Business and Governance

Early years expansion checklist

The early years expansion checklist* tool will help providers understand their current position and what they need to think about to meet the changing needs of the market. This checklist is broken down into four sections and asks key questions to establish: Where are we now? What do we need to consider? What action do we need to take to offer expanded entitlements?

​*Size: 179KB File format: pdf

Registration with Ofsted guidance

When considering expanding to include a different age group, providers must ensure their current registration covers the proposed change in age range. See registration requirements for childminders and childcare providers.

Premises

Providers must consider premises to ensure they meet the requirements set out in points 3.65 to 3.73 of the early years foundation stage (EYFS) statutory framework.

Business management and financial planning webinars

Business and financial management is a crucial part of running a successful early years and childcare provision. This is especially important when planning to implement change like expansion. In partnership with Flourishing People, we have a series of bitesize webinars for providers and childminders to view.

Financial Forecasting toolkit

Our award-winning sustainability tool* will help providers to:

• Organise their financial information
• Test different staffing and occupancy assumptions
• Predict income for this year and future years
• Put the whole financial picture together

The tool has updated minimum wage, and holiday pay calculations and will calculate funding automatically based on the financial year.

*Size: 175KB File format: excel

Breakeven calculator

The breakeven calculator tool* is simple to use and will assist providers in identifying the level of occupancy required to break even.

​*Size: 33KB File format: excel

Childcare Capital Expansion Grant

To support the expansion of the working parent entitlements for children aged from nine months to five years, alongside the launch of the wraparound childcare programme, capital funding is now available for all providers who offer (or are looking to offer) provision that supports the roll-out of either or both of these programmes.

For further information, please read the Cambridgeshire Market Position Statement.

Staff Structure modelling tools

Expansion plans may require redeployment of staff or a change to working patterns. Our staff structure modelling toolkits have been devised to help providers establish recruitment gaps or where the provision may be working above the ratio.

There are two to choose from, one for sessional pre-schools operating from 9 am to 3 pm, and another for provisions operating longer hours or wraparound for early years and school-age children. These tools are unlocked and fully adaptable to suit your needs. 

Early years funding (EYF) statutory guidance and best practice

In line with government early education and childcare (applies from 1 April 2024) guidance, our EYF good practice guidance* has been designed to support providers to offer early years funded places transparently with clear and itemised charging information. ​

*Size: 196KB File format: pdf

Recruitment

Expansion plans may require recruitment. The government's Do something big - Early Years Careers website has been designed to promote early years and childcare careers and where providers can also advertise vacancies.​

Our safer recruitment guidance and resources will also support settings to safely and effectively recruit staff under statutory guidance, the law, and best practices.

Supervision

Effective leadership and supervision will be key to expansion. Staff may be working with a different age range or redeployed in the setting. Our supporting leadership in the EYFS guidance provides relevant up-to-date information, advice, and examples to support early years and childcare providers, who manage staff, to carry out workplace supervision.​

Training for registered providers

Professional development is equally important for registered providers. The business and governance team offer four 90-minute online training sessions delivered throughout the year. These include courses on Committee Essentials, Early Years Funding… What You Need to Know?, Roles and Responsibilities of the Registered Provider, and Safer Recruitment for Early Years and Childcare Providers. To learn more about the training courses, visit the Business and Governance section of the Professional Development Programme.

Tax-free childcare

The government tax-free childcare scheme is key to childcare expansion to help eligible working families save on their childcare costs, including the self-employed.