucose and fuel for the brain. Focus on: Rainbow of vegetables, oats. ● Iron is important for brain energy, neurotransmitters and development. Focus on: Liver, broccoli, eggs, quinoa, chicken. ● Iodine is needed for central nervous system development and any deficiencies can impact on intelligence. Focus on: sea vegetables, eggs, fish.
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●
Zinc is abundant in the brain and contributes to function, growth and structure. Focus on: Fish, seeds, nuts, red meat, chicken.
Within early years settings a project about ‘Feeding my growing brain’ can be an ideal opportunity to talk about what their brain does and introduce key foods that support their brain to grow and develop. Hard boiling eggs, vegetable kebabs, fish pate and avocado mousse recipes can be simple ways to engage the children in cooking with a very clear purpose for their own health and development.
How?
A key factor for concentration is ensuring meals and timings support a balanced blood sugar. If a child’s blood sugar peaks and troughs this can have a dramatic affect on their
Blood sugar balance
concentration and ultimately their behaviour. Therefore, breakfast is key to starting the day and appropriate snacks throughout the day also support to keep levels even.
Anti-nutrients are factors, which may have a detrimental affect on brain health for some individuals. These include trans fats, gluten, artificial sweeteners, high sugar, caffeine, and high toxin exposure (cigarette smoke, household chemicals, toiletries etc.).
Anti-nutrients
Lifestyle factors that support brain health include keeping well hydrated, getting adequate sleep, exercise and learning. Being aware of many of these factors such as key nutrients, blood
Lifestyle
sugar balancing, lifestyle factors and anti-nutrients can support early years settings to educate children and families and ultimately support optimal brain develop, increased concentration and learning. For more food fun in your setting sign up to the Youngest Chef Award. This award is for Early Years Foundation Stage pupils (ages 3-5) and is written by teachers for early years practitioners/teachers. It is designed around the popular children’s book ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ by Eric Carle and has been developed and launched by The Food Teacher. The award is a ‘Mini Muncher Challenge’, which can be delivered across 5 sessions (every day over a single week or once a week over a five week period) with 50 minutes of planned teaching time each session. ■
● Find out more at; https://youngest.youngchefoftheyear.com
● The Food Teacher founder and director, Katharine Tate, has worked as a teacher and education consultant internationally in primary and secondary schools for over 20 years. Qualified as an award winning registered nutritional therapist, Katharine, combines her unique education and nutrition expertise to offer schools, organisations and families advice, education programmes, practical workshops, and individual/family clinical consultations. She has written and published several books: Heat-Free & Healthy, the award-winning ‘No Kitchen Cookery for Primary Schools’, a series of Mini-Books and has also co-authored the award-winning Now We’re Cooking! Delivering the National Curriculum through Food. She has also launched a programme of Young Chef awards for schools, which support delivery of the curriculum and nutrition. In 2019 over 4,000 children completed the awards across the UK.
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nmtfinancial advice
A look back on 2020 what we’ve learnt and strategies for 2021 So With more restrictions looming, Jonathan Amponsah from The Tax Guys looks back on the key lessons from 2020 and how to move forward. 020 will certainly not be forgotten in a hurry. From despair to disruption, discomfort to delays, contradictory announcements to conspiracy theories, many nursery owners who made it through would not have thought it possible at the start of the pandemic. And surely when the Prime Minister announced mass scale closure of businesses on the 23 March 2020, kids returning to nurseries and schools in September was a distant dream indeed. So having gone through the peak with children and parents under lockdown, staff on furlough, cashflow drying up, staff engagement down and contemplating the closure of your nursery, what are the key lessons from 2020 and what can we all take into 2021? Here are 8 key lessons and strategies for 2021:
2
will always get 1 You through if…
Throughout the lockdown, a key pattern was developing among nursery owners. Those with a purpose, positive mindset and action oriented seemed to be the ones analysing and applying for all the government support available and communicating with staff and parents. They were also developing multiple scenario plans and were prepared to take the necessary action to keep the setting going. So when occupancy rates plummeted 52 NURSERY MANAGEMENT TODAY
and panic set in, this group of nursery owners somehow managed to pull through. The lesson learnt was that you can always get through if you have a purpose, a positive mindset and you are prepared to take actions, no matter what life throws at you. And this should be key strategy in 2021.
business 2 Adaptable model
During the crisis, you’ve managed to operate in some way remotely. You may have been forced to adopt online processes and a digital way of working. Admin, planning and procedures which seem to be a top concern for the childcare sector, didn’t seem to be so problematic during lockdown as everyone adapted to the new norm. Using the latest technologies, less paper, online meeting where possible and streamlining the way you do things should be an operational strategy for 2021.
with 3 Empathy parents
After the novelty of home-schooling had worn off and even during partial lockdown, most parents were concerned about safety and rightly didn’t take up childcare places. The lesson we learnt from successful settings whose occupancy rates were going back up was the empathy they had with parents, their documented Covid-19
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secure and safety measures, the purchase of viral-fogging machines and the constant communications to parents via various channels including Facebook. Some leading nurseries even involved their marketing team on this. This was because they knew that unless they created, implemented and communicated their strategy in this area, their settings were going to struggle post lockdown. They attracted new parents as a result. So going into 2021, empathy with all parents should be part of your market dominant position.
and 4 Cash profits
The pandemic really laid bare the state of most nursery finances. With nearly half of settings not making profits year on year, it was very clear to see how most nurseries were practically one pay cheque away from closure. A key lesson and strategy for 2021 is to be become excellent at cashflow management. Moving out of lockdown does not mean ignoring all the basic financial exercises that got your nursery through the lockdown. In fact, if you’re to survive the next phase, all the financial exercises you went through with your accountant must become a new norm. Keep reviewing where you can save money (tax, rent, staff, agreeing longer payments terms with
nmtfinancial advice
suppliers etc.) and where you can make more money (new business ideas, speeding up collections from parents etc.).
