klc106 Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 Hi all We have been struggling for a while to get children into our setting. There has always been just the 2 of us. Now (4th year of being open) we have had a greater interest in spaces for 2yr olds! The government funding for 2yr olds has helped and we have a few that receive it. Now we have people wanting 2yr old spaces and we are running out of them, in terms of ratios! As I am the owner/manager my 'wages' are whatever is left each month after paying rent for the hall and my member of staff and at the moment I am taking £300 a month! No do I turn away 2yr olds wanting spaces and hope that we have some who want the odd sessions that are available, take on a new member of staff meaning I could potentially get less income or do we try and get a student to help raise the ratio's. Sorry for rambling on and I hope you can make some sense of what I am asking. Thanks in advance for any advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopeytg Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 Have you thought about an apprentice? You can pay them as little as £2.68/hr although the company I used tried to tell me it was 'immoral' to pay that - I simply said that was all I could afford. I would also perhaps look at what you charge if you are receiving such a small wage. With my business we opened from 0800 - 1800 and had to run at a loss for a while why we built up the business but I still made sure I was paid minimum wage. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodlands1997 Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 An apprentice might work? Or maybe contact local colleges about students but I would be a bit wary of using them in ratios as aren't always the most reliable (in my experience!!!) x 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
klc106 Posted September 1, 2014 Author Share Posted September 1, 2014 (edited) I've just been looking into apprentices. Thanks We charge £9 for a 3hr session, £18 for a full day (9-3) and we are higher priced than other local settings! So I don't really want to increase fees. Edited September 1, 2014 by klc106 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrsbat Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 I've just been looking into apprentices. Thanks We charge £9 for a 3hr session, £18 for a full day (9-3) and we are higher priced than other local settings! So I don't really want to increase fees. We charge the same as you - although we are the cheapest in the area! We have just taken on our second apprentice as we are so full already so have upped our numbers. Our first apprentice is just about to finish her level 2 and is going on to do her level 3 apprenticeship too - I will say that after 12 months you need to pay them minimum wage though. We paid the minimum apprenticeship wage for the first month then upped it because she was amazing and I couldn't just pay her £2 something an hour! Our new apprentice is starting this week on her level 3. We have found it amazingly helpful because we couldn't afford to pay a 'normal' member of staff full time hours. Both our apprentices have come to us through YMCA apprenticeship and the tutor is brilliant too. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted September 1, 2014 Share Posted September 1, 2014 I think apprenticeship wages are appalling and I know of settings that use them, get rid and take on more, appalling for the children and the apprentice trying to learn a profession. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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