PACEY has produced a COVID-19 childcare toolkit to support providers with running their business during the pandemic. COVID has been a challenging time for us all, and we’re here to offer support and advice about the day-to-day running of a childcare business during coronavirus.

The COVID-19 childcare toolkit includes the following sections:

COVID-19 paperwork is designed to help protect childcare providers and the families they work with during the pandemic. Includes sample policies and procedures, COVID-19 risk assessments and visitor agreement templates.

Managing your setting offers downloadable support and advice tackling key topics, such as symptoms and illness, social distancing, and drop offs and pickups.

Practitioner experience offers real life examples of how settings have adapted during coronavirus, including new and flexible ways of working.

For further support, you can also take a look at our Spotlight on Coronavirus pages.

Business Smart is a dedicated area of the PACEY website. The resources in this area were developed by childcare providers as a one-stop shop for all things related to starting up and running a successful childcare business.

Browse the sections below to learn more: 

You can also take a look through some of our real-life childcare case studies for ideas and inspiration on subjects including marketing a childcare business and delivering the 30 hours sustainably.

EY smart offers free, CPD-certified training for everyone working in early years and childcare. Whether a childcare provider is new to the industry or has 30 years’ experience under their belt – EY smart has something for everyone.

The innovative learning platform includes interactive, engaging courses that take just 10-15 minutes to complete. Courses can be done on any device, at any time.

To find out more, or to share with your local childcare providers, download the EY smart leaflet. You can also explore the course themes.  

It’s easy to register and this user-friendly approach to learning enables childcare providers to fit CPD around their busy schedules, supporting them to take steps towards professional development and quality improvement. The short courses are designed to build confidence and encourage reflective practice. There are also simple next steps and ideas, as well as an easy way for childcare providers to keep track of CPD, by earning EY smart stars as they go!

The EY smart Facebook group offers a sense of community for childcare providers, wherever they are located, and allows people to share their ideas and support for each other.

SearchChildcare is a directory that’s completely free for both childcare providers and parents to use, supporting childcare providers to advertise their settings quickly and easily, and supporting parents to find high quality childcare in their local area.

Creating a profile is easy and takes just a few minutes. Providers can link to their Ofsted report, and tailor their profiles with photos, descriptions and funding information.

PACEY has produced a step-by-step guide on how to create a profile – making it quick and easy for childcare providers to start advertising their business. 

PACEY’s Spotlight section is packed with ideas to support childcare professionals. Subjects include caring for 2-year-olds; 30 hours funding; supporting families; promoting positive diversity; safeguarding, GDPR; special educational needs; nutrition, and much more.

When childcare providers click on their chosen subject, they’ll be taken through to information, ideas and resources. An invaluable tool for childcare providers at any stage of their career.

Play to Learn
PACEY created the Play to Learn Facebook group to provide an environment that promotes and shares simple activities and routines for children. These can be created and delivered at home or at a childcare setting for little or no cost, whilst supporting children’s learning and development. The perfect platform for encouraging partnership working between childcare providers and parents.

First steps to childminding
First steps to childminding is a supportive network for people wishing to become childminders. This Facebook group is the ideal place to direct anyone in your local area who’s thinking about making the move into childcare.

The First steps to childminding group is also useful for newly registered childminders, or those undertaking pre-registration training.

Ideas for creative childcare
At PACEY, we know that thousands of childcare providers have amazing creative ideas to share. That’s why we’ve created this fun Facebook group, where providers can upload photos and videos of creative activities at their settings.

Ideas for creative childcare is a fantastic group for childcare providers to join for tips and inspiration. 

Many childcare providers care for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). A child may be diagnosed with a condition before joining a childcare setting, or the provider may be involved in identifying a special educational need or disability.

We understand that high quality childcare is vital for supporting children with SEND. The information below forms part of our Spotlight on SEND page, created to help childcare providers to understand SEND, the SEND Code of Practice and what it means for them. There’s also a case study about the rewarding benefits of caring for children with SEND.  

Video – meet PACEY childminders caring for disabled children

What is SEND?

What is the SEND Code of Practice?

What does the SEND Code of Practice mean for me?  

Case study: Caring for a child with SEND and claiming the 2-year-old funding – read Cathy’s story