How to Start an After-school Program Out of Your Home
There are several reasons why a person would want to start an after-school program for children out of their home, because they love working with kids, they enjoy teaching or because they want to start a home based business. Truthfully, all of these should factor into the equation of why you would want to enter into this arena of entrepreneurship. Starting a program like this out of your home makes much more sense than renting a space for the business as it's cheaper since you already pay rent or a mortgage on your home. Of course your home has to be big enough to accommodate the amount of children you want to take into your program.
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Instructions
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Attend a childcare licensing class. The first thing you want to do is locate the local childcare council or other childcare licensing facility in your community. Although this business is not a "childcare" business in the sense of your regular daycare, you will be supervising and caring for children, just in an academic capacity. Once you have done this, there is usually some sort of class or orientation that you will be required to attend prior to getting your childcare license. These classes are usually one day, but a necessary investment of your time. They tell you everything that will be expected of you and your facility.
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Conduct a background check. After attending your required class, the next step is to get a fingerprinted background check. This has to be done for every person age 18 and up that lives in the home where the business is located. It can be done down at the local police department or you can find a business in your community that provides this service. The cost of this is usually anywhere from $20 to $60 per person, depending on where you get it done.
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Submit your license application. Once you have done this, go ahead and submit your application for your facility license along with any other required documents. You will probably have to provide a sketch of your facility that includes an emergency exit route. Usually after all this is done, an appointment is set with the licensing agency for a representative to come out and inspect your home to make sure it is safe and properly equipped for childcare. When the inspector arrives, the facility must be ready to receive the first child. Your licensing agency will tell you what they will be looking for.
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Gather the required materials. While all of the licensing business is going on, you should also be getting together age-appropriate learning materials for the program. This could include computer programs, grade-appropriate workbooks, a reading program, a small library with childrens' books and a cabinet to keep a file and folder for each student. Set up your program schedule so that you know exactly how the day is going to be run. Get your rules and regulations together for the students and the parents. Get in writing your prices, how and when you want to be paid and drop off and pick up procedures. You may decide you want to provide transportation for an additional fee or for free, whatever you like. Doing all of these things will help your program run much smoother. Once you've done all this, including advertising and getting students signed up, you're ready for business.
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