5
Trends and baby boomers
History tells us that there is normally a surge in new births post pandemic. Covid-19 is no different and in fact many payroll departments will tell you that there’s already an increase in enquiries on maternity pay and certificates (MAT B1 forms). The March and April lockdown is likely to mean more babies in December and January 2021. A review of your target market, the problem you are solving for this target market and how you communicate this to parents should be a key part of your strategy in 2021. A common question I get from nursery owners struggling to get their settings full is “how do I compete with that shiny new nursery down the road?” In any crowded marketplace, unless you have a target market, know their stress points and can serve the children really well, you will not stand out from the crowd and you’re unlikely to be competitive.
6 Confident pricing
Before the lockdown many nurseries would have buckled at the thought of charging parents a percentage fee to cover costs to keep their children’s places at the setting. However, during lockdown the successful settings were confident enough to levy a minimum 20% fee to keep running the nursery. And most parents were happy to support the setting and pay the fee. Going into 2021, this pricing policy should be a key part of nursery pricing strategy.
people 7 Your strategy
Productivity and staff engagement were cited as the biggest issues for all businesses during lockdown. As a nursery owner, you would have learnt some lessons about your staff. How will this knowledge shape your people strategy in 2021? How will you recruit, reward and retain staff? Equally important is aligning your
people strategy with your vision and mission so that you don’t hang onto staff who do not fit for too long.
right professional 8 The help
Whilst some nurseries didn’t feel well served by professional advisers during this crisis (which led to more panic), others were in constant contact with their employment lawyers, accountants, business and tax advisers. They used them to help navigate all the various support, planning, options and cashflow. Therefore, as a strategy for 2021, do ensure you seek the right help at the right time.
There is a saying that difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations. 2020 has been a difficult year for the childcare industry. Lessons have been learnt and opportunities have come up. The difficult roads in 2020 should lead to a beautiful 2021 for the childcare industry. ■
Conclusion
● Jonathan Amponsah CTA FCCA is an award-winning chartered accountant and tax adviser who helps improve businesses. He is the founder and chief executive officer of The Tax Guys. W: thetaxguys.co.uk
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nmtspotlight Adapting to a new normal in lockdown has been an interesting ride and we have found that a strong music provision in the setting is more important than ever for several reasons, explains Sue Newman operations director and Louise Bull, social media manager and marketing assistant at Boogie Mites.
How can early years music practise help you meet today’s challenges? oogie Mites are a leading provider of early years (EY) music and movement resources and training, offering support to parents and early years childcare providers who want to use the brainboosting power of music to help children reach their full potential. We usually offer music teacher visitation, face-to-face practitioner training and parent groups.
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How can music time support the mental and physical wellbeing of your children and staff? Supporting your children Cache.org states that “Children’s wellbeing is without doubt at the core of the EY Foundations Stage (EYFS)”, and this has been brought further into the limelight with the challenges of COVID-19. With so much change and uncertainty, it’s difficult to settle a child who is worrying, but a simple music activity could help. We all know of that uplifting sensation when our favourite song comes on. But how does music support wellbeing long-term in developing brains? The Science In 2009, Professor Graham Welch, University of London, studied the music skills of over 1200 children in the UK and asked them personal questions about their experiences of 54 NURSERY MANAGEMENT TODAY
school life. The study found the better the child’s music skills, the more likely they were to have strong friendships and higher levels of wellbeing. Music increases emotional intelligence in its own right. Music activates most of our emotional brain structures (the limbic brain and the amygdala), the management of which scientist Daniel Goleman deems essential for happiness and success. Team training may feel unobtainable, but it’s more important for your staff now, than ever. At Boogie Mites, we have been leading music and movement training for EY practitioners for over 15 years, and the benefits stretch way further than CPD. The benefits of upskilling your team in creative music practise:
Supporting your staff
Knowledge Music covers all 7 Areas of the EYFS, making your planning easy. The whole EYs team will better understand how music support the EYFS and Letters and Sounds (L&S) Phase 1 and this will empower and motivate them to introduce music at every opportunity as well as lead an effective music time session. ‘The Boogie Mites L&S programme is such a fun and exciting way of developing speech and language skills and [it] really helps children learn to listen and respond. Boogie Mites songs provide a valuable
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opportunity for self-expression and creativity in the Foundation Stage setting.’ Alison Prismal, Foundation Stage Advisory Teacher, Portsmouth
Confidence Staff will be given the confidence they need to use music to support the curriculum and to make learning fun through music. They don’t need prior music training or a sack full of expensive instruments. We believe everyone can sing and home-made props can provide the necessary percussion instruments for working with the beat and the rhythm of music. ‘Excellent way of giving confidence to practitioners to take back with them to the setting. The ideas are invaluable! Thank you’. Becky Staughton, Little Jays Pre-school, Horsham. Wellbeing – physical and mental Music making activities, singing and dancing, are uplifting with adrenalin
nmtspotlight staff to prepare them with the resources to support this.
