Childcare consultant Nathan Archer describes his hectic six-day week that sees him providing advice and support both inside and outside the family-run consultancy
Monday
We started the family-run consultancy in January after the Children's House nursery was being approached by various agencies and businesses for advice and support. Directors Sylvia Archer (my mum) and Theresa Ellerby (my aunt) decided to formalise the support and offer consultancy and I left my business support officer job at north-east Lincolnshire Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership (EYDCP) to work with them.
I'm currently working one day a week for the EYDCP to finish the development work I started with a number of neighbourhood nurseries.
The EYDCP was fortunate to have a great deal of interest in the initiative and consequently several good quality settings have been developed. Some weeks I visit the nurseries to see how they are getting on, but today I'm working through some monitoring - which is probably the least exciting but an important part of the job. I also catch up with the funding officer to see how our Community Childcare Fund is going.
Tuesday
This morning I meet the head of the local Early Excellence Centre who has asked Children's House Consultancy to assist with business planning. I spend the time information gathering, talking with the daycare manager and fact finding. This is a joint centre with a local Sure Start Programme. It is really impressive and a prime children's centre.
In the evening I have an informal management meeting with my mum and aunt over dinner. We discuss contracts and potential contracts and look closely at systems as well as how the training room in the new nursery we are opening can be a flexible office space for the consultancy, which is currently run from home.
Wednesday
I spend most of the day working on projects for two local Sure Start programmes in north-east Lincolnshire. Both are Fifth Wave programmes in their early days and need office sites and land or property for their new Sure Start centres. Contacting estate agents, viewing properties and sites and liaising with agencies are all time consuming but needed if we are to find the ideal site. I update the programme managers before attending the Capital Groups to feedback on progress.
Working from home takes a bit of getting used to - the difficult thing is knowing when to finish for the day.
Thursday
This is usually my 'Children's House day' and today involves meetings on funding for the new nursery. I meet representatives from the Arts Council and Government Office about Rural Enterprise Funding and it looks like we might be eligible for funds for outdoor resources, which is excellent news.
I spend some time looking through the National Day Nurseries Association Quality Counts manual and discuss a plan of action with the staff.
I really enjoy spending time in the nursery, it reminds me what my work is all about. I overhear a three-year-old telling a nursery nurse that the capital of Belgium is sprouts - priceless!
After the nursery closes, there is a staff yoga session to help us all chill out after another busy day.
Friday
Most of today is spent preparing for the business support training I am delivering with a colleague, Jo, tomorrow at another EYDCP. Jo works freelance for the consultancy and we meet to finalise our plans. As the day progresses I seem to be drowning in paper with overheads, delegate packs and handouts taking over the office. All is going well until the photocopier gives up on me.
Saturday
An early start. Jo and I deliver workshops on management committees, funding and fundraising. I think it goes well and we have a debrief with the EYDCP officer in the bar afterwards. The training is tiring but rewarding when positive evaluation forms come back.
Tonight I've promised to cook dinner for friends and now don't feel I have the energy. But once they turn up and open the wine I know I'll shift down a gear or two. Good to know it's Sunday tomorrow...
Further information:
- The Children's House Consultancy, Station Road, Stallingborough, north-east Lincs, DN41 8AJ
- Tel: 01472 504891
- e-mail: consultancy @thechildrenshouse.org.uk
- www.thechildrenshouse.org. uk