Starting a preschool?

Question

I am looking to start up a preschool program. I know about franchising options and looking at starting a church preschool. What I need to know is all the politics, legistics, and business questions I should be researching so I have all the information I need. Also, I could use any advice I can get from current directors of preschools. I have an education degree and I've been working with preschool children for 10 years. I need to know what goes on beyond the education of youngsters.

Answer 1

Well education aside, the licencing involves the facility.

Safety, adequate washrooms, play areas, locled cabinets, toy safety, washing toys after each play day, number of students versus square footage, number of teachers (usually 1 to 5 or 1 to 6). Food and food allergies. Medical equipment (bandages etc)

Number of Exits and windows.

Mostly it's the facility they care about.

For the Kids

Obviously ECE degree is required etc  Social and cognitive skill teaching, story time, circle time, interaction among the kids, child evaluations...

Answer 2

Where do you live?  Right now we live in Halifax, Nova Scotia and I know the regulations here are much different than when we lived in Ontario.  The department of Community and Social Services is usually the  people that license you.  Ask them to send you a copy of the day nurseries act.  That will cover what you need to know about square footage, child/teacher ratios etc.  Are you going to be offering a half day or full day program?  That will determin if you have to have a rest period and the amount of time you need for outdoor play as well as the amount of outdoor space you will need.  Find out also about the availability of subsidized spaces.  Or are you going to be depending on Fee paying spaces only.  If it will be fee paying only make sure you have a stable parent base otherwise you will be spending a lot of time making sure you have enough children enrolled to cover expenses.  Make sure to have clear policies about stat. holidays and sick days as well as unforseen closures.  Also have the parents sign off on all policies (sick days, late fees etc.) so they can't say they wern't aware.  If you need any more help email me...I set up and ran my own preschool for years!  There's also a bunch of tax things to think about...

Good luck...it's a very rewarding career!