Why occupancy matters
The next child can be worth more than the last.
Once your nursery has covered its costs, income from additional children can contribute much more directly to annual surplus.
You are the reason this matters
You have built a nursery worth choosing.
You have poured years of hard work into creating a nursery where children can thrive and parents feel confident leaving their child in your care.
Stronger occupancy can create the financial strength to reward your team, improve your setting and build the nursery your work deserves.
The value of the next child
After break-even, each additional child can make a much bigger difference.
Before break-even, the income from your occupied places is covering the nursery's costs.
Once those costs are covered, more of the income from each additional child can become surplus—although staffing and other costs may still increase.
Before break-evenIncome covers costs
Your occupied places are paying for the nursery to operate.
After break-evenAdditional children build surplus
More of their income can strengthen the nursery financially.
A simple example using whole children
What happens when this 60-place nursery moves beyond break-even?
Break-even falls between 47 and 48 children in Nursery Model 1. The numbers below show the change in annual surplus—not revenue and not a guaranteed result for every nursery.
One more child+£7,696additional annual surplus
Six more children+£46,172additional annual surplus
The important point: filling one place does not merely add another child's fees. Once your costs are covered, it can make a disproportionately large difference to the money left in the nursery.
Illustrative figures are based on Nursery Model 1. They are designed to explain the principle, not promise a particular financial result.
What stronger occupancy could support
Imagine what becomes possible.
Reward your teamNew outdoor play areaNew flooring and furniturePaying yourself the salary you deserve
An attended nursery visit is a genuine opportunity for your team to welcome a suitable local family. It is not a guaranteed registration.
Use your own figures
What could your empty places be worth?
Enter your room mix, fees, attendance patterns and costs to see a personalised illustration.
Open the Financial Calculator