Advice on Operating a Childcare Provision

Within the Early Years Learning Improvement Service a Business Adviser is available to offer support advice and guidance to the managers and owners of childcare provision throughout Cumbria. Our Business Adviser can offer advice with developing business plans and financial planning, and can also signpost and / or offer support on a range of other business and management related issues including marketing, fundraising, governance and sustainability.
If you would like support from our Business Adviser please make a referral through the Children and Families Information Service on 03457 125 737

COVID-19 support

Financial support

To find out what financial support is available for your business during this period please visit the Gov.uk website which covers updates on the following items:

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (please note there were changes made to this scheme on 1 September 2020)
Claiming back Statutory Sick Pay due to Covid
Deferral of VAT payments due to Coronavirus
Deferral of Self-Assessment payment on account due to Coronavirus
What to do if you cannot pay your tax bill
Rate relief (specific to Nurseries)
Business Support Grants including the Coronavirus Small Business Grant Fund and the Coronavirus Local Authority Discretionary Fund
Support for self-employed including the Self Employed Income Support Scheme

The Government Business support helpline

Contact the government's business support helpline for free advice:

Telephone: 0800 998 1098
Webchat: talk to an adviser using the webchat
Phone line and webchat open Monday to Friday, 9am to 6pm
Email: enquiries@businesssupporthelpline.org

Useful documents

Developing new childcare

Title	Date	Size
A - 15 steps to develop community childcare	18/05/2012	956k
B - Developing New Childcare Protocol	2/05/2013	3413k
C - Business plan template to support the development and planning to manage a childcare provision	2/05/2013	20k
D - Early Years Foundation Stage Statutory Framework	19/11/2018	455k
E - Early years outcomes - A non-statutory guide for practitioners and inspectors to help inform understanding of child development through the early years	1/09/2014	178k
F - Development matters in the early years foundation stage	13/10/2015	638k
H - Creating accessible childcare settings	13/10/2015	1474k
I - Early years buildings audit	13/10/2015	232k
Welfare Requirement Checklist 2020	29/04/2020	114k

Marketing and market research

Title	Date	Size
Marketing during covid 2019	2/10/2020	693k
Marketing for Childcare Providers	2/10/2020	248k
Sample new childcare questionnaire	2/05/2013	49k
Sample social media policy	2/05/2013	25k

Governance options

Title	Date	Size
Charitable Incorporated Organisations - A guide to establishing your charity as a charitable incorporated organisation	2/05/2013	1607k
Community interest companies - information pack	25/09/2012	242k
Starting a Co-operative - a guide to setting up a democratically controlled business	25/09/2012	748k

Voluntary Management Committee

Title	Date	Size
Childcare Provider Voluntary Management Committee Member Information Pack	13/08/2012	4407k
Role of the chair and vice chair of committee meetings	18/05/2012	1123k
Role of the secretary of committee meetings	18/05/2012	1525k
Role of the treasurer of committee meetings	18/05/2012	1505k
Running an effective voluntary organisation	13/10/2015	249k

Financial planning and management

Title	Date	Size
Cash flow template 2020-2021	2/10/2020	78k
Cash flow template 2021-2022	2/10/2020	78k
Debt collection for childcare	13/10/2015	1161k
Financial Planning/Management Guide	17/12/2015	1967k
Managing finance - frequently asked questions from childcare settings	13/10/2015	4796k

Funding options

Title	Date	Size
An A to Z of fundraising ideas	13/10/2015	7465k
Cumbria Council of Voluntary Service focus on Funding for Early Years July 2020	2/10/2020	188k
Potential sources of funding	22/03/2016	54k
Writing successful funding applications	14/10/2015	48k

Free entitlement

For information regarding free entitlement for 2, 3 and 4 year olds view the following webpages: Free early years for three and four year olds and Free Childcare for 2 Year olds, or alternatively you can contact the Children and Families Information Service on 03457 125 737

Closure procedure

Title	Date	Size
Procedure to close checklist	16/10/2015	188k

Other information

Title	Date	Size
Business Health Check leaflet	13/10/2015	586k

Additional support and information

Ofsted Website
Central Government Website
HMRC Webpage
Charity Commission Webpage
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service
Cumbria Council for Voluntary Service
Federation of Small Businesses

Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years Website
Foundation Years Website
Pre-School Learning Alliance Website
National Day Nurseries Association Website