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Preschool Teachers Chatboard

Starting a Preschool

by Wondering

Nov 6, 2012

Hi! Have any of you started a preschool from the ground up?

Any advice?

I'm possibly going to start a preschool with a friend (we are both first grade teachers and have taught K) -- I'll be honest - I've never worked in preschool and that makes me little nervous. Any input would be appreciated!

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Ann Wow, you really are a fountain of information!! Thanks so much! I'm pondering whether to have the two half-day classes or just the one class every day. If parents are looking for a "daycare" or simply a place to bring their kids while they are at work, then the 9-3 sounds like it may work best. I would, however, prefer the two half-day classes. Wha...See MoreWow, you really are a fountain of information!! Thanks so much! I'm pondering whether to have the two half-day classes or just the one class every day. If parents are looking for a "daycare" or simply a place to bring their kids while they are at work, then the 9-3 sounds like it may work best. I would, however, prefer the two half-day classes. What are the parent newsletters that you mentioned? Finally, since I'm a reading teacher I plan to have the little ones immersed in literacy...that will be my focus. Hopefully, that will be a "draw" for parents who are looking for a good preschool.

11/08/12, maureen wrote: > I have actually done this three times. I opened my > first one in our carriage > house out back of our house in the mid 80's. It had to > be heated, electricity, plumbing, etc as it was > completely unfinished. Very charming environment. > Zoning is an issue to consider. Some subdivisions do > not allow home businesses so you will need to look at > that. Back when I opened our first school, I went to > the library and looked up the laws of our state. There > were very few so I contacted the state representative > and told him what we planned on doing. Basically he > said as long as I could find paying families, I could > do whatever I wanted. (doesn't say much about our > state, but private preschools fall under the same > umbrella as homeschooling which has a very strong and > successful lobby group). We also didn't get the zoning > changed. The neighbors knew what we were doing with > their blessing. However, they didn't want the zoning to > change as that would set a precedent for the > neighborhood (allowing business) so we co existed for > years with no problems. I had two five day classes. > 9-11:30 and 12:30-3. I didn't know anyone in my town > since I worked in a neighboring city. However, we > decided to do this in early July and opened right after > Labor Day. I opened with 3 students in the morning and > 6 in the afternoon. I eventually added a lunch program > where the children could either stay that extra hour or > come an hour earlier. It was a nice little extra > income. The children brought their own lunches from > home. I had a max of 12 children for the space and I > was full after that first year all the years I was > opened. I didn't advertise at all either. It was all > word of mouth. > > The second school we opened was in a different city. > This time we opened in a commercial space. It was tough > the first years but the enrollment grew and I was > happy. Until.....I opened a second classroom which I > still regret to this day. What it boils down to is that > I couldn't clone myself and that it was very difficult > to find good help. We did that for 10 years until our > lease ran out so we downsized and moved to our home. > That decision was made in November and we reopened in > January. We went through our state licensing for > "day care" and I was only allowed 10 students > at a time in the classroom. That was fine because that > was a good number for the space which was our family > room and dining room combination. I only offered five > days a week and they came 9AM to 3PM. I utilized the > federal food program and was able to offer very > healthy, hot lunches and snacks. The parents were > thrilled that they didn't have to pack lunches anymore. > I was reimbursed for the meals (not all but pretty > much). I am an excellent cook and the children were > introduced to and developed some new tastes and foods > that were very good for them. It was a win-win > situation. The parents paid $500 a month for nine > months and I offered a summer program that was always > full, too. I think that was usually a 10 week option. I > had two weeks off before starting summer, had the week > of the 4th off and usually had almost a month off in > August before starting again. I would still have it in > my home as I loved it except that our family was > growing up and not having a basement, we needed our > space back for our family. The insurance was not too > much added to our home insurance premium (since we were > licensed that helped)and our accountant was able to > figure out the credit percentage we got off our > mortgage and utilities. We were able to live on my > income. I worked a part time retail job to get health > insurance. > > Of the three, very different experiences, I enjoyed my > first school the most because I loved the classroom > environment and outside space (very enchanting). It was > having it at home yet a completely separate space. The > school in the commercial building was exciting to watch > it grow like it did in the early years but I never was > able to get the place homey enough for my liking. It > was in a very ugly building. I liked it in my home > following all the requirements to do so, but I hated > taking all those really asinine day care classes to > keep my licensing. Those were for people who lacked > education and experience in early childhood education. > Let's just say they needed to offer classes that were > meaningful for people who knew what they were doing or > let us test out of them. > > So, there are a lot of things to consider when opening > a preschool. I have only worked in this age of student > population and my training was for this age group. > There is a big difference developmentally between a > three or four year old and even a six or seven year > old. I was very knowledgeable in my chosen age group > and parents quickly realized that I knew my stuff. That > was helped grow my business - my reputation and > expertise. They could tell when they walked into my > classroom that this place was special and was full of > intriguing materials and activities. I did not have > anything made of plastic - everything was made of > natural wood, woven baskets, etc. We were a very green > environment. > > You will need to figure out what type of program you > will be offering and what makes your program stand out > from the others. Advertising is important especially in > the beginning. I had a small monthly ad in a local > parent newsletter so that the name of my school was > always "out there". I think newspaper ads are > a total waste of money. It is much better to have some > unique event and have a picture and story to "tell > your story". > > I am an unlimited fountain of information so I could > write for hours. lol If you have more specific > questions, I will try to answer them.

