Real Founders.
Real Nurseries.
Real Results!
From idea to Ofsted-approved success - see how they did it.
Some of my clients nurseries:
Proudly supporting successful nursery owners nationwide
Find stories like yours:
Filter by journey by type to see founders who started from the same place you are.
Failed Ofsted? Passed next time
Teeny Haven Nursery – Shaiza
Fulham’s Angels Nursery – Venus
After two failed attempts with other consultants left her on a final chance. We tightened both her environment and Ofsted understanding. She passed with my support and now runs a thriving setting in Fulham.
“Feeling blessed… He is extremely knowledgeable.”
Loveland Childcare – Nina
She went independent at first and her first visit didn’t go to plan; original premises fell through. We rebuilt fast – new building options, safer layouts (fencing, toilets), and resource lists mapped to the seven areas of learning. Second time around she passed!
Noah’s Little Ark Day Nursery – Naz
Having attempted to open a nursery 5 years previous, this time she worked step-by-step through the 6-month course and used the Ofsted pre-reg questions to prepare. By inspection time she was calm, organised, and ready.
Franchise vision & systems for scale
Little Peaches Nursery – Mohsin
No childcare experience
Eden Park Nursery – Baz
Baz had the building but no idea where to start. We mapped the whole path: regulations, equipment lists, room layout, and registration steps. He put the work in, walked into his visit confident, and passed first time.
‘I cannot recommend Curtly highly enough! From start to finish, he provided exceptional guidance and support in helping me open my nursery. His expertise and attention to detail were invaluable throughout the process.
Faith & Love Nursery – Emmanuella
Cherish Childcare – Cheniece
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(Name withheld) – Alejandro (80+ place flagship)
Business & finance made simple
Little Life Nursery – Meriam
She has a strong childcare background but was new to running a company. We covered business setup, hiring, and finances so she could open with confidence.
Faith & Love Nursery – Emmanuella
Through the course and setting milestones I helped her create a plan, find a premises, prepare for Ofsted and organise cashflow. She opened quickly and learned to manage money post-launch.
Cherish Childcare – Cheniece
She was a teacher but wanted to knowledge of running a business. We modelled both nursery finances and personal bills so the transition felt safe. With clarity, execution followed. She opened whilst still working as a teacher but has now managed to leave her role.
From childminder to nursery
Senter Light Childcare – Mary
Support included building visit to plan room use, safeguarding, and compliance for Ofsted. We reviewed registration forms and the transition from childminder to provider so the building worked safely and smoothly from day one.
“He explained exactly what Ofsted will look for… I feel much more confident.”
Grace House Day Nursery – Nana & Gloria
Olivia’s Day Nursery – Funmi
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Multi-site vision & scaling
Building Blocks Day – Joshua & Lorraine
Gems Nursery – Aklima
Life delays didn’t stop the vision. With the course and regular calls, she opened successfully and now runs two settings, keeping processes simple and repeatable.
“He makes everything so simple… I recommend it.”
SmileOn Children’s Nursery – Neli
“Gave me clear direction and boosted my confidence.”
Church halls & alternative buildings
Grace House Day Nursery – Nana & Gloria
Using the course and consultations we done a church building conversion: planning, parking flow, zoning rooms, and staffing/ratio planning, with a clear business case to win stakeholders.
‘Curtly has been such a great support to us. He explained everything so clearly and gave us practical advice.’
Loveland Childcare – Nina
Found a packaway setting in a church. Helped source flexible resources and ensured safety of the building ready for Ofsted. Which she passed successfully.
‘Very exceptional and supportive’
Senter Light Childcare – Mary
Practical on-site layout and safety tweaks (exits, furniture, sight-lines), plus paperwork readiness, so the setting feels right and ready for inspectors.
‘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.‘
Paperwork & compliance, done 4u
Dreamland Nursery – Zeliha
Watch & Learn: Founder Success Stories
Full length interviews on how they opened, what they'd do differently and how I helped.