Learning through play is the most effective method for EYs children and using music makes this engaging, inspiring and fun for everyone involved. Music sessions at the nursery or via online platforms for home practise are an excellent vehicle for engaging parents and for informing them of the many benefits of regular, interactive music activities at home. Boogie Mites run parent education music workshops at schools and nurseries via local authority contracts throughout the year, sharing resources and encouraging home practice for parents, empowering them to support their children’s early development through music. Onsite sessions are on hold due to social distancing measures but we have been delivering parent education sessions via online platform with high level of success. You can read Achievement For All evaluation of impact of the courses delivered to support transition across Hampshire in the Summer term 2020 on our website: http://bit.ly/BMAFhttp://bit.ly/BM-AFAReport
Cue the music
and serotonin released to energise and improve mood. Our sessions introduce movement and props to music time, so everyone will be up on their feet, shaking and banging! It’s not just the emotional wellbeing of those taking part that will be affected. They will be raising their heartbeat whilst feeling the beat. ‘Excellent. Very interactive, physical, great resource, super ‘feel good factor’ for everyone taking part. It will have an impact on all areas of learning but especially PSED and CLD. An innovative approach to music in EY.’ Martine Horvath, East Sussex EY Advisor. Bonding Music is an all-inclusive activity. We love to see practitioners laughing and having fun with music together. For our twilight training sessions, we see them arrive exhausted from a day in the nursery and leave elated and energised. ‘The team-building session run by Boogie Mites was great. It was fun, energetic and an excellent way to start the year. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Tamsyn – our session leader – was a highly-skilled practitioner who sang like an angel but was relentless in finding great ways involve ALL the team.’ Terry Sullivan, Hackney EY Manager. You can find out about the five different types of Boogie Mites training (including online training for Covid-19 restrictions) here: https://bit.ly/BMOnlineTrainingfor Practitioners
Supporting parent involvement
We have always known that parents are children’s main teacher and how important it is to encourage parent engagement in children’s early learning at home. In the wake of Covid-19, parents have had to play an even more vital role than ever and it’s been up to teachers and EY
Supporting catch-up on nursery hours missed
Some children may have been well supported with home learning during lock-down, but others will have missed out.
organ, and this could partially explain the remarkable benefits: music activates all three cortices (motor, visual and auditory) of the brain. EY music training and resources or practitioners to boost school ready literacy With this evidence, it is surely time to include EY music intervention programmes as part of any strategy that aims to narrow the school ready literacy gap, helping children to ‘catch up’. And now is a great time to act with the effect of lockdown nursery school closures likely to widen the attainment gap this year. The great news is that you don’t need to be a musician to lead effective music-making activities, you just need the training and resources – and the confidence will come with practice. You can try out a Boogie Mites song that plays with words, and helps children hear the syllable chunks that make up the words, the rhythm of the words: https://bit.ly/BMLetsTapAWord Boogie Mites School Ready Literacy Music Programme supports the 7 Aspects of Letters and Sounds Phase 1, developing strong foundations for phonics through fine tuning auditory processing skills. In conclusion, music has a highly valuable part to play in supporting the early years sector, particularly during the challenges that covid-19 presents for children, parents and practitioners. ■
The school ready literacy attainment gap Research shows many children in poverty are less school ready than their peers, creating an 'attainment gap'. The biggest gap is in literacy skills. ICAN communication charity found 1 in 4 children start school without the communication, language and literacy skills they need at this stage. Without these crucial foundations, they never catch up. How can music help? The ‘whole-brain’ workout Music is a multisensory experience that involves three ways of learning: auditory, visual and kinesthetic. Similarly, the brain is a multisensory www.nmt-magazine.co.uk
● Please contact sue@boogiemites.co.uk for information about Boogie Mites music services and resources.
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nmtproperty
Selling your nursery By Andrew K Steen, Sales and Marketing Director and Owen Keighley, Group Copy Writer – Redwood Dowling Kerr fter years of uncertainty caused by Brexit, it seemed that 2020 was the right time for business owners to sell. Then out of nowhere came along COVID-19, which has had a significant impact on the economy and the business sale
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market across the globe. As the year draws to a close, we will discuss the actions business owners should start carrying out now, in preparation for selling their childcare business in 2021, should you want to.
Selling a business can be a lengthy and stressful process, especially if you have never sold a company before. If you are looking to sell your nursery without specific help, it could become an impossible task. Therefore, it is usually advisable that you reach out to a sector specific broker at the earliest opportunity. You will need to prepare your
Sector specific broker
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business in 2021 business to attract credible funded buyers and hiring a brokerage firm helps this process. Sector-specific brokers know what’s required to prepare your business in its strongest format. They will guide you through the preparation and transaction process and make selling your business a smooth experience.
Your broker will have the same level of interest in securing the right deal for your business as you do, so trust them. Brokers should have extensive market knowledge of childcare and access to databases showing their past business transactions, which gives them reference points for establishing a true market value for your nursery and which trade buyers would be best to target. Skilled sales negotiators will have proven experience in selling childcare businesses and should have the skills to overcome any obstacles to secure the best possible price for your business. However, it’s vital that you help and assist your broker in all ways possible to promote your company in its best format. The greatest chance of success will come if your nursery is presented to credible funded buyers in the strongest way possible, and research indicates that business owners who carefully prepare their companies for sale before going to market create higher levels of interest.
It pays to prepare
There is no doubt that most businesses in all sectors have experienced a negative impact due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, not all is lost. Painting a solid picture of your company’s financial history and how it was performing before the pandemic is an important element in protecting your business value. If your business has taken a hit because of COVID-19, then having a detailed, achievable recovery plan in place is crucial when looking to sell your nursery business in 2021. Demonstrating a strong
Business potential
recovery plan, especially during one of the world’s biggest crises, is extremely attractive to a potential buyer and it will be highly beneficial during deal negotiations.
