Start a childcare business

Statutory guidance requires us to encourage existing providers to expand their provision and new providers to enter the local childcare market.

The steps below will help you start your childcare business. 

Step 1

Analyse the competition and decide whether there is a gap in the market for your childcare setting. The sufficiency assessment below will help you establish where childcare may be needed.

• West Sussex childcare sufficiency assessment (PDF, 809KB)

Step 2

Read the following guidance to help you plan high quality, sustainable childcare.

Guidance for schools

• Developing childcare provision (PDF, 891KB)
• Selecting a high quality provider to run childcare at your school (PDF, 1MB)
• Consultation toolkit (PDF, 657KB)

Guidance for private, voluntary or independent (PVI) providers

• Supporting Early Years providers to run sustainable businesses
• Early Years Business Zone
• Consultation toolkit (PDF, 657KB)

Step 3

When you are ready to proceed, complete the form below to request support.

We will contact you to discuss the next steps.