Watch the latest story
Cheniece's Story
“Curtly helped me refine my business plan and understand the financial side of starting up, that guidance gave me the confidence to apply for funding and finally bring my vision for Cherish Childcare to life.”
Edwina's Story
“The course and Curtly’s advice gave me the reassurance I needed before my Ofsted visit and the clarity to launch my nursery with confidence. His support made such a difference in those final stages before opening.”
Mary's Story
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Featured Case Studies
Kabore - Turned a failed registration into a thriving nursery in Bromley
Kabore first joined my complete mentorship programme and made strong progress toward opening Ramas Daycare. After trying to finish alone (with just the support of the local council), his Ofsted registration was rejected due to inexperience and building issues. He came back for support, and together we rebuilt his setup, corrected key areas, and prepared thoroughly for inspection passing successfully and opening soon after.
Venus - Passed Ofsted on her final chance and now thriving in Fulham
After failing two Ofsted registration visits while working with other consultants, Venus reached out to me for help. Through detailed building visits, Ofsted preparation, and confidence coaching, we refined every part of her nursery, from layout and resources to how she answered inspectors’ questions. She passed on her very next attempt and is now running Fulham’s Angels Nursery, a beautiful and successful setting she’s proud of.
Mohsin - Built a scalable nursery brand and filled every place within three months
Mohsin joined the Complete Mentorship Package to launch a professional nursery brand designed for future growth. Together, we chose the right location, built strong systems, and prepared thoroughly for Ofsted, passing first time. His nursery, Little Peaches, attracted 70 children to the waiting list before opening and was completely full within three months. He’s now using the model we built to expand into new sites.
The Proof Stack
100+ founders supported
100% first time Ofsted pass success rate among mentored clients
3-12 months typical time to open
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What we did: I supported them with –
Baz wanted to open a nursery but had no idea what to do and what was involved – he just knew it was a great business to start.
He already had a building, so I supported him in getting the equipment for the building and registering his nursery and preparing for Ofsted.
He put in a lot of work, and for someone who knew nothing about the nursery field previously he done excpetionally well in the Ofsted registration visit, passing first time, with Ofsted commenting favourably on his knowledge.
I was proud!
What they said:
‘I cannot recommend Curtly highly enough! From start to finish, he provided exceptional guidance and support in helping me open my nursery. His expertise and attention to detail were invaluable throughout the process. Curtly went above and beyond to ensure I understood every step, from navigating complex regulations to creating a warm, child-friendly environment. He was always available to answer my questions, and his advice was practical, clear, and tailored to my vision. Thanks to Curtly’s dedication and professionalism, I was able to open my nursery with confidence and ease. If you’re looking for someone who truly cares about your success and will go the extra mile to make it happen, Curtly is the person to call. Highly recommended!‘
What we did: I supported them with –
Mohsin came to me with the desire to start his own nursery franchise.
He had experience of running other businesses but wanted to create a nursery brand to take advantage of this growing field. He signed up to the complete mentorship package and we begun creating his brand.
We worked together to create his brand, chose his location and work with Ofsted, all with expansion in mind.
We successfully registered first time and has created a beautiful nursery with systems that can be easily replicated.
What they said:
‘I wanted to create my own nursery brand but had no idea where to start. Curtly guided me through everything, from building my brand and finding the right location to preparing for Ofsted. We passed registration first time, and now I have a beautiful nursery set up with systems ready to grow into more sites. His mentorship made the whole process so much easier.‘
What we did: I supported them with –
Shaiza worked with Mohsin to create their nursery, but went alone with the registration and unfortunately failed their first inspection.
They then got in contact with me to support them.
We worked together to get their building up to scratch and made sure she was ready for Ofsted questions.
Thanks to the preparation, she passed second time and now runs her nursery.