After starting to prepare your business for sale, the next step to look at is which broker you should sign up with. Since your businesses operates in the specialist childcare industry, appointing a broker who offers a corporate sales process bespoke to your relevant sector is imperative. Your broker should have an established network of UK and global buyers and a track record of demonstrable sales, presenting your business to high calibre buyer and securing the most profitable, lucrative and satisfying deal possible for you. They will be able to assist you with any queries you may have and provide expert knowledge during any challenges you may face during the sales process. It is also important to create a professional information memorandum (IM), the key document for selling a business via the corporate sales process. Your IM needs to show your business in the best light while giving potential buyers a realistic view of what they’re acquiring. Once the IM is finished, your broker will begin the research process. They will be looking to build a well-structured research list that will target realistic credible funded buyers who will have a genuine interest in your business and the ability to make a strong offer.
Corporate sales process
Another factor to consider when selling your nursery is creating a bidding position with buyers within the childcare sector. The surest way to receive the highest price and best overall deal structure is through business operators vying for your company. Running a highly confidential process, which creates a competitive bidding situation amongst buyers, should maximise
Competitive bidding process
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the chances of receiving the highest possible offer and the most flexible deal structure for your nursery business.
You want the best for your business, so it’s no surprise that it’s highly recommended you talk to a broker with proven experience in selling nursery businesses and, for example, has a five-star Trustpilot score. Investing in a corporate broker to help you sell your business is perhaps the most important investment you will make. Signing up with a broker with a long history of successfully closing deals ensures that your nursery is in the right hands when you are looking to sell, and there’s a strong chance a good deal will be struck with a potential buyer. Furthermore, a broker that boasts excellent reviews on Trustpilot can bring you peace of mind because it cements the fact that they know what’s required to deliver the best possible deal and provide a stressfree experience throughout the selling process. Once a deal is in place, the legal process will take place, which can be cumbersome. Having a reputable broker who will recommend suitable solicitors, accountants and advisors speeds up the transaction process. Time kills deals and a strong team of professionals supports you to complete your deal efficiently and reduce transaction costs. So let’s look ahead to 2021 with optimism and should you decide you want to sell, make sure you have all the best tools to hand. ■
Strong and reputable broker
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nmtproperty sold
properties
recently sold
Nelly’s Day Nursery sold by Redwoods Dowling Kerr Redwoods Dowling Kerr is excited to announce the successful sale of Nelly’s Day Nursery, based in Staffordshire to family run operator. Since its inception, the impressive nursery has established a renowned reputation across its region and was graded ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted when last inspected. Registered for 46 children aged 0-5, the nursery provides excellent quality of care and there is an experienced management team in place, with an array of long-standing, qualified staff members, a key factor to the on-going success and reputation.
The nursery is situated close to the M6 and is accessible for children from the immediate locality, neighbouring towns and villages, proving popular with parents who travel en-route to their workplace. The vendor, Karen Laycock, sold Turtles Nursery through Redwoods Dowling Kerr in 2014 and made the difficult decision to place Nelly’s Day Nursery on the market to fulfil her retirement plans. After a comprehensive marketing campaign, Redwoods Dowling Kerr presented the Company with several viewings along with two offers.
The business was sold to family-run operators who have bought five nurseries previously through Redwoods Dowling Kerr. The buyers emphasised that the Company’s well-established operations and market-leading reputation was a strong factor in making the purchase. Senior Sales Negotiator, Sarah Ellison, said: “It has been a pleasure working with Karen again after selling her first nursery in 2014. This is Karen’s final setting so now she can look forward to a well-deserved retirement after over 15 years in childcare.
“The nursery was sold to expanding family-run operators, who have bought several nurseries through Redwoods Dowling Kerr. “We would like to wish them all the best with their new acquisition and look forward to working with them in the future.”
Childs-Play Limited sold by Redwoods Dowling Kerr Redwoods Dowling Kerr is delighted to announce the sale of Childs-Play Limited, a group of five renowned childcare settings based in Blackpool, Lancashire. Childs-Play commenced trading in 2001 with the purchase of a former Methodist church, which became Little Angels Day Nursery. Over the years that followed, the business has experienced strong levels of growth and now operates from five freehold settings across the Fylde coast. With a combined capacity of 359 places and an excellent reputation since its inception, Childs-Play,
enhancing its commitment in providing a bespoke experience to local children. The settings are wellestablished with a vibrant and colourful setting which creates a stimulating environment for the children. They offer various play and educational resources such as activity rooms, outdoor play areas and a variety of learning environments. The nursery’s owners Sarah and David Sloane approached Redwoods Dowling Kerr, as they wished to discuss the sale of Childs Play. Due to having five setting across Blackpool and an excellent reputation, our clients wanted a highly
confidential sales process. “The nursery group is a marketleading business that would attract significant interest from multiple buyers, so keeping the sale process confidential would have been extremely difficult, but we met the demands of the owners. Given the significant demand expected for the nursery group as a result of its growth potential, Sarah Ellison, Senior Childcare Negotiator at Redwoods Dowling Kerr, was able to contact MiChild and deliver an offer to match our clients’
expectations. The sale completed in less than five months and during the pandemic. “We have secured a fantastic deal for our clients and an excellent acquisition for the buyer; I am delighted for all parties.”
Serendipity Day Nursery Ltd acquired by industry operator Serendipity Day Nursery Ltd was established by the vendor over a decade ago. Located in the affluent town of Kingsteignton, the nursery is highly accessible to families from the surrounding residential areas. Housed in a purpose-built single-storey detached property, the setting is brightly appointed and maintained to a high standard. Included in the sale was the neighbouring 4bedroom bungalow which had undergone extensive modernisations and a loft conversion, providing envious residential accommodation for an incoming owner.
