Changing the world one child at a time
Impact Report
2014
Who we are
Quick facts
The London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) is a family of 27 nurseries across London.
for year ending September 2014
We work with parents and communities to enrich and extend children’s learning, so each child is the best they can be.
27nurseries
Largest social enterprise
For the last 111 years we’ve seen our organisation as a catalyst for long-term social change, not just a successful business. By supporting the next generation of people who will shape our world to become happy and successful adults, we’re changing the world one child at a time.
nursery group in the UK
111 years of operation 2,600 children given a
We’re a social enterprise, and that means...
LEYF nursery experience
Supporting disadvantaged families
7 Ofsted inspections
3 ‘Outstanding’ and 4 ‘Good’
90% customer
satisfaction
£11.1m of nursery places 48%free for parents turnover
389 27 inApprentices training staff
Printed September 2014. All information was correct at the time of printing.
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“My son totally flourished at the nursery and developed beyond his age.” Rebecca, parent at Queens Park Community Nursery
We support 48% of our families with a free nursery place, so children from disadvantaged backgrounds can access early years education and care, and their parents can work. That means children from different backgrounds get to know each other, which is proven to have a positive impact on the development of all children. We also run nurseries in disadvantaged areas where there wouldn’t otherwise be a nursery available.
Profits used to increase impact All our profits go straight back into the business, making us a sustainable and growing organisation.
Unique curriculum We’ve designed a research-based curriculum that supports children to grow up as confident and inquisitive explorers who love learning.
Apprenticeships We give young adults an opportunity to train and start a career through our Apprenticeship Programme.
Campaigning We go beyond supporting children in our nurseries. We speak up for all London’s children by campaigning to government and Ofsted for fair and appropriate early years policies and regulations, so the whole early years sector is working in the best interests of children and families.
We’re ambitious for our children, we’re ambitious for our staff and we’re ambitious for the wider early years sector.
Impact Report 2014
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Our story
Our ambition, purpose & values
LEYF began life as the Westminster Health Society in 1903, a time of poverty and shockingly high mortality. Our three founders embarked on an ambitious plan to change their world for the better. Over 100 years before the first official children’s centre and 45 years before the NHS, we helped introduce the first health visiting programme in London, including health education and training, clinics for maternal and child welfare and training in domestic skills. It was largely due to our three founders that maternal and child welfare and personal health services came into being in Westminster. During the Second World War, we opened our first nursery to support mothers working in the war effort. During the Blitz the nursery was temporarily housed in the air raid shelter of the Tate gallery! As the needs of the community changed over the 20th century and health conditions improved, we focussed our services on providing early years education and care through our nurseries, continuing to enable parents to work and children to get the best start in life. In 2006 we began the journey to becoming a social enterprise to make us financially self-sustaining, and allowing us to offer the same high quality nursery experience to families across the city regardless of their background. In 2009 the organisation was renamed London Early Years Foundation as we moved beyond Westminster, recognising the importance of scaling and replicating our model. Today we are one of London’s largest and most successful charitable social enterprises, inspired by the same passion and bravery of our pioneering founders, working to change the world one child at a time. 4
Our ambition
Changing the world one child at a time. Our purpose Together with families and communities we enable each child to be the best they can be through wonderful experiences that enrich and extend their learning.
Our values
INSPIRING
We encourage continuous development for children and staff. We challenge each other to question and explore so we learn together.
BRAVE
We are curious, bold and adventurous. We push boundaries and test new ideas, always standing up for the rights of children.
NURTURING Fun We are warm, caring, loving and welcoming. We create safe and homely environments for each child.
We are imaginative and creative and learn through play.
“What do I look for as soon as I step into an early years setting? Fun and a real sense of excited purpose by the staff and children. That’s exactly the package you get in every LEYF nursery. I have never seen an organisation that so positively promotes the wellbeing of staff, children and their parents in such a meaningful and vibrant way.” Sue Chambers, Early Years Expert Impact Report 2014
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Scaling our impact
Our social impact Our ambition is to change the world one child at a time.
To increase our impact, we need to reach more children. We’re very grateful to have secured £1.25m in investment through Big Issue Invest, Bridges Ventures, Clearly So and Social Business Trust. This will allow us to double the number of nurseries in the LEYF family over the next three years and give 6,000 children a LEYF nursery experience each year.
The experiences children have before age five set them up for the rest of their lives, and research shows that nursery education best supports children’s early development. By giving children a nursery education, and supporting their parents to work, we’re helping whole communities to thrive now and in the future.
The LEYF impact model 48% of nursery places offered free, in some of the most disadvantaged parts of London
High quality, research-based nursery education and care, in partnership with communities
Giving children from all backgrounds the best chance of being happy, healthy and successful
Supporting parents to extend their children’s learning at home.
Apprenticeships
Campaigning for early years policies that are in the best interests of children and families
Enabling parents to work & unemployed people to find jobs
We do this in three main ways – start-up nurseries, Local Authority contracts and taking on existing nurseries.
