As part of a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Middlesex University, we have been examining our own social enterprise business model of childcare provision, with a view to developing approaches for social franchising and other forms of growth; the ultimate goal has been to find new and sustainable ways for us to build a better future for more of London’s children, especially those from a more disadvantaged background.

The project has taken over 18 months and involved identifying the quality standards which underpin our model, developing the concept of a social enterprise childcare network and creating a package of training and consultancy to enable us to share this with other providers, and so help them achieve greater sustainability in their own practice.

The results are due to be published at our Annual Margaret Horn Lecture, on Thursday 17 November, 2011.