DETAILS ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS

Name of Organisation:

Address:

Main contact:

Position:

Contact telephone number:

What is the legal status of your business/organisation? (i.e Limited Company, Partnership (please indicate how many partners) Sole Trader

Does a Voluntary Committee manage your organisation?

If a Voluntary Committee manages your organisation please provide contact details of your Chair and Treasurer.

Is your organisation a registered charity? If so please state registered charity number:

SECTION 1 – EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Executive Summary– Provide a summary of the business plan. This should include the highlights, main objectives, key points and features.

SECTION 2 – MISSION STATEMENT, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Mission Statement- Provide a statement of purpose for your business, what you are trying to achieve, your values and the overall direction that you are following.

Aims and Objectives– What is your business looking to achieve and how? What are the specific aims and objectives of your business?

SECTION 3 – OVERVIEW OF YOUR BUSINESS

Background/History– Provide an overview of your business, the background, its history, who owns/runs it, the legal status, when it started and where it is located, etc.

SECTION 4 – THE SERVICE

The Service- Describe the childcare service that you (will) offer, numbers and ages of registered children, staff to child ratios, opening times, numbers of rooms, what makes your service unique and if you are developing the service - how it will be developed, etc.

SECTION 5 – OPERATIONAL DETAILS

Operational Details – Describe how you (will) operate, details of your premises, location, equipment, suppliers, etc.  Are there any health and safety implications?  Do you need to transport children? If so, how will you do this? 

SECTION 6 – QUALITY

Quality - How do (will) you ensure quality of service? Describe the steps that you (will) take to ensure that you offer good quality provision and how you would measure the effectiveness of these steps.

EYFS –

Identify how you will evaluate the quality and standards of children’s care, learning and development, and the progress children make towards the early learning goals in line with the principles and requirements of the EYFS.

Equal Opportunity - How do (will) you implement and monitor Equal Opportunities? How do (will) you demonstrate inclusive practice within your setting?

SECTION 7 - MANAGEMENT

Structure – Provide details of how your business is managed, number of staff, management and staffing structure, etc (Consider link to quality).

BREAKDOWN OF ALL POSTS – Provide a breakdown of all posts

SECTION 8 – TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS

What are (will be) the qualifications/experience of your staff? What qualifications do (will) you expect them to have? What training has been undertaken and what is planned for the future? (Consider link to quality).

SECTION 9 – MARKET RESEARCH

Market Research – Thorough market research is vital in ensuring that businesses are viable in the future. Provide details of market research conducted covering the following areas Customers, Other Childcare Providers and the Local and National Market – See Below: -

Customers  - Who are your customers? Where do they live? How many of them? What are their needs and how will your service meet those needs?  How do (will) they buy your service? Is there adequate demand for your service that will make your business sustainable? How have your consulted with parents and children? Are they happy with your (intended) service, facilities, staff, location, hours, price, etc

Local Market  – How many childcare places are there in the immediate and local area? How many children in the age range that you will cater for? What are the trends in birth rate? How does your provision meet the needs of the local community? Are there any planned housing developments in your area? Are there any large businesses in your area, etc?

National Market - What research have you conducted to identify the main external factors that that may Influence/effect your business i.e. Ofsted, market and/or customer trends, The Childcare Act, EYFS, etc? Briefly outline your findings.

Other Childcare Providers (competitors) – Who are your main competitors? What other childcare providers are there in your immediate and local area? (How many and what type?) How much do they charge? What discounts do they offer? What facilities/service do they offer? Do you know their occupancy rates?  What are their activities? What are their opening times? How many children do they cater for?  How do they communicate or promote their service? What type of sessions do they offer?  What are their strengths and weaknesses, etc?

SECTION 10 - MARKETIING

Selling– Describe, how and when, will you advertise and promote your business? What methods will you use?  What are they key messages you want to get across? What are the most appropriate and cost effective ways of getting your message across to current or new customers?

What are the costs of this, etc

USP- Unique selling Point(s) – What do you consider your Unique Selling Point(s) to be?

Pricing Strategy - How do (will) you price your childcare service? How have you arrived at this price? What are your prices in relation to other childcare providers?

SECTION 11 - ACTION & CONTINGENCY PLANS

Action Plan – Provide a brief summary of the main actions required in order to implement this plan.

Contingency Plans - Provide a brief description of your main challenges and what you intend to do if things do not go to plan?

SECTION 12 - MONITORING AND EVALUATION

Monitoring and Evaluation – What steps will you put in place to ensure that your business is going to plan? What targets will you set and how will you know if they have been achieved? How will you know in the medium, short and long term that you are continuing to meet the needs of the local community?  (Note – ‘Key Performance Indicators’ can be a vital tool to help identify and understand problems or improve performance)

SECTION 13 – FINANCIAL

Please complete both the 12 month Cashflow Projection and the 5 year Income & Expenditure statement.

·         The cashflow forecast is a record of when you think you will receive cash into the business and when you think that you will have to pay it out.

·         It is important to make realistic assumptions in the cashflow, for example if you are starting a new childcare business the length of time that it takes to take on children, or the amount of investment on equipment that you may need to make in the first instance.

·         If you have additional costs that are not shown, just add them onto the cash flow.

·         If the costs that are currently included on cashflow do not apply to your business – please leave the columns blank

Month:

Pre-Opening Receipts & Payments

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Totals

No of weeks open

Av. No.  Children per session:

0-1

2-2

3-5

Staff per session

RECEIPTS

Funding Grants/Donations

Receipts from Parents

Loans Received

Other (please specify)

Total Receipts

PAYMENTS

All Salary Costs:

Gross Salary/salaries

Employers National Insurance

Pensions Contributions

Holiday/Training Cover

Payroll

All Premises Costs:

Rent

Rates

Gas/Electricity

All Insurance Costs:

Building Insurance

Contents Insurance

Employment Insurance

Public Liability

All Administration Costs:

Telephone

Postage & Stationery

OFSTED Registration & Membership Fees

Bank Charges

Administration

Month:

Pre-Opening Receipts & Payments

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

Totals

Activity & Material Costs:

Materials

Outings

Catering (Food & Drink)

Sundries

All Volunteer Costs:

Authorised Volunteer Expenses

Volunteer Travel Expenses

All Advertising Costs:

Advertising

Promotion

All Transport Costs:

Vehicle Costs/Mileage

All Training Costs: