How are peoples numbers?

[louby loo]

How are peoples numbers?  

Has there been a birth rate hike?  We are currently full with parents ringing almost daily asking for places now, and our September list is already full with a waiting list. I should be happy but I'm not .   I hate turning people away, plus I like the flexibility of having a few open spaces.

[sunnyday]

Wow louby - I wish, we are really quiet

[louby loo]

42 minutes ago, sunnyday said:

Wow louby - I wish, we are really quiet

To be honest I prefer quiet .  

I took over the setting when the then owner more or less gave up with debts of over 14K.  It was 'takeover or close' and not much chance of getting any redundancy payment from owner.   I kinda felt we'd gradually fade and die a natural death......  

Anyway it turns our we've been ticking over nicely, reasonably quiet-but that suited me fine (I'm getting too old now, and should have retired really, but I'm a WASPI so it sort of suited me). Now it just seem to be becoming more stressful.   Then suddenly just before Christmas... BANG!! we're full with a waiting list, and the same in Sept. 

[sunnyday]

Yes, I understand what you mean louby it can feel like such pressure - we have always been over-subscribed until now...….oh and I'm a WASPI woman too and I can't tell you how cheated I feel, but that's a whole different thread 

[larnielass]

Up to two days ago I would have said that we're full, but all of a sudden I've had parents dropping the odd day to fit in with work requirements. Some silly gaps now. I rely on these two terms to break even. I have had a few parents wanting Easter places as that's when their funding kicks in. Usually there's no chance but now, who knows? My list for Sept is looking good and getting enquiries for that.

 

[finleysmaid]

we had a terible year last year...this year much better. We have done a lot of additional marketing and spent a bit of money on that . we have also changed our rules (yet again) to allow those under 3 to take up 3 sessions until funded but then MUST take up 5 (or 10) We have a strict 6 weeks notice period and charge if this is not completed. We now run on 4 staff not 5 (though really need 5!) and we've put in additional services too. Upshot is we are much healthier financially and the lists for september is looking good

[lynned55]

Full to bursting now, in fact so full there are going to be some disappointed people when their funding kicks in next term and they cant extend their hours. Last term, we were so quiet, had a few mess around and either drop out or drop days/sessions and with a full staff ratio we lost quite a bit of money. Hopefully- it will be made up this term. But like louby- we are currently getting people coming in almost every day. 

[louby loo]

13 hours ago, lynned55 said:

Full to bursting now, in fact so full there are going to be some disappointed people when their funding kicks in next term and they cant extend their hours. Last term, we were so quiet, had a few mess around and either drop out or drop days/sessions and with a full staff ratio we lost quite a bit of money. Hopefully- it will be made up this term. But like louby- we are currently getting people coming in almost every day. 

We've had a few mumble about not being able to have full hours next term too.

I find it stressful and frustrating.

17 hours ago, finleysmaid said:

 We now run on 4 staff not 5 (though really need 5!) and we've put in additional services too. Upshot is we are much healthier financially and the lists for september is looking good

I always like to run with one over ratio, and as a CIC we never had any real emphasis on making money at the end of year.  This term however we are on ratio (only by 2-3) children, but I hate the feeling of needing to find cover for staff sickness etc.

[finleysmaid]

2 hours ago, louby loo said:

We've had a few mumble about not being able to have full hours next term too.

I find it stressful and frustrating.

I always like to run with one over ratio, and as a CIC we never had any real emphasis on making money at the end of year.  This term however we are on ratio (only by 2-3) children, but I hate the feeling of needing to find cover for staff sickness etc.

we are also a not for profit...but rarely make any money even with an ON ratio staff number hard work though...now working 10 hours a day with lots of eal and send...could they do better with more staff ....yes. but i simply can't afford it. I have had to decide to support the staff i have with higher wages etc than to employ another person. If we are desperate i have two qualified parents who step in.. Not happy but at least we are still in business. 

[lynned55]

It's very difficult isnt it. We have 7 staff in for 28/30 children Mon- Weds am- numbers of staff and children drop to around 20 with 5 staff in afternoons.

Thursdays its 25 with 6 staff on each of these sessions one is employed as a 1:1 for a child and I have just put all our inclusion funding together to pay for a parent to come in all day Mon & Tues to help with our fast growing number of SEN. However Friday mornings we have 16/18 children maximum, 5 staff and its the worse day of the week. Not sure why, our 1:1 little one isnt in but the others just seem a nightmare on a Friday. 

So how many children do you have for four/five staff. We are luckily now in the situation of being able to run if someone is off sick- without worrying about getting cover. Except Fridays.

[finleysmaid]

2 hours ago, lynned55 said:

It's very difficult isnt it. We have 7 staff in for 28/30 children Mon- Weds am- numbers of staff and children drop to around 20 with 5 staff in afternoons.

Thursdays its 25 with 6 staff on each of these sessions one is employed as a 1:1 for a child and I have just put all our inclusion funding together to pay for a parent to come in all day Mon & Tues to help with our fast growing number of SEN. However Friday mornings we have 16/18 children maximum, 5 staff and its the worse day of the week. Not sure why, our 1:1 little one isnt in but the others just seem a nightmare on a Friday. 

So how many children do you have for four/five staff. We are luckily now in the situation of being able to run if someone is off sick- without worrying about getting cover. Except Fridays.

up to 28 depending on ages. I have had to reduce number of 2 year old spaces just can't afford staffing for them. so normally  24 3 year olds (3 staff) and 4 2 year olds  with 1 staff. We do not get additional funding for most of our send chidren and if i do i now spend it on specialist services (SALT/Physio etc)