Business Planning Tool Kits

The Childcare Works toolkits bring together everything you need to grow, sustain and start childcare provision.  With content curated by experts, you will find a wealth of useful and relevant information, all in one place.

The toolkits contain information specific to operating childcare provision, plus general information for businesses, childminders and charities, including expert marketing, HR and leadership and management, partnership working and more.  

Access the Wraparound Toolkit - Wraparound Childcare Toolkit | from Childcare Works

Access the Early Years Toolkit - Early Years Toolkit | from Childcare Works

Content is organised into six ‘topics’ with each topic divided into sub-topics:

• Business Planning
• Business Growth
• Running of Your Childcare Provision
• Leadership and Management
• Partnership Working
• SEND and Inclusive Practice

The HUB

The HUB connects providers and schools implementing early years or wraparound childcare expansion to a wide range of high-quality knowledge and learning resources. In the HUB you have:

Free access: Providers and schools can access the HUB free of charge. 



Single search: With the HUB, you can perform a single search to find relevant information. It aggregates all the essential resources in one place, making it easier for childcare professionals to access the knowledge they need.

Quality assurance: By using the HUB, you can avoid less reliable sources that you might encounter during a general web search. Instead, you will have access to trustworthy and evidence-based expertly curated content. 


Expert support: If you need assistance or have questions related to the HUB, Childcare Works can provide guidance and support.

The challenge of managing early years and childcare businesses
Managing an early years or childcare setting is a complex task. This Business Map uses tried-and-tested steps through a journey to support businesses to review themselves. It also sets out a process to identify opportunities and risks and turn them into planning. ​

COVID-19
The Business Map was designed during the pandemic to assist with finding routes through change, COVID-19 response and new business planning.

Resources developed with the sector, for the sector
The resources published following Hempsall's 2021 national webinars on Steps to Business Plan are available here.

Alternatively, all of the resources can be downloaded individually below:

• Hempsall’s Early Years Business Map
• Hempsall’s Early Years Business Map – Action Plan
• Hempsall's Business Map Presentation
• Webinar recording
• Vodcast – putting the Business Map into practice
• Vodcast – what’s changing?

Additional resources from Hempsall's

• Vodcast End of project reflection: James and Donna discuss the reaction to the Business Map programme common questions and look ahead to business planning in 2021.
• Business Map – a provider’s view Following the launch of the Business Map and the delivery of the national webinar, Jo Pringle (Hempsall’s) and Lucy Lewin (Little Angels) reflect on the tool and what it means for the sector.
• Business Map – using social media Kate Haythornthwaite (Hempsall’s) chats will Matt Youdale (Arch Communications) about the importance of using social media in any early years or childcare business.
• Business Map – the business needs of out of school Jo Pringle (Hempsall’s) and Catherine Wrench (OOSA) discuss the out of school sector and current business challenges.
• Business Map FAQs