advice - starting a creche

Sniipe

Hey, I'm looking for advice.
I have a young friend who has recently had a child. She has deferred her first year of college but is unsure about heading back.
I won't go into much more detail but I think it would be a good idea for her to start up a creche, so I'm just going to find out what would be needed.

The ideal thing about this is that the home is based on a very busy commuter route and I think is ideally located for Galway city (I've not looked into how many creches are in the area or even if there is demand for one yet).

What would be the next steps?

Will she need to do a childminding course? Will she need employees right from the start and will these need qualifications?
What about the buildings? The bungalow is on a half acre site and there is room for extentions? Are there issues with having the business attached to the home or in the home for that matter?

nellieswellies

YOur local health board can provide the information you need

giddyup

Sniipe wrote:

Hey, I'm looking for advice.
I have a young friend who has recently had a child. She has deferred her first year of college but is unsure about heading back.
I won't go into much more detail but I think it would be a good idea for her to start up a creche, so I'm just going to find out what would be needed.

The ideal thing about this is that the home is based on a very busy commuter route and I think is ideally located for Galway city (I've not looked into how many creches are in the area or even if there is demand for one yet).

What would be the next steps?

Will she need to do a childminding course? Will she need employees right from the start and will these need qualifications?
What about the buildings? The bungalow is on a half acre site and there is room for extentions? Are there issues with having the business attached to the home or in the home for that matter?

The good news is I doubt theres a place in any urban area in Ireland where there would not be demand for creche places.

The crazy thing in Ireland is that she actually doesnt need to do a course of any kind to open a childcare service. However, if she wants to be taken seriously by parents and the local health board she should look into getting some qualifications. Same goes for staff - they don't have to be qualified but I'd hope that most responsible parents would demand that of their childcare provider.

For full daycare there are stringent restrictions on (a) the floor space you need per child and (b) the ratio of staff to children. Your local health board should be able to provide you with details or check this link for some top-level detail.

It's a tough business and tougher if you are planning to mind your own child in the same service and you have got to be great with kids.

Have you thought about a playschool/montessori type service instead of creche? That type of setup is not as demanding and the effort/reward element can be better.

Sniipe

wow, giddyup, u are a fountain of knowledge. nellieswellies, thank you also for your input.
I am shocked that qualifications are not needed. This sounds like a very easy business to "get into" (but perhaps not as easy once started).

I will definately get her to get onto the local health board and hopefully she will start up from there.

How about financial assistance to start up companies like this; are banks very helpful in terms of monitary and startup assistance?

Also insurance?!? are there issues with that?

giddyup

Sniipe wrote:

How about financial assistance to start up companies like this; are banks very helpful in terms of monitary and startup assistance?

Also insurance?!? are there issues with that?

Grants are available and quite generous and if you are serious they are not difficult to get. Health board can help you with the application.

Insurance depends. A playschool/monty in your own home is not expensive. I'd imagine for a creche it can be a bigger deal.

heggie

pick up an info pack from your county council's childcare committee, working on one at the moment

mtfoley

Kidd Insurances in Dublin do a scheme for Childminders, creches montessori etc. http://www.kiddinsurances.ie
Also if you join the IPPP http://www.ippa.ie you can get very cheap insurance.