Nursery Building Visit & In-Person Consultation
Before you sign a long lease or spend thousands adapting a property, walk through the building with an experienced second pair of eyes. Get practical nursery-focused guidance on the space, layout, capacity, safeguarding and the questions you need to investigate next.
A promising building can still hide expensive problems
A property may look spacious during a viewing, but a nursery must work safely and practically every day. The visit helps you slow the decision down, look beyond first impressions and identify what needs a firmer answer.
Space does not automatically mean capacity
Corridors, kitchens, toilets, offices and other areas may not count towards usable childcare space. Room shape and age-group planning matter too.
Small changes can become large costs
Toilets, access, fire precautions, outdoor arrangements, kitchens, partitions and services can create work that should be explored before you commit.
A layout must work in real nursery life
Supervision, sleep, meals, arrivals, collection, storage, staff movement and safeguarding visibility all affect whether the premises can operate well.
Book before you commit or while planning the setup
The visit is shaped around the decisions in front of you, whether you are still deciding if a property is suitable or already preparing it for children and Ofsted.
You are considering a property
Use the visit to explore whether the building appears workable before taking on a lease, purchase or expensive alterations.
You are planning your nursery setup
Use the time to think through the layout, practical setup and preparation priorities before opening or an Ofsted registration visit.
What we can look at together
The discussion is personalised around the property, your nursery plans and the visit length you select.
Space and capacity
Usable indoor areas, approximate capacity considerations and how different age groups might be accommodated.
Rooms and daily flow
Possible room use, staff movement, supervision, sleep, meals, storage, arrivals, departures and daily routines.
Facilities and access
Toilets, nappy changing, kitchen arrangements, entrances, accessibility, pushchair access, parking and outdoor space.
Safeguarding visibility
Supervision, blind spots, access control, collection arrangements and features that may affect safer working.
Adaptations and priorities
Likely changes to investigate and practical priorities for turning the premises into a functioning nursery.
Lease and landlord questions
Useful questions about permissions, repairs, services, alterations, responsibilities and the terms you need checked professionally.
Registration readiness
Practical building and setup priorities relevant to your Ofsted preparation, without implying a guarantee of registration.
Your wider plans
Time permitting, discuss staffing, finances, opening priorities or other questions connected to making the building work.
Not every topic will be covered during every visit. We will agree the priorities around your questions, the premises and the duration booked.
Already viewing a potential nursery building?
Book early enough to arrange a suitable date before your lease or decision deadline.
Support grounded in real nursery journeys
These are nursery founders and settings Curtly has supported with building decisions, setup, registration preparation or practical next steps.
Building ideas and greater Ofsted confidence
“It was so helpful having Curtly visit in person. He gave me so many ideas for the building and explained exactly what Ofsted will be looking for. I feel much more confident moving forward now.”
Visit lengths and current prices
Your price is based on both the time required and the location of the building.
Up to 2 hours
Best for one building and a focused set of questions. Available for the listed London locations.
Up to 3 hours
Best for a fuller walk-through, more planning and several areas requiring discussion.
Up to 5 hours
Best for a larger property, more complex plans or a wider in-person consultation.
| Duration | Selected London postcodes | Rest of London | Outside London |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 2 hours | £215 | £230 | Not available |
| Up to 3 hours | £285 | £300 | £420* |
| Up to 5 hours | £415 | £430 | £550* |
From booking to a practical building walk-through
Choose your visit
Select the duration and location. Contact Curtly first if the building is outside London.
Complete the form
After payment, share the address, your stage, concerns and suitable dates through the booking form.
Send useful details
Provide the listing, floor plan, photos and priority questions where available so the visit can be focused.
Walk through together
Meet at the premises, discuss what you see and leave with clearer priorities and questions to investigate.
Practical nursery guidance, not a technical survey
The visit helps you think through nursery suitability, layout, setup and registration considerations. It does not replace specialist professional advice or formal checks.
What clients say about in-person support
★★★★★“His advice was practical, clear and based on real experience.”
Melinda booked an in-person session shortly before her Ofsted visit, including interview preparation and a full building walk-through.
★★★★★“Absolutely amazing service. Extremely knowledgeable, professional and very helpful.”
★★★★★“Curtly was easy to talk to and full of information in a totally non-bombarding way.”
Frequently asked questions
Should I book before signing the lease?
If possible, yes. A visit can help you identify questions and concerns before a major commitment. However, you remain responsible for obtaining legal, planning, financial and technical advice and for making the final decision.
Which visit length should I choose?
Two hours works well for one building and focused questions. Three hours allows a more detailed walk-through and planning discussion. Five hours is more suitable for a larger or more complex property, multiple connected topics or broader in-person support.
Can you travel outside London?
Yes, visits are available across England. Outside-London bookings start at three hours. Please make contact before paying so the location, travel, availability and final price can be confirmed.
Can the landlord, agent or my business partner join?
Yes. It can be useful for a landlord, agent or business partner to be present for relevant parts of the visit so questions can be discussed at the property.
Can we look at more than one property?
This may be possible when the properties are close enough to fit within the booked time. Travel between buildings counts towards the visit duration, so please ask before booking.
Will I receive a written report?
The standard service provides verbal guidance during the visit. A formal written report is not automatically included. If you require written feedback, please ask before booking so Curtly can confirm whether it is possible and whether an additional fee applies.
Can we review my business plan or Ofsted application too?
General questions may be discussed if time allows, but detailed document reviews are not automatically included. If you want to use part of the visit for another service, please agree this in advance so the right duration can be recommended.
Will the visit confirm that Ofsted will accept the building?
No. The visit provides guidance based on the premises and information available at the time. Ofsted, the local authority and other relevant bodies make their own independent decisions.
What if I need to reschedule or cancel?
Please give as much notice as possible. Short-notice cancellations may be subject to a reasonable deduction for preparation, reserved time and travel costs already incurred. See the Cancellation and Refund Policy for full details.
Walk through the building with an experienced second pair of eyes
Choose the visit length and location that fit your needs, then share the property details and the questions you most want to explore.
Important information
This service provides nursery-focused guidance based on the property and information available during the visit. It is not a structural survey, fire risk assessment, valuation, legal review, planning opinion or guarantee of suitability, registration or commercial success. You remain responsible for carrying out appropriate due diligence and obtaining any specialist, legal, regulatory, planning, financial or technical advice required before entering a lease, purchasing a property or carrying out works.