Business Support for Childcare Providers
Department for Education
There are a number of additional sources of funding available that you can use to support individual children and raise the quality of childcare that you offer.
Early Years Business Zone
NDNA, supported by the Department for Education have created the Early Years Business Zone
The Early Years Business Zone includes business appraisal tools, financial management tools and a staff costs calculator.
Pacey’s Business Smart (Childminders)
Pacey has launched Business Smart. Developed by childminders for childminders, funded by the Department for Education and produced in association with Lloyds Bank. Business Smart is a collection of ideas; inspiration and tools to help new and existing childminders in England develop a sustainable business.
Pacey's Business Smart website
Childcare Works
Childcare Works supports the delivery of early years and childcare for two, three and four year olds in ways in which high-quality childcare is accessible, flexible and affordable.
The Childcare Works programme offers a range of resources to support providers with business modelling and sustainability. You can access the resources here:
HMRC and Government Business Support
You can find all the information you need to set up and manage your business finances, including corporation tax.
Business Support advice on Gov.uk
Rotherham Investment and Development Office (RiDO)
The RiDO Business Investment Team can assist you with high-quality advice and guidance to support your business.
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS)
Provides information, advice, training, conciliation and other services for employers and employees to help prevent or resolve workplace problems.
Start Up Donut
This website is mainly for new start-ups but has useful information for all businesses including business planning and marketing.
Competitions and Markets Authority Provider charging update
DfE has received a number of enquiries from LAs regarding the Competitions and Markets Authority’s (CMA) advice to the sector on charging earlier in the year within the current circumstances. The CMA published an open letter to the early years sector on the 28 July 2020 followed by detailed advice to the sector, with the purpose of helping providers understand how consumer protection law applies during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CMA has also since updated its broader advice on cancellations and refunds for consumer contracts affected by COVID-19 health restrictions.
The CMA has advised that, while the circumstances in which providers are operating have changed somewhat since the publication of the letter, the CMA's advice within this letter is still applicable. We ask that providers continue to be fair and balanced in dealings with parents, and they must continue to avoid unfair charging practices.
There will always be individual circumstances in each case, however the general principle is that providers should not charge parents for services that cannot be provided. If there is a barrier to accessing childcare, based on government guidance or the law, the provider should not charge the consumer for this period. For example, from 28 September people in England are required by law to self-isolate if they test positive for coronavirus or are contacted by NHS Test and Trace. Accordingly, if a child is self-isolating on the advice of NHS Test and Trace, the provider should not charge the consumer for this period.
DfE is not currently aware of a rise in consumer complaints about provider behaviour, and will continue to work with the CMA to ensure the sector is offered appropriate advice.