What they said:
‘Thank you so much, Curtly, for all your support. I really appreciate the time and effort you put into helping me open my nursery. Your guidance made the whole process so much clearer and easier, and I’m so grateful for everything you’ve done to help me.‘
What we did: I supported them with –
Venus had set up a beautiful nursery but, despite working with other consultants, had unfortunately not passed her previous two Ofsted registration visits. She was now facing her final opportunity to succeed.
We worked closely together to ensure she was fully prepared, enhancing both the quality of her setting and deepening her understanding of Ofsted’s expectations.
I’m pleased to share that she passed her registration visit on her first attempt with my support and is now successfully running her nursery in Fulham.
What they said:
‘Feeling blessed!
I am so glad that I met Curtly and feel blessed to have him support me through my journey. He is extremely knowledgeable.’
What we did: I supported them with –
Edwina was in the final stages of opening when she contacted me. She enrolled on the full course and I supported her with her marketing, recruiting staff and registering with Ofsted.
Through the course and meetings with myself she gained the confidence and knowledge to open and is successfully running her nursery.
What they said:
‘This is hands down what I needed to open my nursery. You have been Outstanding (lol see what I did there?).
You’ve helped me SOOO much. I am beyond grateful!!!’
What we did: I supported them with
Joshua and Lorraine were planning to open their own nursery, but needed support.
I had consultations supporting them with key things with regards to opening and pre-registration.
They now own 3 nursery settings, with a recent one receiving a GOOD rating from Ofsted.
What they said:
‘Curtly was easy to talk to and full of information in a totally non-bombarding way.
He listened and worked to our weaknesses and was able to steer and guide us toward feeling very prepared for our upcoming Pre-Reg visit. Thanks again!‘
What we did: I supported them with
Meriam worked in childcare previously but had never ran her own business.
I supported her with the steps needed to opening focusing primarily on learning the business side of things like registering as a company and hiring staff.
What they said:
‘Thank you so much for all the help. Very thorough and professional. You had a significant part in our opening. I’m hoping we will be in tough more.’
What we did: I supported them with –
Neli had successfully opened and operated nurseries abroad for over 15 years before relocating to the UK, where she aimed to replicate her success. She was looking for guidance on how to adapt her extensive experience to meet the specific requirements of the UK market.
I worked closely with Neli to achieve this, ensuring she developed a thorough understanding of Ofsted regulations, exploring suitable funding options, and conducting an on-site visit to her premises to confirm it met inspection standards.
In 2025, Neli opened her first UK nursery, with expansion plans already underway for two additional locations.
What they said:
‘I had an online consultation with Mr. Curtly Ania for my new nursery business, and it was incredibly helpful! He was knowledgeable, patient, and answered all of my questions thoroughly. His advice gave me a clear direction and boosted my confidence to move forward. I highly recommend his services to anyone looking for expert guidance!.‘
What we did: I supported them with
Aklima was one of the first people I supported and has been a joy to work with.
Due to personal issues it has taken longer to start up than expected, though she now has opened two settings.
I supported her in all areas of opening from finding a building, to working on her brand to writing her business plan.
She enrolled on the full course and books regular consultations to support this.
What they said:
‘Curtly provides you with everything you could ever need. He breaks down everything down for us and makes it so simple.
I would really recommend it and have actually done so.’
What we did: I supported them with
Emmanuella simply enrolled on the full course and within 8 months her nursery doors were open.
Before enrolling she had started nothing at all and it was just a dream. The course helped her to create a business plan, find a property and register with Ofsted.
After she had registered I also helped her with managing her cashflow and documents for her nursery.
What they said:
‘Thank you ever so much!
What we did: I supported them with –
When Cheniece first came to me, she was nervous and unsure where to begin. One of her biggest concerns was understanding how to transition from employment to self-employment while still being able to cover her personal bills.
We worked together to create a detailed business plan that gave her complete clarity and confidence in her financial position. This included projecting nursery income, managing expenses, and ensuring her personal finances remained secure during the transition.
