We are setting up a private nursery and would like parents to give us their opinion on our prices and services?

i would reccomend opening until 6 as this is what most nurseries do to accomodate working parents. the prices sound a bit higher than average but that depends what area you are in. you could look up near by nurseries and enquire about their prices. full time places are usually offered a discount. where i work it`s 38 per day and 18 for half a day. there should also be different fees for under 2`s and over 2`s as the staff ratio is higher for under 2`s so it will cost you more staffwise. one advantage of your nursery is that you provide nappies and wipes, most nurseries dont do this

The hours seem short. You should consider extending at least 30 min. on each end, 7-6. The price also seems a bit high, but I don't know if that's right for your area. It's your business, though. You can run it any way you'd like.

I don't see how you've differentiated yourself from other, cheaper places. What are you offering that other places are not? Is there an emphasis on education or attention to the child? You might want to consider market positioning as this is still a business.

My favorite nursery when my kids were little offered a 'date night.' Every Friday, they would stay open until 10 or 11 so I could catch dinner and a movie without worrying about getting a sitter. You might consider something similar, even if its once a month. I think they charged a little extra for it, but it was worth it!

I would suggest opening till 6pm as most nurseries do & it's around the time that parents finsih work to be able to pick up there children. What kind of area is the nursery located in is it mostly middle class people? if so, i would suggest lowering your costs to £30 a day if you can, £30 is average and more affordable.

The first thing i picked up on when i read this is that you didn't include tables and chairs for baby room. Table and chairs important especially for meal times, we have our babies sitting round small tables in strap chairs from about 7 months. It's good to start at the earliest age possible, its good for developing social skills etc.

Seeing as you are talking about nursery, I presume you are in the UK. Correct me if I am wrong. From my understanding a nursery school caters for the education of children aged 3+, before that younger children could attend a creche.

Im going to give you my honest opinion here, sorry this will be a long answer!

From the information you have given, it sounds like you are offering more of a daycare than an education service. "paints and many other activities" just doesn't cut it.

In terms of services, it is really not about the materials that you have, but the qualifications and experience of the staff that you employ. What is your educational ethos? What is your knowledge of child development? Will you be drawing on pedagogy from the likes of Montessori, Steiner, Reggio Emilia etc? You would be justified to seek a higher price if you have early education specialists working with the children.

It is great that you have outdoor space for the children, and brilliant that they can have a go at horticulture, That can be incorporated into early science and nature studies.

What materials you have sound good, but rocking horses could be a health and safety hazard for babies, moses baskets would be unnecessary as the babies can have their sleep in the cots ( which ideally would be in a separate sleeping room, with supervision at all times).

I'm not 100% sure about the beanbags,and in childcare settings I have never seen baby bouncers. I have only seen toddlers in small chairs or from 6mths + with supports like below, or similar in a half moon shape

http://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-media/product-ga...

In the toddler and pre school rooms you should have a cushioned library corner, during free choice time children can have some time out and get used to handling books.

I have experience working in a private creche and montessori school in Ireland. There was a member of staff trained in HACCAP (food safety regulations)who prepared all meals in a kitchen. With nappy's and wipes, there is really no need for you to provide them as families individual requirements may vary anyway. It is a big expense for you that is not essential. Do the other private facilities in your area offer this? If not, why would you.

Offering discounts for friends and family sounds too gimmicky, but discounts for siblings should definitely be considered.

Gauge the price of the service you are offering based on demand and the price of other facilities in your area.

In the UK, ofsed would be the inspectorate for childcare facilities,( in Ireland it is the HSE) and you will need to comply with building regulations, health and safety, adult to child ratios etc. You should make sure you know your statutory responsibilities before you open.

I really wish you the best with your nursery, think more about activities and materials that are age and stage appropriate, and health and safety/ risk management issues.

Katie xxx

I think your facilities sound good and comprehensive.

I personaly think your opening hours need to be later than 5.30. alot of people do not finish work until 6 and they then have to get to you to pick their child up. Most nurseries i have looked at are 7-7.

I think your prices are upper end for the length of day but for 7-7 would be acceptable, you don't mention what area you are in so hard to judge.

My only other point is that you should potentially higher the under 2's charges or lower the over 2's slightly to compensate for the nappies & wipes.

Good luck

that sounds cool i want to work there :)

um im not sure about the prices but maybe you should have different ones for under 2's under 5's and all that

maybe open from 7-6 (especially on late night shopping) as most people dont finish till 5 and traffic and all that. also on the way to school parents might drop there kids off, or you could say that the hours are 7.30-5.30 and it costs extra if parents want to be earlier or later. it also depends where it is - next to schools/near shopping centres etc.

good luck ;)

im afraid thats too expensive especially as your a new nursery, at the place i work we charge £25 pound for a full day incudes everything you have said and £15 for half day but we offer discounts for parents with more than one child.

Okay woah woah woah. slow down. Alright, say the parents drop their kids off every business day( half days). Thats a hundred bucks a week. That is unacceptable. thats four hundred a month. And then it would be eight hundred a month if it were a full day. I dont think you would get that many people to come to your day care.

Heres how i think the payment plan should work.

$4 = an hour

then it wouldnt be such a load on the parents yet u wouls still make money.

I think your previous plan is Bull.

Dont you think £200 a week for a new nursery thats unpopulare/unknown and dosent have a chain is a bit steep. Id understand it for a well knowing one but i dunno just seems a lil steep.

i think you need to stay open till 7pm..alot of parents work and it will take them time to get there from work...