You have not ended up here by mistake. Are you here because you considering a career in child care, but have some questions before you commit? I am here to tell you to stay locked in because you are about to get all your answers.
What Is A Creche Management Course?
Firstly let us elaborate on what exactly it is you are looking for. If you are considering adding a creche management short course to your bunch of professional keys, there are a couple of things you need to be aware of.
- You will not directly be caring for children
- It is more like managing a business
- The work environment can be testing, but the gratuity is endless
What Are Creche Management Course Requirements?
The great news is that to gain entry into the field of creche management, there are not a lot of requirements. In order to unlock the door to your creche management course you need to:
- Be open to distance learning
- Be fluent in the English language
- Be above 16 years of age
As simple as 1, 2, 3!
What Is The Role Of A Manager In A Creche?
If you are wondering what exactly would be expected of you as a creche manager, here are a couple of key aspects
- Leading
- Planning
- Coordinate
- Observation
Leading
What does it mean to lead in a creche environment? To not just lead, but be a good one you need to develop trust within your colleagues and also build relationships with the parents of the children. As a leader, you should be empathetic and also be willing to be led.
Planning
In order to execute anything seamlessly, you have to first devise a plan. You have to know what your objectives are and be able to put in the planning that will be your journey to achieving any goals that you may have set within your plan. This may include developing structures that will allow your creche to function effectively.
Coordinate
To coordinate within the creche means to follow through with the plans you have devised. It is ensuring that the objectives are carried out according to the plan which you have put in place. Coordinate can also mean reinforcing structures that have been put in place.
Observations
Once you have provided leadership and put plans in place, and coordinated those plans, you also need to see if those plans are working for your organization. You will have to monitor whether your personnel’s behaviour in fact moves towards the common goal of the organization.
Taking the above into account, it is also important to remember that you, as manager of the creche, will become an ambassador for its brand and should also be able to make difficult decisions in the interest of the organization.
What Qualifications Do I Need To Look After Children?
There may not be any hard requirements for stepping into the childcare sector, but there are ways you can boost your employability, such as getting a creche management short course certificate.
What Are The Advantages Of Doing A Creche Management Short Course?
Now that you know what is expected of you when looking into creche management, here are some reasons why it would be beneficial to you as well as what such a course will entail.
What Are The Benefits Of Doing A Creche Management Short Course?
Besides being part of the very first safety net for our future leader’s education, opting for a creche management short course also holds the following benefits
- Cost efficiency
- Gain insight into the field of choice
- Educating yourself in a short time span
- No matric needed
- Learn Workplace Ethics
Cost Efficiency
You can find yourself saving a pretty penny by doing a creche management short course. You will only pay for the time it takes you to study the course and to me that sounds like a steal.
Gain Insight Into The Field Of Choice
Doing a creche management short course will award you with a sneak peek of what it takes to manage a creche as well as what will be expected of you as a creche manager.
Educating Yourself In A Short Time Span
Enrolling in traditional learning can often see you sacrificing a lot of your time not with distance learning short courses. In just 4 months you will be provided with a better understanding of the field you will be studying.
No Matric Needed
Did I mention that you do not need a matric certificate in order to do a creche management short course? Thanks to our wide range of open access courses, not having matric is no longer a hurdle in your educational journey.
Learn Workplace Ethics
If you are just stepping into the workforce and are still unsure about how to conduct yourself in a business setting, doing the creche management short course will empower you with the skills to be both well-spoken and business savvy.
What Will I Learn In A Creche Management Short Course?
In order to determine whether you have the capacity to pursue a creche management short course, you need to know exactly what you getting yourself into. Here is what you will be introduced to in the creche management short course
- Business English
- In-person Communication
- Creche Management and Human Resources
What Is Business English?
Ever wanted to approach a CEO about a prospective business idea or finally write that email to an institution you have been wanting to contact for so long? Learning Business English will put confidence in both your speech and writing.
In-person Communication
After teaching you how to conduct yourself in a business setting, the creche management short course will also focus on verbal communication, teaching you how to pick up on verbal cues and express your opinion.