Nov 8, 2012

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maureen On 11/08/12, Ann wrote: > Wow, you really are a fountain of information!! Thanks so > much! I'm pondering whether to have the two half-day > classes or just the one class every day. If parents are > looking for a "daycare" or simply a place to bring their > kids while they are at work, then the 9-3 sounds like it > may work best. ...See More

Nov 8, 2012

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Wondering Thanks everyone! This would definately be a commercial property. I do worry about the cost of property and upkeep of bills vs the amount I'd take home. My friend and I want to co-teach both classes (3's and the 4's). I have to be honest.........preschool does scare me a bit. I'm used to first grade.

What kind of behaviors do you have? Do ...See More

Nov 8, 2012

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maureen On 11/08/12, Wondering wrote: > Thanks everyone! This would definately be a commercial property. I > do worry about the cost of property and upkeep of bills vs the > amount I'd take home. My friend and I want to co-teach both classes > (3's and the 4's). I have to be honest.........preschool does scare > me a bit. I'm used to first g...See MoreOn 11/08/12, Wondering wrote: > Thanks everyone! This would definately be a commercial property. I > do worry about the cost of property and upkeep of bills vs the > amount I'd take home. My friend and I want to co-teach both classes > (3's and the 4's). I have to be honest.........preschool does scare > me a bit. I'm used to first grade. > > What kind of behaviors do you have? Do you have lots of fit > throwing and behaviors because they are so young? Is it more > managable then in a public school? > > Thanks!

What it all comes down to is that this is a business you are planning. You should have at least a year to get by without a profit to start. You should also have a business plan down to the last detail with a reasonable budget. When you start hiring employees, you not only have to pay their salary but figure double as you add things like social security, etc. You usually have to have a deposit to hold the place unless you know someone who is willing to give you a deal. Most preschools I know have started either in someone's basement or rented space in a church until the clientele is built up. You have to consider location, location, location. What will your drop off and pick up plan be. In our town one has to have so many parking places alotted according to the square footage of the building. That was unrealistic in our situation as we never had every car parked there at the same time and parents dropped off the child at the door and the teacher brought the child in.

You will need so many students to cover costs which can include a website, phone service, utilities, insurance, salaries, as well as the big ticket expenses like fencing, playground equipment, materials, furniture, etc. Since parents of this age child do NOT like large class sizes and it is unrealistic to try to run the bigger classes alone for many reasons you will have to hire an assistant unless you have a parent willing to volunteer in exchange for free tuition.

As for behavior issues. I rarely had any but then again, I was trained for this age group. My classes in the commercial building were anywhere between 20 and 27 but I had a huge room and large classes are preferred for the type of preschool I am trained for. We don't want the children dependent on adults, but to work together as a community (we had multiage with children between the ages of 2 1/2 through 6 years) in the same classroom. The older children served as role models and some even were like having another assistant they were so good with the younger children. The few tantrums I had involved the child and his or her relationship with the parent and usually occurred at arrival or dismissal when the parent was there or had just left.

This age of children developmentally is very different from children 7- 8 years of age. If their needs are being met, then the tantrums should be non existent. I don't mean to discourage you, but these younger children are not just little first graders. They are all very capable, but one can not expect them to "perform" and act like those older children of age 6-7 years. I had very specialized training to run a preschool classroom that incorporated all the curriculum areas of science, mathematics, art, music, sensorial, learning practical life skills (the cornerstone of the philosophy), language - pre reading and pre writing as well as written and reading, geography. The children taught themselves using the materials out on the shelf and I served more as a guide. Our classroom library was almost all non fiction and it was loaded with books to delight their inquisitive minds. I rarely did large group activities except with creative movement and fingerplays. The rest of the time, the children worked independently, with a peer or in a small group or with me. The children were always on the move but it was purposeful movement that was controlled by self. There was always a "happy buzz" as the children worked throughout their day. It wasn't loud, just not perfectly quiet and that is the natural way it should be with the children.

This is just s small picture of what I experienced. Each school is different and usually reflects the teacher's preference. If you don't try to control the children and help them learn self control and intrinsic motivation, then you won't have children rebelling and exhibiting obnoxious behaviors. Each day is different and it is very rewarding if the match of age child with the adults is good.

I am sure you will get more feedback from others. I just don't want you to go into this blind without realizing some of the pitfalls and challenges. You were wise to be asking the questions you are asking.

Nov 8, 2012

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Alyssa Someone mentioned converting her 2-car garage. That would be great if I had a garage. My house has a horrible basement that does not lend itself to anything, much less a preschool! Do you think it would be worthwhile to purchase a fixer-upper raised ranch house at a cheap price and use the basement area for a pre-school? Thanks....hope to hear from...See More

Nov 17, 2012

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