This map shows the boroughs where we have nurseries now, and the boroughs where we plan to open a LEYF nursery in the near future! If you are interesting in partnering with us, please contact Louise Cooper, Director of Business Development on louise@leyf.org.uk
Current boroughs Barking & Dagenham Tower Hamlets Lambeth Kensington & Chelsea Westminster Camden Southwark
Whole communities thrive
Changing the world one child at a time We measure our impact for children using a model based on the factors that have the biggest effect on children’s development – the amount of time children spend at nursery, the quality of teaching and care at nursery, and the reinforcement of learning at home. We call this the LEYF SUM. 6
In 2104 we will expand into three new boroughs with at least six new nurseries (either open or in development).
We are building relationships with housing associations, local authorities and property developers to help us achieve our goal.We’re always looking for new partners who can help us start LEYF nurseries in areas where they’re needed most.
Impact Report 2014
Next step boroughs Ealing Hackney Lewisham Wandsworth Islington Hammersmith & Fulham Greenwich 7
Our approach to learning
“The staff are am azing. They care for ea ch child as if they were their own. My son de veloped as I would only dream of. LEYF in one word: OUTSTANDING !” Maria, parent at Leys Children’s Centre Nursery
As a social enterprise we’re not only interested in running a successful business, we’re focussed on developing children’s natural curiosity and confidence so they leave nursery as inquisitive explorers who love learning. We’ve created our own pedagogical approach.
Home learning Conversations with parents to extend and enrich children’s development between home and nursery.
Leadership for a culture of excellence We believe in what we do and live our values every day.
Multigenerational approach Connecting with the local community so families grow together and find their place in a changing world.
Spiral curriculum Extending and supporting children to reach their potential. Enabling environments Using the nursery space, indoors and out, to create exciting learning opportunities. Harmonious relationships Building loving relationships between staff, children and parents.
h “We have been thrilled wit ed. eiv rec the care our son has l ua He is treated as an individ and the time and effort o that the staff have put int s ha getting to know him amazed us, making it not t for only easier for my son bu us too!” am Rania, parent at Marsh ry rse Nu Street Community
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Impact Report 2014
Safe, fit and healthy Nutritious home-cooked food, encouraging our children to be active and keeping them safe.
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The stories behind the statistics
Financial Review
Holly and Lily’s story Only a few months after her daughter, Lily, started at Bessborough, Holly had recommended LEYF to three of her friends. She was especially impressed with the quality of the education and how quickly Lily started to learn new words. “LEYF nurseries stand out because of the fantastic staff, who are kind, professional and more approachable than other nurseries,” Holly says. Holly was so inspired by Lily’s Key Worker, Catherine, that she joined LEYF’s apprenticeship programme!
LEYF has grown, both financially and in terms of the number of children and families that are part of the LEYF family. Holly realised her passion for the early years after watching Lily flourish through the care of Catherine and the other staff at Bessborough, and realised not only the importance of early years education and care, but also how rewarding working at a nursery can be. We’re very pleased to welcome Holly to the LEYF team and are thrilled that we can help her achieve her dreams.
We’re proud to have driven extraordinarily strong growth. The greater our turnover, the more families we reach, and the greater our social impact.
Nursery revenue
Nursery revenue (.000)
# of Children
Number of children
10,000
3,000
9,000
Lucy and Alyssa’s story Lucy’s daughter Alyssa (now 11 years old) attended Marsham Street Community Nursery. Years later Lucy can still remember the warm reception and great support given by Mona the Nursery Manager and her team. Lucy chose Marsham Street because it “just felt lovely and happy” and she
enjoyed the sociable nature of the nursery. Both Lucy and Alyssa have made friendships at Marsham Street that have lasted to this day. She also remembers the fantastic trips and outings, particularly the trip to the seaside. “Marsham Street gave Alyssa the best possible start I could have hoped for, and meant I could get back to work and gain a new independence,” Lucy says. “I highly recommend Marsham Street or any LEYF nursery to parents. Leaving your child for the first time can be scary and nerve-racking but I was made to feel immediately at ease by the fabulous staff”.
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Impact Report 2014
12% CAGR
8,000
2,500
25%
(2006 - 14)
7,000
2,000
13%
6,000
29%
5,000
17%
1,500
14%
4,000 18%
3,000
1,000
19% CAGR
13%
(2006 - 14)
2,000
500 1,000 0 2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
# LEYF nurseries
11
13
13
15
18
19
20
23
24
25
# LEYF staff
85
130
140
163
189
216
261
286
310
328
0
CAGR = Compound Annual Growth Rate
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Changing the world one child at a time
To learn more about LEYF, including partnering with us, investing in us or working with us, please get in touch. 121 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4LX p 020 7592 3603 e info@leyf.org.uk w
www.leyf.org.uk
t twitter.com/leyfonline f facebook.com/leyfonline
Thanks to our partners Social Business Trust, Bridges Ventures, Clearly So and Big Issue Invest.