Creche Management and Human Resources
You will be taken into the administrative side of creche management and will also be enlightened on what regulations creches are subject to. You will also be taught how to manage people and how to mediate effectively.
Are Short Course Certificates Worth It?
Yes, it definitely is! Besides educating yourself in a short timeframe, certain employers do recognize short course certificates. Enrolling in short courses also adds to your CV, which in turn increases your chances of employment.
How Do I Get A Creche Management Short Course Certificate?
Now that you know what a creche management short course is and what it entails, let us get you on your way to securing that certificate.
Can I Study Creche Management Without Matric?
Certainly, you can! With the requirements only being understanding the English language and being 16 years of age or older, anyone with a genuine love of children and the eagerness to see them develop can pursue a career in childcare.
How Much Does A Creche Management Short Course Cost?
The benefit of doing a short course is that it will not put you out of pocket. If you want more information on how you can get a payment plan tailored to your budget you could also contact 0800390027 absolutely toll-free or alternatively fill out an online form and a course specialist will call you back.
How Do I Get A Certificate For Creche Management?
The creche management short course is only one of three options available to you when it comes to creche management courses. Though the following options may not be a short course, they will also award you with a deeper understanding of creche management.
| Course: | Crèche Management: Short Course Certificate | Crèche Management: Certificate Course | Crèche Management: Comprehensive Certificate Course |
| Length of Course: | 4 months | 8 months | 12 months |
| Entry Requirements: | None | None | None |
| Course Covers: |
| In addition to the short course it also covers:
| In addition to the certificate course it also covers:
|
| Awarded Upon Completion: | Short Course Certificate | Proficiency Certificate | Comprehensive Certificate |
You can choose where to start and what level of experience you are looking for. If you are really pressed for time and not entirely certain of your career path, I would recommend doing the creche management short course first so you can get a feel of the industry.
Where Can I Do A Creche Management Short Course?
We have discussed the hows and whys of creche management. Allow me to direct you to where you can do your creche management short course.
Welcome to Skills Academy, where supporting you on your distance learning journey is their main focus. At Skills Academy they really made benefitting you a priority, with options to pay as you study and not a cent more.
Want to further your education without matric or simply complete or upgrade your matric? Matric College is the choice for you! Matric College also has a variety of short courses for you to elevate your education without matric.
What Is Needed To Open A Creche?
Now if you are looking to start your own creche there are a couple of regulations that you need to be aware of.
The Minimum Standards To Open A Creche
As per the Department of Social Development the following guidelines are set in place to ensure the safety of young children.
- Infrastructure must be clean, safe, and well-ventilated
- Precautions must be taken to protect against fire hazards
- There needs to be at least 1.5 indoor and 2 square meters of outdoor play spaces per child
- All equipment must be safe and appropriate for the age and amount of children in the creche
Be aware that these are only the minimum requirements, there are additional requirements based on the number of children you plan on accepting and specific requirements per different spaces within the creche.
How Is A Creche Funded?
Besides the income from creche fees and fundraisers, the Department of Social Development has dedicated a subsidy to registered ECD (Early Childhood Development) centers for children 0-4 years of age, given that the caregivers pass an income means test.
How Do I Start A Creche At Home?
Starting a creche from home may be a bit more technical than you thought, however, it does not have to be. Once you have all the information you need, you should be able to know where to start. Starting a creche from home requires the following
- Planning
- Funds
- Registration
- Capacity
- Child Welfare
- Venue
- Advertising
- Contracts
Planning
Think of starting a creche as you would any other business, you need to plan accordingly. Devise a business plan. What are your goals? What will you need? What resources do you have? List absolutely everything and then hop on over to the next step.
Funds
There are various ways to get funding for your creche. Some are more long-term than others, but all great things take time. These methods include:
- Saving
- Consider a loan
- Recruit friends and family
- Government funding
Whatever your choice of funding, ensure that it’s something that you will be able to afford both mentally and financially.
Registration
In order to be considered for government funding your creche needs to be registered with the Department of Social Development. Before your creche will be registered it will also have to meet the aforementioned minimum requirements.