The nursery has the capacity to provide its exemplary childcare for children up to 5 years of age, delivered by a compassionate team of nursery practitioners and managers. Pursuing a career change, the owner Emma Bray decided now was the perfect time to seek the sale of Serendipity Day Nursery Ltd. Recognising Redwoods Dowling Kerr as the market leading business broker in the UK childcare market, we were formally instructed to conduct the sale and the nursery was sold to an experienced industry operator who was looking to expand her childcare provision.
The buyer commented; “I would just like to say thank you to Sarah Ellison who looked after me extremely well during my purchase. She was able to answer any questions straightaway in addition to being incredibly informative throughout. The level of service that I received was absolutely superb and I would highly recommend Redwoods Dowling Kerr and Sarah. I will come back to Sarah and Redwoods when I look to purchase another nursey.” Lead Negotiator Sarah Ellison commented;
“The purchase of Serendipity has provided our buyer with a fantastic opportunity to build on to her already well-established childcare business and experience. It was a pleasure working with our seller Mrs Bray to achieve her wish to go in a different. Wishing them both the very best in the future.”
the process. They advised me throughout the process and kept the sale moving at a fast pace. The level of service is very good, they are with you every step of the way. It is a fantastic feeling to have now completed. Thank you so much for your help and support through the sale and pushing it through to meet the deadline.” The buyer commented; I would just like to say thank you for your hard work and always being available to chase up any issues that the process throws up. You have been attentive and always happy to help! We are
extremely happy to have completed on the purchase and looking forward to the new challenge ahead of us. We would definitely recommend RDK to others and maybe we will be back ourselves one day in the future.
Goldsmith Day Nursery sold to family operator With a long and illustrious trading history, Goldsmith Day Nursery has cultivated a strong reputation for childcare within the local community. Operating in the popular seafront resort of Southsea, Portsmouth, the nursery is situated in a spacious three-storey semi-detached property, offering a highly versatile nursery accommodation with a warm and welcoming environment. The nursery has the capacity to offer an exemplary fulltime childcare provision and holiday club for 42 children from three months to 8 years of age, open 51 weeks of the year.
58 NURSERY MANAGEMENT TODAY
Seeking retirement, Karen Miller decided now was the perfect time to commence the sale of Goldsmith Day Nursery and formally appointed Redwoods Dowling Kerr to place the business onto the market. After a comprehensive marketing campaign that garnered numerous offers, the nursery was sold to a family run operator pursuing acquisition opportunities to expand their nursery group in just 8 weeks. The vendor commented; “My experience with RDK has been fantastic. Karina and Sarah have been brilliant throughout
November / December 2020
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nmtproperty sold
properties
recently sold Domalo Childcare gcquired by growing nursery group This exemplary nursery group in Greater Manchester has been sold by Redwoods Dowling Kerr. Founded by the vendors John & Catherine Scott in 1994 after becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of high-quality childcare providers in the locality, Domalo Childcare quickly flourished into a reputable and well-regarded nursery group. Through opening nurseries at strategically located sites across Oldham and Stockport, the nursery group proved itself to be greatly popular with parents from the surrounding areas, being highly accessible for parents seeking childcare within Greater Manchester.
Operating across a collection of 4 spacious and well-appointed properties, Domalo Childcare has the capacity to provide 288 children from 6 weeks to 11 years of age with a market-leading childcare provision, open 51 weeks a year. The staff at the nurseries are carefully recruited to cultivate and environment of inclusiveness and compassion, as demonstrated in the groups latest Ofsted inspections where each setting achieved a ‘Good’ rating in every category. Looking to retire, the couple made the difficult decision to put their nursery group onto the market and instructed Redwoods Dowling Kerr to facilitate the sale. After a comprehensive marketing
campaign, a large amount of interest was garnered, attracting 7 viewings and 3 separate offers. Ultimately Domalo Childcare sold to a growing nursery group with a strong working relationship with Redwoods Dowling Kerr, historically acquiring 9 nursery settings through the service. The vendor Commented; “We have enjoyed building this small chain of nurseries over the last 26 years and are proud of the reputation we have acquired locally. We now feel it is time to let go and allow new
owners the chance to further enhance the business. We are pleased that Sarah at RDK has found a suitable buyer and has progressed the sale to a successful conclusion despite the global pandemic.
Milky Way Day Nursery Sold by Redwoods Dowling Kerr Founded over 15 years ago, Milky Way Day Nursery has earned itself an excellent reputation amongst parents from the nearby residential area. Operating from an imposing three-storey detached property, the setting is generously equipped and thoughtfully decorated to provide children with a safe and comfortable environment to learn and grow. The nursery has the capacity to offer its childcare provision to children from 6 weeks to 5 years of age, delivered by an experienced manager and a complement of highly qualified care staff. Wishing to enter retirement Audra Taylor made the difficult decision to place Milky Way Day Nursery onto the market and formally instructed Redwoods Dowling Kerr to conduct the sale. After a comprehensive marketing campaign, the nursery
ultimately sold to a local family run operator with multiple settings, looking to further expand their geographical presence. The vendor commented; “My experience of RDK has been good, they have been professional and helpful from the start. I personally have liked the fact that you get allocated a personal sales negotiator. Mine was Kim Emsley, who is just amazing and throughout this process has both been supportive and extremely helpful. She is a definite asset to the company and has made the whole experience so much easier. She is always available to talk things through and chase things when necessary. Her standard of work is fantastic, and she follows up on everything. The level of service has been fantastic. I would recommend RDK.”
