New to the site?

Welcome !

We are here to provide (free) professional advice to all new and established childcare providers in our member local authority areas (currently Cumbria, County Durham, Northumberland, North Tyneside, Enfield and Merton).

Have you registered with us?

If you want to be able to access the interactive services and download documents, you do need become a member by registering on-line. Your membership details and password should be confirmed to you by e-mail within 2 working days of registering.

Membership is open and free to all childcare providers in our member local authority areas, including those known to be working towards childcare registration. Corporate memberships are available to those working for related organisations. Please email us if you have any difficulty registering or if your membership details have not been confirmed.

Not sure about registering ?

This service is completely free, is run by the Local Authorities across the region, and does not rely on any commercial or private funding to support the site. The only reasons we need you to register are to help us monitor the use of the site (to prove to our public funders how it is helping people), and also to ensure that forums etc are not misused by anyone who is not a bona fide provider.

If you don’t register, unfortunately much of the useful content and services of the site will remain closed to you.

Note : Your details will not be given to anyone for marketing or any other purpose. If you choose to opt in to allow us to email you, we will update you from time to time on new information on the site or events which we think would be useful for you. But this remains your choice.

Site Contents - browse through what follows to see what each area provides

General information on all types of childcare
Expert Direct
Documents and downloads
Funding Directory
Training Directory
Staff cover
Staff vacancies
Networking forum

General information on all types of childcare

Use this section if you want any information about registering as a childcare provider, OFSTED standards, quality assurance schemes, how to go about setting up, and links to other parts of the site with factsheets etc which you may find useful. Most useful for new providers, or those who are just thinking about becoming one.

Expert Direct

An interactive service which allows you to browse through questions, articles etc on topics which others have asked, and (best of all) lets you ask your questions to our panel of experts (free of charge).

We have qualified Solicitors / Accountants / Health & Safety personnel / OFSTED / Building professionals / Education experts all on tap. You ask your question and we direct it to the expert for you. Their answer is then posted on the site, and you are emailed to let you know it is there. Answers to most questions can be posted within 48hours.

Topics covered to date are very wide ranging and include lots of basic questions and some very specific and complex issues. So – any questions??

Ps. No-one using the site can see who has asked the question – so don’t be shy and ask everything you ever wanted to ( but couldn’t afford / or didn’t want OFSTED to know you didn’t know!)

Documents and downloads

These are useful checklists and factsheets on a wide range of topics – examples include property options when setting up daycare, checking over a lease, employment contract checklists, data protection updates, market research questionnaires for childcare providers, cashflow pro formas, how to budget for staff costs, business plan outlines etc - a growing library of reference material. Can’t find what you want ? Email us and we’ll try and provide it.

Funding Directory

Need money?  Who doesn’t? Here you can search our database of funding, all of which will be relevant to childcare providers.

Training Directory

Another new development  - which will allow you to see at a glance what training is available throughout the region on any topic of interest to you. Coming soon…

Staff cover

Click here to find staff willing to work as bank cover – or add yourself or your own setting if you want to join the scheme. Designed to help reduce the headaches when staff fall ill / or you need cover at short notice.

Staff vacancies

Advertise your vacancies on this area (FREE of charge), and/or look for a job (!) With an ever growing number of members, this is a useful extra way to look for new staff.

Forum

Discuss any issue you want on-line with other providers without having to leave your desk. Eg. Need ideas for activities ? Want to discuss strategies for behaviour issues ? Want to go to an event but need to get more people interested before they will run it?

Some one will either know the answer / have done it before / or will know someone who can help – the whole of our childcare community can join in and share their wealth of expertise and experience.