Thinking about starting a Holiday Programme or Before & After School Care in New Zealand? Awesome! It’s such a rewarding venture that not only supports working parents but also gives kids a chance to engage in fun and enriching activities. You’ll be making a real difference in your community! But before you dive in, setting up a childcare programme here in NZ takes a bit of planning and organisation.
Here’s what our customers, Vinita from Carpe Diem Kids and Rangi from Fun Zone, shared about their experiences in the interviews we had with them.
If this sounds like you—thinking of a startup—then Enrolmy is here to help you succeed! But first, here are 5 key steps to get you started on the right foot.
1. Is Your Idea Feasible? Does it meet the Needs/Interests of Your Community?
Before you jump into launching your childcare programme, take a step back and think—does your idea match what your community needs? Ask yourself:
- Is there a demand for this type of programme where I live? It is a good idea to do some research. Talk to parents or schools to see if they’d be interested.
- What makes me different? Think about what unique spin you can offer that sets you apart from other programmes. What’s your “wow” factor?
- Are there any gaps in the market? Look at what’s already out there and figure out how you can fill a need that others aren’t meeting.
- Do you know anyone in the local community? Building relationships with local schools, community centres, or even current programme owners is super helpful. For example, Motu & Rangi Esson from Fun Zone Out of School Care had great success after connecting with their local school’s principal. These relationships are key to understanding what the community wants and can even help your programme grow over time.
2. Get Practical: Think Finances, Legal Stuff, and Tenders
Once you’ve figured out that your idea has potential, it’s time to get practical. Here are a few things to consider:
- Financial Viability: Have you crunched the numbers? It’s important to make sure your programme is financially sustainable. Would you be able to leave your current job to focus on this full-time, like Vinita White did with Carpe Diem Kids?
- Legal Requirements: Make sure you’re set up properly as a business, with a GST number and business bank account.
- Tender Process: If you’re applying for Before and After School Care services through a tender process, do your homework and understand how that works.
These steps might sound a little dry, but they’re crucial to laying the foundation for your programme’s long-term success.
3. Follow OSCAR & MSD Guidelines (Even If You Don’t Have To)
You don’t have to follow the OSCAR (Out of School Care and Recreation) or MSD (Ministry of Social Development) guidelines, but it’s a good idea. These frameworks offer great standards to help you run things smoothly and can even open up extra funding opportunities.
Here’s where Enrolmy makes your life easier:
- Enrolment Process: Parents can fill out enrolment forms online, and all that info is safely stored in your account for easy access. You or your managers can access this when needed or print out enrolment or parent information.
- Parent Information: You can create online tiles to give parents everything they need to know about your programme.
- Attendance Tracking: Our attendance app lets parents sign their kids in and out digitally. No more messy paper records!
- Financial Record-Keeping: Enrolmy integrates with Xero, a leading accounting software. We generate invoices, store data, and track payments and communications between yourself and the parent making record-keeping easy!
4. Should You Get MSD Accreditation?
While it’s not required, getting accreditation from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) shows that your programme meets high standards. There are four levels (1-4), with each level reflecting different service quality standards. It’s a great way to boost your credibility and attract more families.
If you’re interested in MSD accreditation, you can find all the details and application procedures on their website or contact the MSD Provider Approval Team at MSDproviderapprovalteam@msd.govt.nz.
5. Here are some helpful links that will also help you and your staff prepare to open!
- First Aid and Medical Training: Make sure your staff is trained in first aid. MediTrain NZ offers courses that meet Ministry of Education standards and are Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) approved.
- Children’s Act: Ensure your team understands the Vulnerable Children’s Act and that you have child protection policies in place. Check out the Ministry of Children, Oranga Tamariki website for specific requirements.
- Use Technology: Simplify your day-to-day operations with tools like Enrolmy software alongside Xero accounting software. From managing enrolments to handling finances, these tools take the stress out of running your childcare programme.
Childcare programmes require a lot of consideration and planning, however, if you are armed with these key steps, plus a passion for nurturing children’s learning within your community, building a thriving enterprise is well within reach.
Kick-starting a Holiday Programme or Before & After School Care is an incredibly rewarding journey, and our team at Enrolmy is excited to support you every step of the way. We’ll save you time, allowing you to focus on what matters most.