The Buyer commented; “My experience with Redwoods Dowling Kerr was very good, as it always is. All the staff are very efficient, and I dealt a lot with Kim as she was the negotiator for the business, who was the very same and I would recommend. Any queries I had were handled very quickly and Kim did also chase me when needed and reminded me regularly which I did appreciate, and it helped the deal move forwards. From the team, a brilliant service, I cannot complain, and more than happy with the level of service I received throughout. On completion, it was a great relief to get it through after everything
and now we are excited to be able to move forward. I was glad when I was able to liaise with the vendor as well and feel delighted. I would happily recommend RDK and would just like to add that I so far have only ever bought through RDK, I currently have five settings and all of those were bought with Redwoods. The future looks exciting.”
To find out more details about the businesses available for sale, and sold, through Redwoods Dowling Kerr please visit: www.redwoodsdk.com
Vacant London nursery sold through Christie & Co Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, is delighted to announce the sale of the former Old Rectory Children’s Day Nursery in Hounslow, London. The stunning former rectory, which can accommodate 74 children, has been sold to a new entrant to the sector. Formerly operated by Mr and Mrs Hansora, the business previously traded for over 20 years as ‘The Old Rectory Nursery School’. The business closed several months before the outbreak of Covid-19 and it approached the market on a vacant leasehold basis. The site gained a lot of interest and received bids from multiple parties. Mr and Mrs Hansora chose to sell to first-time buyer, Ms Mariam Shamshudin, who comments, “The building is amazing and will be very impressive as a children’s nursery. Would like to thank Christie & Co for their support during this purchase” Mr Hansora comments, “Thank you Christie & Co [Sophie Willcox & Nick Brown]. We wish Mariam the best of luck for the future.” Sophie Willcox, Associate Director of Childcare & Education at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, comments, “We were inundated with interest in this opportunity due to its location and impressive building. I wish Mariam the best of luck for the future. This is a positive message to the market showing the demand for vacant leasehold settings, so please do get in touch as we are achieving impressive premiums for good opportunities.” The Old Rectory Children’s Day Nursery was sold at an undisclosed price.
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November / December 2020 NURSERY MANAGEMENT TODAY 59
nmtproperty sold
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recently sold
Six setting nursery group in West Sussex sold through Christie & Co This well-established profitable nursery group, which is renowned for providing high-quality childcare from six exceptional settings all situated in various high profile locations across West Sussex, offers an effective operating capacity for circa 312 children. Since establishing the group in 2006, its former owners Mrs Antonia and Mr Mark Ogden-Meade have grown the business into one of the area’s leading childcare providers. Mrs Ogden-Meade has worked in quality and performance for over 20 years, as well as achieving Ofsted inspector status. She has built an exceptional management team at A Step Ahead Nurseries which now heads up the day-to-day running of the settings. She comments, “I am immensely proud of what we have achieved in A Step Ahead Ltd. Working with such a talented team and lovely families has been a privilege. I look forward to seeing the company grow and feel genuinely excited for everyone knowing that David and his team are just as child focused as we have been and there will be some amazing opportunities to develop the company even further over the next few years.“
A Step Ahead acquisition has led Ann Education, an expanding childcare operator which has recently appointed Mr David Hancock as its CEO to help build on this platform acquisition. Mr Hancock, former MD of Treetops Nurseries and CEO, responsible for the successful turnaround and sale of Little Garden Day Nurseries in 2019, comments, “The team at Ann Education has worked really hard through some very difficult conditions to get this deal agreed, my input was minimal towards the end of the transaction, so they are the stars. However, I would like to thank the sellers, Antonia and Mark, for their pragmatism and Nick at Christie & Co for his invaluable support through the transaction – any acquisition process can be very testing, add the Covid effect into the mix and things become very tough – we got there, with the support of some great people” Nick Brown, Head of Brokerage at Christie & Co, comments, “This has been some journey but one that has been worth all the time and effort which everyone has put into this deal. Mark and Antonia have been a pleasure to work for and we
would like to wish them all the best for the future. “David Hancock has also been super helpful in getting this deal over the line and we would also like to wish him all the best in building on this exciting initial acquisition. “I would also like to thank Mark Traynor and the team at TLT solicitors for their persistence and the legal team from Philip Ross for playing their part in completing this transaction. “This has been a highly confidential sale which has come with its challenges around extension of leases, deal structure and a number of properties but everyone connected to this
transaction has been patient and worked through all of the challenges which have presented themselves. “Both myself and Sophie Willcox are delighted that we have been able to complete another group transaction in what are undoubtedly testing times for many sectors but the resilient nature of the Childcare sector and the longer term view is that buyers are taking via acquisitions which are happening now is very encouraging for the sector as a whole.” A Step Ahead Nurseries was sold at an undisclosed price.
Fairlands Nursery School in Hampshire sold through Christie & Co Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, is delighted to announce the sale of Fairlands Nursery School in Shedfield, Hampshire. Fairlands Nursery School was originally founded over 50 years ago and has since developed a fantastic reputation locally for providing the highest quality childcare. The nursery can accommodate up to 80 children and, since it was acquired by its previous owner in 2008, has benefitted from many outdoor enhancements, including a giant sandpit, bark pit, den area, mud kitchen and vegetable garden. The business is located in a stunning rural setting between the villages of Botley and Wickham in Hampshire and operates from a spacious former School House which is well
equipped with an abundance of resources. The nursery’s previous owner, Mrs Jo Skinner, has worked at Fairlands Nursery School for 22 years and was lucky enough to acquire the business in 2008 when she became its Manager/Owner. Mrs Skinner, who decided to sell to retire from the sector, was keen to find the right buyer to pass on her legacy to. She comments, “I am absolutely thrilled to have found someone with the same ethos as myself. I feel Laura will continue to develop the outdoor area and keep the same ‘family feeling’ that Fairlands is recognised for.” Fairlands Nursery School has been acquired by existing operator, Ms Laura Jones who owns another nursery in Surrey. She comments, “We are
very excited to be taking Fairlands over from Jo. It is a fantastic nursery that has been lovingly cared for which fits into our ethos and focuses on outdoor learning. We would like to thank Jo for her passion, enthusiasm and hard work that has created the legacy for us to take into the future.” Sophie Willcox, Associate Director at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, comments, “Jo was one of the first vendors to provide us with a video of the setting as we entered lockdown which undoubtedly created interest at a time when visiting was difficult. This is just another example of the demand we are seeing for good quality nurseries. “I want to wish Jo the best of luck in her
retirement, it was a pleasure working for her. If you are considering an exit strategy yourself, please do not hesitate to get in touch.” Fairlands Nursery School was sold at an undisclosed price.
