If occupancy continues to be a challenge for your childcare business, you are not alone. As the demand for childcare has boomed over the past few years, many new services have opened creating more competition. This has made it increasingly challenging to stand out and attract new families.
Centre owners, directors, managers and educators have so much passion. They take so much pride in the service they offer, making low enrolments even more disappointing. Not to mention the financial stress and frustration at not being able to convince families of just how special your centre and educators are!
Increasing your centre’s occupancy can be difficult. Established centres can feel as though they cannot compete with brand new centres offering impressive design and newer facilities. On the other hand, some new centres are starting from scratch and face the challenge of establishing a good reputation in the community.
Whichever perspective you’re coming from, here are a few super effective strategies for you to use to increase your enrolments and ensure your childcare centre thrives!
1. Show off your centre!
Whether you’re an established or brand new centre, there’s a chance you’re experiencing lower than desired occupancy rates simply because you’re not putting your centre out there for the public.
You don’t have to spend thousands on marketing to get noticed. Try hosting an Open Day – simply open your centre on a Saturday or Sunday and let families explore it for themselves. A sausage sizzle or craft for children can attract more people.
Facebook is full of opportunities to help familiarise your community with your centre. You can post in community groups and/or create a company page for your centre. Investing as little as $10 on Facebook ads can help spread the word about your centre to a selected demographic.
2. Motivate your team
One of our favourite acronyms: TEAM: Together Everyone Achieves More. When your educators work together and are a united team, you will have the best chance of success.
Centres old and new struggle to find passionate, committed staff. Regular professional development can help motivate your team – take a look at our Wellness Summits which are run twice a year and are part of the Bonkers Beat programs. These events provide lots of bonding and brainstorming.
Try brainstorming with your educators about how you can increase occupancy. If families are leaving after one year, discuss why you think that might be and what you could be doing differently.
3. Enhance your point of difference
What makes your centre special? What do you do differently? Find your point of difference and make it stand out.
Centres who utilise Bonkers Beat programs are given plenty of resources and guidance on how to highlight their centre’s unique, powerful and effective approach to early childhood education. Parents love to learn about the incredible results and with their enhanced knowledge, they are more inclined to rave to others and spread the word for you!
If you can identify what makes you different from the other centres in the area, you have a better chance of attracting families who will be committed to your centre. The idea is that these families’ values and goals for their children will align with your centre’s outcomes.
Show everyone what makes your centre SO AMAZING!
Like countless childcare centres and kindergartens in Australia, Ellina from ‘Smart Oz Kidz’ was feeling the pressure that comes with a low occupancy rate. Struggling to find a way to stand out from the competition, Ellina knew she had to take action, and that’s when she decided to try the Bonkers Beat programs.
Eight months ago, Ellina’s centre occupancy was sitting at around 60%. “Since promoting the Bonkers Beat music program at our centre we have reached just over 95% capacity”, says Ellina. That’s a 35% in eight months!
DON’T FORGET: Our very special EOFY Offer is now on! To help you achieve your goals contributing to the meaningful early childhood education industry, we’re offering 20% off a 12-month Bonkers Beat membership. But that’s not all. Following that you will get a further 6 months FREE! Click here to join!
The only catch: to take advantage of this incredibly generous offer and see your centre soar to new heights, you need to join by 15 July, 2019. This is a limited time special offer and gives you the opportunity to join our award-winning early childhood educational programs at drastically discounted rates. With easy monthly payments, we know you will see the incredible value on offer! Access the offer here.
Low occupancy doesn’t need to be the new normal or the end for your centre — take action and change things for the better!
