Early Years Providers Business Planning and Support

My Life in Bolton

My Life in Bolton is a FREE marketing tool used by Bolton parents looking for childcare.

Are your setting details up to date and correct?

Look for your setting here.  If your setting details aren’t showing on the childcare directory, you can update your permissions in the self-update section of the portal. Alternatively, email the data management team at: ec.imu@bolton.gov.uk

Provider Portal - Self Update

If your details are not correct on the My Life in Bolton website, you can use the Provider Portal - Self Update to add or amend your records.

The portal allows you to correct or update the information that Bolton Council publishes about your early education and childcare services.  In particular, you can update:

• your capacity and vacancies,
• a description of your services,
• the list of schools you can pick up from,
• any specialist services you can offer, as a result of the training you have invested in.

For technical support on the Provider Portal, please call Information Management on 01204 338621

Marketing Materials

Bolton Start Well and Bolton Families Information Service has free resources for you to use in your setting

If you have any questions or requests regarding these resources, contact:
Email StartWell@bolton.gov.uk 
or Families@bolton.gov.uk

PACEY and Early Years Alliance

Why is marketing your early years setting important?

Marketing is a key element of any business plan and directly contributes towards improving your long-term sustainability.

When you're looking for more families to use your childcare service, whether you're a childminder or if you work in a nursery, it's important to ensure that you have a range of marketing materials.

PACEY & Early Years Alliance have some top tips and ideas to support you.  Check out the links below:

• Promotional marketing materials | PACEY
• Marketing your early years business | early years alliance (eyalliance.org.uk)

Famly resources

Get tips and tricks for how you can take your setting’s promotional efforts to the next level to get your message out there and boost occupancy!
To find out more, visit: 

• Guide: Promoting Your Early Years Setting to Boost Occupancy | Famly
• Free templates: Newsletter and childcare marketing checklist | Famly

Marketing support

Foundation Years and the Early Years Alliance offer marketing support for early years and childcare providers. To find out more, visit: 

• Marketing | From pregnancy to children aged 5 (foundationyears.org.uk)   
• Successfully marketing your early years business - YouTube

Best Start in Life: Campaign promoting financial support with the cost of childcare (formerly Childcare Choices)

Please note: This information is due to be updated. Once the rebranded resources are available, we will include links below. For more information about the changes to Childcare Choices, read our news article: Important Changes and New Branding: Best Start in Life – Bolton Start Well