Christie & Co has the largest dedicated team of childcare business property agents in Europe. For further information about businesses for sale through Christie & Co, go to www.christie.com/business-search/childcare and for details of businesses recently sold, go to www.christie.com/business-search/childcare/sold
C O N TA C T S U M M A R Y CHRISTIE & CO
YORKSHIRE / NORTH EAST
REDWOODS DOWLING KERR
SCOTLAND
Vicky Marsland..................... 0161 833 6914
SPECIALIST NURSERY TEAM
Martin Daw.......................... 0131 524 3406 Rosie Adlem..........................0131 524 3401
LONDON
Jenna.Caldwell@redwoodsdk.com Bryan.Fotheringham@redwoodsdk.com Karrina.Lee@redwoodsdk.com Robert.Forrester@redwoodsdk.com Sarah.Ellison@redwoodsdk.com Mark.Phillips@redwoodsdk.com Natasha.Satterthwaite@redwoodsdk.com Matthew.Preston@redwoodsdk.com Kim.Emsley@redwoodsdk.com Mathew.Parkinson@redwoodsdk.com Robert.Yates@redwoodsdk.com Andy.Sharp@redwoodsdk.com Head Office Telephone: 08442 488 322 / 01772 775 780 Email: sales@redwoodsdk.com
CHESHIRE / NORTH WEST
Sophie Willcox...................... 0203 846 0619 Lucy Mclean..........................0203 846 0612
Sofia Beck.............................0161 833 6915
SOUTH WEST
EAST MIDLANDS
Jassie Sunner........................ 0121 452 3708
David Eaves............................07711 767094
PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS
WEST MIDLANDS
Courteney Donaldson........... 07831 099 985 Nick Brown........................... 07764 241 316
Jassi Sunner.......................... 0121 452 3708
60 NURSERY MANAGEMENT TODAY
November / December 2020
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REGIONAL DIRECTORS
nmtrecipes
Sharing TPNK’s favourite recipes
Delivering nutritional and healthy recipes, The Professional Nursery Kitchen is collaborating with NMT for our FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD book which will be coming your way soon. TPNK have shared some of their favourite recipes with us and our NMT family and will continue to showcase some of their most creative and nutritious meals along the way.
Below is the selection picked for this issue...
Vegetarian Cottage Pie Lemon Chicken Cheesy Peasy with Orzo Pasta Number of servings: 4
Number of servings: 4
Ingredients 322ml water 150g diced onions 150g orzo 150g diced swede 1tbsp chicken stock ½ tsp oregano
Ingredients 250g chicken 150g sweetcorn 150g diced carrots 30ml lemon juice 5ml sunflower oil ½ tsp Parsley
Method 1. Heat a saucepan with oil, add onions cook until lightly golden. 2. Once the onions are soft add the chicken and cook all the way through. 3. Add herbs, swede, carrots and stock to the chicken and Cook for 5minutes. 4. Once veggies are soft add lemon juice and sweetcorn cook for a further 5minutes. 5. Add orzo and water and stir. Bring to a light simmer. 6. Stirring occasionally to ensure it doesn’t stick to the bottom. 7. Cook until the orzo is soft to bite.
8. Serve.
460ml Milk 60ml water 250g Macaroni Pasta
100g Peas 30g Cornflour 200g Grated cheese
Ingredients 300ml water 150g diced onions 150g diced carrots ½ tsp vegetable stock 150g diced peppers 150g butternut squash 50g margarine
250g red lentils 150g diced swede 1tsp garlic puree 5ml sunflower oil 1 red pepper 3-4Large Potatoes
Method Lentil filling
Method
1. Pre heat oven to 180degrees. Prep the squash and red pepper and lightly cover with oil in an oven tray 2. Roast for 30-40minutes until soft. Using a blitzer, puree the pepper and squash.
Macaroni 1. In a saucepan fill with water until halfway up.
2. On the hob bring the water up to the boil.
3. Add the macaroni and cook for 8-10minutes.
4. The pasta should still have a bite to it.
5. Place into a colander and cool down with cold water to stop the cooking process. 6. Place on the side for later.
3. Heat a saucepan with the oil. Once hot add onions and cook until lightly golden. 4. Add garlic and veg stock and cook for 2minutes.
5. Add swede carrots and lentils. Cook for 2minutes then add water. 6. Bring to the boil stirring to ensure the lentils do not stick to the bottom. 7. Add the puree and the diced peppers. Continue to cook until lentils are soft. 8. Place the lentil filling into an oven Proof dish. Ready for the mash.
Cheesy Peasy Pasta 1. Pre Heat oven to 180°C
2. In a saucepan add the milk and bring to the boil gradually to ensure the milk doesn’t stick to the bottom. 3. With the cornflour add 100ml cold water create a paste. 4. Once the milk is boiling add the cornflour paste. Whisking continuously to ensure no lumps and it doesn’t stick to the bottom. 5. Take the sauce off the heat.