Capacity
Ask yourself whether you are professionally qualified to run a creche. Have you completed the creche management short course or any other equivalent course? Another thing to consider is the experience of the staff you decide on employing too. Parents will be more inclined to trust experienced carers.
Child Welfare
You also have to think about what you will be offering to children and parents that will distinguish you from your competitors. Things to take into account are also which activities will you be offering children and how parents will be able to interact too. Do some market research, see what the competitors are offering, and try to improve on that.
Venue
You will also need to decide where you will be operating from and consider the minimum requirements for operating a creche. Based on the number of children you decide on having you should be able to decide whether operating from home would work or whether you will have to find a more formal location.
Advertising
At last! My favorite part of starting any business. Marketing. Once you have decided how many children you plan on enrolling, you can decide how far or how wide you would like to spread your business. With everyone moved over into the digital age, it is highly recommended that you start a social media page as this provides credibility to your cause. Other effective marketing recommendations will be to:
- Find your brand
- Target your audience
- Keep promoting
Contracts
With any formal institution there has to be legal agreements set in place to document the agreement between a provider and the consumer. Consider drawing up a contract that will specify the rules and regulations of your creche, that way parents will know what to expect and also what will be expected of them.
What Qualifications Are Needed To Open A Creche?
You may not need any prerequisites to enroll in a creche management short course, but in order to open a creche in South Africa or anywhere in the world you would need to have some formal qualification to get you on your way to opening a creche. Some of these qualifications include:
- Crèche Management Courses
Where you will learn the necessary people skills to operate a creche effectively.
- Child Psychology Courses
In these courses you will be given insight into the minds of children and how you will be able to aid their academic development.
- Child Day Care Courses
Will educate you on how to nurture young children as well as how you will be able to develop their little minds. - First Aid Course
Not just beneficial to a creche environment, doing a first aid course will empower you with the ability to take control of a medical emergency wherever you are.
Does A Creche Have To Be Registered?
Whether or not your creche needs to be registered depends on the number of children you choose to have attending your creche. If you intend on having less than 6 children at your creche, you do not have to register your creche but still have to adhere to the minimum requirements for ECD facilities set out by the DSD. Now if you plan on accepting more than 6 children in your creche you will need to register your creche.
How Do I Register My Creche With The Department Of Education?
Once all your plans have been set in motion, you will need to register your creche, and here is exactly how you can do that.
- Apply for registration at your nearest Department of Social Development.
- Ensure that you have
- Your personal details
- The address of your facility
- Number of children you hope to accommodate
- Your qualifications
- Activities your creche will be offering
- Submitting your application, you will need to have:
- A disciplinary policy
- Fees you will be charging per child
- Hours of operation
- Number of staff
- Creche plan
- A constitution including:
- Name of your creche
- Duties of management
- A Certificate of Acceptability
- Emergency plan
- Police Clearance Certificate
- If you intend on using formal infrastructure, you will also need:
- Originally approved building plans
- Originally approved building plans
- Expect ongoing assessment visits from the DSD and local municipality
Where Can I Check If My Creche Is Registered?
If you’re a parent with some concerns about whether your child’s creche is registered you can have a look on the Western Cape Government website. They have a list of facilities that are either registered or in the process of registration.
Why Is Starting A Creche A Good Investment?
Not just the soul satisfaction of being part of someone’s foundation for learning, running a creche could actually prove to be a rewarding experience.
What Makes A Creche Profitable?
“Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.” – John.F. Kennedy. With that being said, let’s dive into reasons creches are profitable.
- Double-Income Households
- High Birth Rates In South Africa
- Time Spent In Creche
Double-income Households
Majority of the reasons that there is a need for a creche, is because both parents are employed this means that you would have the security of knowing that fees will be paid at the end of the day.
High Birth Rates In South Africa
As of 2023, the current birth rate is 18.994 births per 1000 people. A high birth rate means capitalization for the creche industry.
Time Spent in Creche
The average child spends 5 years in a creche, if you multiply that by the number of children you have in your creche and take into consideration what your creche fees are, clearly you can see how profitable running a creche is.
