Business planning & support
Business support
A range of resources to assist with initial setup, development, or gaining a understanding of sustainability.
Supply And Demand Tools [18.3 KB] [docx]
Forecast Vs Actual April - March [187.6 KB] [xlsx]
Early Years Forecasting Calculator (4 year period) [31.0 KB] [xlsx]
Forecasting calculator for childcare providers [38.1 KB] [xlsx]
Financial Calculations [26.3 KB] [docx]
Business Plan Guidance [477.1 KB] [docx]
Childcare business plan template [470.9 KB] [docx]
DfE has also published business support on the Foundation Years webpage. It helps early years providers run their business.
The guidance covers:
- Business planning
- Finance
- Marketing
- Human resources
The page also links to key national guidance. It explains why providers must understand local agreements, funding rules and consumer law.
It includes free tools from a local authority, such as:
- Business plan templates
- Cashflow tools
- Occupancy calculators
- Marketing plans
These tools can help providers stay stable and grow.
Foundation years: Setting up an early years provider business
Webinars on business planning, including cash flow tools and business plan guidance.
Webinar 1: Business planning
Action plan based on SWOT analysis [23.6 KB] [docx]
How to complete 7S analysis [53.2 KB] [docx]
Example early years 7S analysis [26.7 KB] [docx]
How to complete PESTLE analysis [3.0 MB] [docx]
Example early years PESTLE analysis [34.0 KB] [docx]
How to complete a stakeholder analysis [44.8 KB] [docx]
Early years stakeholder analysis [18.4 KB] [docx]
- Business planning, setting goals and tools to help
Webinar 2: Budgeting
- Financial forecasting and budgeting
Webinar 3: Business performance
- Managing business and financial performance
Webinar 4: Committee handover
Watch the video and see supporting documents on the Early years committees page.
- Preparing for committee handover
Webinar 5: Childminders
- Business management for childminders
Webinar 6: Developing your childminding business
- Developing your childminder business
Webinar 7 - Support to grow your own early years workforce
- Early years webinar - support to grow your own early years workforce