Mash 1. Prep potatoes, the smaller the dice the quicker they cook. Place into a saucepan and cover with cold water. 2. Place the saucepan onto the hob and bring to the boil. Once boiling turn down to s hard simmer. 3. Once a blunt knife goes through the potato with out applying to much pressure, drain off the water.
6. Add the peas and the pasta to the milk sauce. Stir in completely.
4. Mash with margarine until there are not lumps.
7. Place this into and oven proof dish and cover with cheese.
6. Place into the oven and cook until golden brown 30minutes.
8. Now into the oven until the cheese is golden brown. 15-20 minutes.
www.theprofessionalnurserykitchen.co.uk
Number of servings: 4
5. Place on top of lentil mix covering all the mixture.
7. Serve.
9. Serve.
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November / December 2020 NURSERY MANAGEMENT TODAY 61
REPUTATION DISCRETION KNOWLEDGE
LD SO Bright Skies Day Nursery She eld
SO
LD
Li le Learners Kent
Happy Valley Pre School Sta ordshire
LD
Willowbrook Her ordshire
SO
SO
SO Koala Club Warwickshire
SO
SO SO
LD SO Serendipity Day Nursery Devon
LD
SO LD
Milky Way Day Nursery Leicestershire
Goldsmiths Day Nursery Hampshire
LD
St Pauls Pre School South Yorkshire
Childs Play Limited Group of 5 Nurseries Lancashire
SO
LD
LD SO
LD SO LD
Bizzy Bees Surrey
Nellys Day Nursery Sta ordshire
LD
Annies Nest London
Domalo Childcare Group of 4 Nurseries Greater Manchester
LD
LD SO
SO
SO
LD
LD
Deals Completed During The Pandemic
Li le Steps Lancashire
Beach Buddies Devon
To see our latest Childcare opportunities throughout the UK, visit: redwoodsdk.com
Contact us to discuss your exit strategy
TO BUY: 0844 3877 406
www.redwoodsdk.com/childcare
TO SELL: 0844 3877 407
Redwoods Dowling Kerr
@RedwoodsDK
To take advantage of our exci ng FREE energy saving service, email us on energy@redwoodsdk.com In excess of £110,000 p.a saved for our clients
LANCASHIRE FREEHOLD
CHESHIRE FREEHOLD
SHROPSHIRE LEASEHOLD
NORTH YORKSHIRE LEASEHOLD
Reference: 47879
Reference: 47953
Reference: 47345
Reference: 47044
£1,450,000
£750,000
£495,000
£480,000
• Turnover of £640k y/e 2020 with an EBITDA of over £150k • Capacity for 70 children • Substantial property • Rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted
• Turnover of £317k y/e 2019 generating EBITDA circa 37% • Substantial detached property • Ofsted rating of 'Good' • Excellent reputation
• Fee income of £532k y/e 2019 • Capacity for 80 children • Terri c growth potential • Presented to a very high standard, large outdoor area
• Fee income of £580k y/e 2019 with an EBITDA of £168k • Capacity for 72 children • Operated with a management team, enviable reputation
MERSEYSIDE LEASEHOLD
CHESHIRE LEASEHOLD
WEST MIDLANDS LEASEHOLD
WEST YORKSHIRE LEASEHOLD
Reference: 42643
Reference: 47899
Reference: 47750
Reference: 47840
£420,000
• Income of £304k y/e 2020 • Capacity for 55 children • Impressive property • Convenient & sought after location
SOMERSET LEASEHOLD Reference: 47880
£149,950
• Turnover of £161k y/e 2020 • Capacity for 40 children • Excellent reputation • Convenient and accessible setting
£275,000
• Income of £396k y/e 2019 • Capacity for 69 children • Operated with an experienced management team • Rated 'Good' by Ofsted
R
UC ED
ED
SURREY LEASEHOLD
Reference: 47251
£130,000
• Group of 2 nurseries, combined income c. £167k y/e 2019 with an EBITDA in excess of £40k • Capacity for 64 children • Management team in place with daily input from vendor
£275,000
£250,000
• Fee income of £296k y/e 2019
• Fee income of £286k y/e 2019
CO.DOWN FREEHOLD
GWYNEDD FREEHOLD
Reference: 47837
Offers Invited
• Capacity for 120 children • Genuine growth potential • Well presented substantial property
Offers Invited
• Fee income of £186k y/e 2017 • Capacity for 80 children • Historically high occupancy levels • Spacious outdoor area
with an EBITDA of £66k • Capacity for 40 children • Operated under experienced management team
Reference: 47924
• Former School House • 6 bedroom private living quarters • Substantial period property with wealth and charm
CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES
LONDON
HAMPSHIRE
CARMARTHENSHIRE
LINCOLNSHIRE
LEASEHOLD
LEASEHOLD
A GROUP
LEASEHOLD
Reference: 47893
Reference: 47658
Reference: 47845
Reference: 47621
• Montessori day nursery • Capacity for 35 children • Income of £207k y/e 2020 with an adjusted EBITDA of £106k • Fully enclosed outdoor area
• Established day nursery • Capacity for 40 children • Income of £404k y/e 2020 with an adjusted EBITDA of £144k •Rated 'Good' by Ofsted • Advantage of natural lighting throughout
• 2 day nurseries & an early years education facility • Combined capacity for 138 children • Combined income of £670k • Experienced & highly quali ed staff with over 19 years service
• Children's day nursery • Capacity for 108 children • Adjusted EBITDA of £62k y/e 2019 • Rated 'Good' by Ofsted Leasehold & freehold option available
Bids Invited
Bids Invited
Bids Invited
£200,000