The Hard Yards of Expanding Preschool Capacity
Congratulations to the entire London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) team on the opening of this new Stoke Newington setting.
In the context of the government’s increased Department for Education funding to #earlyyears, it’s worth reflecting on what it takes to operationally deliver an expansion of capacity. Particularly in the context of the structure of UK early years sector, in which >80% of nursery settings are operated by private or voluntary organisations, not the state.
Two major building blocks to delivering high quality early years education are:
- 1) well-trained, qualified and led teachers and
- 2) the appropriate physical space.
I focus here on the latter.
Finding, securing and preparing the right location (catchment area with adequate demand from families to enable economic viability) and the right actual venue (with space for target child capacity, AND outdoor garden space, AND easy access for parents and staff) is a material logistical, financial and operational task.
Given the demographics of Hackney – 28% of children live in poverty, the fourth highest rate of child poverty in London – at LEYF we have been seeking to expand our capacity here for a number of years. Our Fire Station Nursery was subscale, had inadequate outdoor space. We searched for and reviewed a number of options.
In the end, we formed a unique partnership with St Mary’s Church of England Primary School for a lease of two classrooms and dedicated and shared outdoor space. The primary school had available classrooms, identified a need for nursery provision, while at the same time recognising that an organisation such as LEYF had the pedagogical and operational experience to best deliver high quality early years provision in an economically sustainable manner.
While this is one anecdote, the history of the last major expansion in early years – Sure Start -- tells a similar story. In a recent retrospective review by the program’s first director, Naomi Eisenstadt CB made the following comments on implementation complexity:
“A big surprise to the Treasury was how long it took for programmes to actually start spending Sure Start funding. The initial allocation of funding for the first 250 programs was up to one million pounds capital . . . (which) meant finding appropriate places in very poor areas on which to commission new builds or refurbishments . . . (G)etting agreement on what and where to spend capital . . . (d)eciding on activities, setting up local evaluations, hiring staff all took time.
“The NESS study found it took three years from agreement to get a fully functioning programme underway. . . . The key lesson is that . . . designing both capital investment and a new service structure takes time and skill. Ministers assumed that the announcement was implementation. Civil servants thought it was posting the guidance. The actual task was complex and required a range of soft and hard skills.”
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Calling all curious minds aged 0-5 in Stoke Newington! Our Fire Station Nursery has moved to a brand new, bright location on Church Street (opposite Nando's)! It's just a 15-minute walk from Stoke Newington Station, making drop-off and pick-up a breeze. ♀️
Here's what makes us special:
Spacious Garden: From babies to pre-schoolers, everyone gets to explore and play in our expansive outdoor haven.
Expert Early Years Team: Our passionate educators create magical learning experiences every day through activities like gardening, cooking, science, and messy play!
Local Community Champions: We nurture kind and eco-conscious little citizens who love exploring their surroundings.
Healthy & Delicious: Our chef whips up nutritious meals and snacks using fresh, seasonal ingredients.
LEYF Values at Heart: Our team lives by our core values - Brave, Inspiring, Nurturing, and Fun - to ensure every child feels safe, supported, and ready to learn!
Ready to join the adventure? Book a tour today and see why Stoke Newington Nursery is the perfect place for your little one to grow and thrive!
https://lnkd.in/ejN3CRam
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