Cheniece enrolled on the open a nursery course, which equipped her with the knowledge and tools she needed to move forward. She has since successfully opened her nursery and is now thriving as a business owner.
What they said:
‘Thank you for an excellent service you have been amazing. The support and advice that I have received was outstanding and I would highly recommend your services to anyone who wants to become a successful nursery owner.‘
What we did: I supported them with
I carried out an on-site consultation with Mary at her new nursery building, helping her plan the best use of space to meet Ofsted requirements while creating a warm, child-friendly environment. We reviewed her registration form, discussed staffing and safeguarding, and looked at how to transition smoothly from childminding to running a full nursery.
I was especially impressed by her passion for supporting SEN children, so we explored ways she could build this into her provision from the start. By the end of the visit, Mary had a clear plan of action and felt far more confident about her registration and launch.
What they said:
‘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.‘
What we did: I supported them with –
I supported Zeliha through email and consultations where we discussed her suitability to be both the nominated individual and manager of her nursery.
I guided her on practical next steps such as securing insurance, arranging safeguarding training with the local council, and preparing for her Ofsted pre-registration visit.
To strengthen her application, she also invested in several of my key resources, including the full policies and procedures bundle, staff handbook, health and safety packs, registration documents, and self-evaluation forms. This gave her a complete professional framework to move forward confidently. With this support in place, Zeliha successfully registered her nursery in Waltham Forest in August 2024.
What they said:
‘Thank you so much, I will definitely take into account all the points you have made‘
What we did: I supported them with
Naz registered on the 6 month course and purchased the Ofsted Pre-Registration Questions to prepare for her visit.
She worked step by step through the course materials, helping her to understand each stage of the nursery setup process and how to apply it to her own situation. With the structured tasks, checklists, and resources provided, she was able to build her knowledge and confidence steadily, making sure nothing was overlooked before her Ofsted inspection. This approach ensured she felt fully prepared for her registration.
What they said:
None Given
What we did: I supported them with
I supported Nana and Gloria through several consultations as they transitioned from childminding to setting up a full nursery. We explored the use of their church building, including planning considerations, car parking concerns, and how to adapt the space to meet Ofsted requirements. I provided them with my business plan template to present their ideas clearly to the church and advised on staffing, qualifications, and ratios.
Alongside this, I guided them step by step through my course, helping them to research their local area, plan finances, and prepare for Ofsted registration. I also reviewed parts of their business plan, giving them constructive feedback and pointing them to further resources where needed. Throughout, I encouraged them to take consistent action, balancing the practicalities of building readiness with their long-term vision for the nursery.
What they said:
‘Curtly has been such a great support to us. He explained everything so clearly and gave us practical advice for our church building and Ofsted process. Having his business plan template and step-by-step guidance has made this journey so much easier.’
What we did: I supported them with
Alejandro was a business professional working in banking.
He had the idea of opening a nursery marketing to working professionals. I got him excited about joining the childcare field and he enrolled on the complete mentorship package and through regular consultations and meetings opened a high quality 80+ place nursery.
What they said:
‘Curtly has been critical in helping me to understand the nursery field.
His knowledge gave me key insights to help negotiate various terms and continues to be a key asset’
Their nursery:
Loveland Childcare Services
What we did: I supported them with
Funmi came to me with a idea and a dream. She was a childminder who was looking to expand and open a nursery.
She enrolled on the full course and booked regular consultations. I supported her from the beginning helping her to find a building, register with Ofsted, write her business plan plus lots more.
What they said:
‘Thank you so much for your help. I’ve now registered with Ofsted.’
What we did: I supported them with
Alejandro was a business professional working in banking.
He had the idea of opening a nursery marketing to working professionals. I got him excited about joining the childcare field and he enrolled on the complete mentorship package and through regular consultations and meetings opened a high quality 80+ place nursery.
What they said:
‘Curtly has been critical in helping me to understand the nursery field.
His knowledge gave me key insights to help negotiate various terms and continues to be a key asset’