What Are The Long-Term Benefits Of Running A Creche?
Once you have your goal in mind, you may also think about how managing a creche will benefit you in the long run. As a parent, there is nothing more beautiful than watching your child grow up, as a creche manager you will be part of this process. It really is rewarding watching all those little humans grow and develop into their own characters.
How Can I Be A Good Creche Manager?
The mere fact that you would like to know how to be a good creche manager already says a lot about your managerial capabilities. Let us have a look at what makes a good creche manager:
- Practicing Open Communication
- Value Trust
- Practice Honesty
- Conflict Resolution
- Resilience
Practicing Open Communication
Too often the act of communication is categorized by how you verbalize your thoughts and opinions, but good communication is truly about your ability to listen and acknowledge. As a creche manager, you should listen twice as much as you speak, it is accepting input from your staff and acknowledging their opinions.
Value Trust
Trust will be the foundation on which your creche is built. Without trust, managing the creche effectively can prove challenging. As a manager, you need to build trust, not only with your staff but also with the parents of the children. Placing a child in a creche is a major act of trust on the parent’s behalf.
Practice Honesty
If you expect both parents and your staff to be honest with you about things they are facing, you need to practice honesty. When you display honesty and transparency about where you are as management, more likely that honesty will be returned by your staff.
Conflict Resolution
Especially in a creche setting more often than not you will find conflict. The conflict between children, the conflict between staff even conflict from parents. Your role as manager will count on your ability to diffuse situations and mediate both parties’ interests.
Resilience
Lastly, being a good manager will require you to be resilient above all else. When most of your income is dependent on the timely receipt of creche fees, life happens and it may not always work in your favor. You may not break even the first couple of times, but how you bounce back from that matters.
Why Is Creche Important For Children?
A lot of your child’s initial social skills will be developed in a creche setting, this is why it is important for them to be amongst children their own age. Amongst other reasons are also:
- Development
- Preparation for School
Development
Children’s brains develop when they learn new things. In a creche, there are programs set in place to aid that development.
Preparation For School
Adjusting to a creche environment is highly beneficial especially when making the transition from creche to school. Children who have been in creche prior to entering school, adjust easily and may display better social skills as well.
What Is One Responsibility Of Creche?
Creche forms a crucial part of a young child’s development. Being in creche helps the little one with their social development as well as economic development.
How Does A Good Creche Benefit The Child?
As an educator or creche manager, you will also need to be aware of how operating a good creche will benefit the child. Parents lock in, this one will enlighten you to:
- Promotes Independence
- Boosts Confidence
- Increases Communication
- Aids Academic Achievement
- Helps With Transitioning To School
What Age Is Good For Creche?
Ideally, you would want your child to be able to walk or be able to say at least one or more words when you enroll them in a creche. Most experts advise that 12 months would suffice, however in South Africa majority of workplaces only offer 4 months of maternity leave. So you could see infants entering creche as young as 3 – 4 months old.
I trust you have latched on to every word of this article and now you have the tools to unlock your future creche management short course.
Frequently Asked Questions
Even though some workplaces require you to have a degree, the great news is that you can still have a decent-paying job with a short course too!
I know the thought has crossed your mind too. Let us look at what makes the difference.
| Creche | Vs | Daycare |
|---|---|---|
| 0 – 5 years | Age of children | 0 – 5+ years |
| Less Structured | Structure | More Structured |
| Normally 8 hours in a work day | Hours of Operation | Often for a full day |
Depending on your work schedule as a parent, you can make a choice between daycares or creche.
If you wondering what exactly do children learn in creche, I did too and got the answers for us:
- Discipline
- Social skills
- Composure
- Analytical skills
Are you looking to elevate your career, but do not want to wait a very long time to do so? Well, here are some of the best short courses that are currently highly sought after in South Africa
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Marketing
- Sales Management
- Project Management
These are only four many short courses that are in high demand. So if you are thinking about short courses, the answer is yes!
Author: Roegshana Pamplin
Editor: Connor Bergsma
Date Published: October 27, 2023