There's just a week to go until New Dimensions Daycare is due toofficially open. Subject to a successful Ofsted registration visit, ofcourse - which is arranged for in a few days. I've been chasing uphealth declarations and co-ordinating the fire inspection visit while inRomania. Not an ideal time for a trip, but I was booked to conduct EYFStraining for a wonderful 'British style' nursery and didn't want to missout.
With the help of my mobile phone, I kept in touch with what was going onin Lewisham. All staff have now started and are gelling as a team,excited and not too daunted by the prospect of unpacking the 130-plusboxes from Community Playthings.
I felt slightly frustrated, as plans for their induction were hijackedby a last-minute delay with flooring and the kitchen fitters. This meantwe couldn't access the building until just after the bank holiday, thesame day our practitioners and housekeeper started. So their first daywasn't quite as serene as I'd envisaged. We had little time to settle inbefore they arrived and were distracted by having to draft theinevitable snagging list of urgent jobs the builders hadn'tfinished.
I've gone list-crazy now. Don't think I have ever been so organised ...or so bossy. We've got a snagging list, induction list, list of peoplewe still need to invite to the opening ceremony. Lists of softwaresuppliers that I need to call to arrange a demo with. Signage? Check.Phone line connected? Check. Uniform ordered? Hurrah!
Yes, I took the catalogue to Romania with me to flick through on myflight. Poor Dot, from our supplier, Colidor, has the patience of asaint. She's been a real star, talking me through the differentcotton-mixes, colours and sizes. It's quite a pressure choosing whatstaff will wear. After much deliberation, we've opted for polo shirts inbottle green with additional T-shirts in sky blue and royal blue tomatch the nursery logo.
Thankfully, staff liked the idea of having choices depending on theirmood and the weather. We still have to decide what they will wear on topof their T-shirts when it gets colder. It's between fleeces or sweaters- definitely not tabards. Let's hope the hot weather continues for awhile longer, as the idea of looking at another clothing catalogue makesme feel dizzy ... or maybe it's jet lag from my three-hour flight.
Derek Hayes is senior consultant/trainer at Childcare Consultancy. Formore information e-mail info@childcareconsult.co.uk.