Open a nursery - with Curtly Ania

When people talk about running a nursery, the conversation usually starts with money.

Funding.
Fees.
Costs.

And yes, those things matter.

But after running nurseries myself and supporting others to open and grow theirs, I’ve realised the real cost often has nothing to do with numbers.

It’s the emotional weight you carry.

The mental load that never really switches off.

The responsibility for children, families, staff, livelihoods.

It’s thinking about rotas on a Sunday evening.

Replaying conversations in your head.

Feeling proud and exhausted at the same time.

And it’s rarely talked about openly.

I recorded a video speaking honestly about that side of nursery ownership, the part that doesn’t show up on a spreadsheet.

If you run a nursery, are thinking about opening one, or sometimes just feel tired even when “nothing has gone wrong”, this might resonate.

You’re not alone in it.
Watch it here: 👉

What Running a Nursery Really Costs (Beyond Money)| Part of Owning a Nursery No One Prepares You For When people talk about running a nursery, the focus is usually on funding, fees and business costs.But after running nurseries myself and supporting others t...

🧠 Behaviour Management in Early Years: What Actually Works (And What Doesn’t)

If behaviour is feeling harder than it used to, you’re not imagining it and it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.

Children’s needs have changed.

And because of that, Ofsted’s expectations around behaviour have changed too.

In this video, I talk honesy about behaviour management in early years cutting through outdated strategies and focusing on what genuinely supports children and aligns with what inspectors now expect to see in strong and exceptional practice.

In the video, I explain:

● Why behaviour feels more challenging right now
● What Ofsted are not looking for anymore
● Why reward charts, shouting, and sanctions don’t work long-term
● How co-regulation actually supports behaviour
● The role of calm adults, predictable routines, and environment
● What inspectors really notice when behaviour happens during observations

This isn’t about controlling children or aiming for “perfect” behaviour.

It’s about emotional safety, understanding child development, and responding with confidence, especially under inspection pressure.

If behaviour is something you or your team are finding difficult, this video will help you reframe it and feel far clearer about what actually helps.

🎥 Watch the full video here:

Behaviour Management in Early Years: What Actually Works (And What Doesn’t) Behaviour is one of the areas practitioners tell me they’re finding hardest right now.And very often, it’s not because anyone is doing anything wrong, it’s b...

I don’t usually share things like this, but this one felt important.

I sat down with my mum to talk honestly about our nursery journey, not just the success, but the pressure, the responsibility, and the parts people don’t really talk about in early years.

We built nurseries together that we were genuinely proud of.

They were successful.

They made a difference.

But it also came with a cost, emotionally, mentally, and physically and that side of the journey often gets glossed over.

This isn’t a polished success story or a motivational video.

It’s just an honest conversation between a mum and son about what running nurseries is really like behind the scenes.

If you’re running a nursery, thinking about opening one, or quietly questioning whether what you’re feeling is normal, I think this will resonate.
🎥 We’re Still Proud – My Mum’s Story

We Opened Successful Nurseries - The Part No One Talks About | My Mum | So, I Opened A Nursery In this episode of So I Opened a Nursery, I sit down with my mum to talk honestly about our journey opening and running nurseries together.We built successfu...

🚀 If I Was Opening a Nursery in 2026… Here’s EXACTLY What I’d Do

If you’re thinking about opening a nursery in 2026, this is the video I’d want you to watch before you spend money, sign a lease, or overwhelm yourself with the wrong information.

After supporting hundreds of people to open nurseries across the UK, I’ve seen the same patterns over and over again. I've seen what actually helps people move forward and what slows them down or causes unnecessary stress.

So in this video, I walk through exactly how I would go about opening a nursery in 2026, step by step, based entirely on real experience.

I talk about:

✔️What I’d focus on first (and what I’d ignore at the start)
✔️How I’d approach finding a building
✔️Where I’d spend money and where I absolutely wouldn’t
✔️How I’d prepare for Ofsted under the new framework
✔️The curriculum approach that inspectors respond to most
✔️And the exact order I’d follow from idea to opening

This is a realistic, calm breakdown of what actually works.

🎥 If opening a nursery is something you’re seriously considering for 2026, this will give you clarity and direction. Watch here:

Opening a Nursery in 2026? This Is What I’d Do (After Supporting Hundreds) If I was opening a nursery in 2026, starting from zero this is exactly how I’d do it.After supporting hundreds of people to open nurseries across the UK, I’v...

🌟 My Biggest Lessons From Supporting Nursery Owners This Year

When I look back on this year, it’s honestly been the most transformative one I’ve ever had in this field.

I’ve supported more people than ever to open nurseries, people who doubted themselves, felt overwhelmed, or weren’t sure they were capable… and I’ve watched them go on to open their doors, pass Ofsted, and change their lives.

Along the way, some very clear lessons kept coming up.

In this video, I share:

• What the people who succeeded all had in common
• Why consistency mattered far more than confidence
• The same struggles that kept holding people back
• What surprised me most this year
• And what I truly believe you need to focus on if 2026 is going to be your year

This is everything I’ve seen first-hand while supporting real people through the realities of opening a nursery.

If you’re thinking about opening a nursery, already on the journey, or feeling stuck and unsure, this video will give you clarity, perspective, and reassurance that you’re not alone.

🎥 Watch the full video here:

What I Learned Helping Nursery Owners This Year (It Changed Everything) | Reflecting on 2025 This year has been my most transformative one yet.I’ve helped more people open nurseries than ever before and in the process, I’ve learned powerful lessons a...

Check out this beautiful nursery tour for inspiration and ideas for your nursery:

UK Nursery Tour | Inside a Brand New London Nursery - Wonder Haven | Full Room-by-Room Tour In this video, I tour a real UK nursery to show how they’ve set up their rooms, resources, and learning areas. This tour is taken from my podcast “So I Opene...

🎥 NEW VIDEO OUT NOW

This is one of the most honest nursery journeys I’ve ever shared.

Andrea and Aklima started their journey from abroad, dreaming of opening a nursery in the UK.
They did everything “right” the course, the planning, the paperwork.

And then reality hit.

• An 18-month search for a building
• Compromises they never planned for
• Preparing for Ofsted while exhausted
• Opening a nursery while pregnant and raising young children
• The emotional and mental toll no one talks about

But they didn’t quit.

Today, they’re running a thriving, community-led nursery that’s changing children’s lives especially children with English as an additional language.

In this episode, they talk openly about:

– what opening a nursery is really like
– the hardest part of the entire journey
– why “perfect buildings” don’t exist
– motherhood, burnout, guilt, and resilience
– and why they’d still do it all again

Their story is real, emotional, and incredibly powerful.

If you’re: • thinking about opening a nursery
• already on the journey and feeling stuck
• or questioning whether you’re cut out for it

👉 Please watch this.

🎬

From Dubai to UK Nursery Owners | Andrea & Aklima - Gems Nursery | So I Opened a Nursery In today’s episode of So I Opened a Nursery, we visit Gems Nursery, a setting built through persistence, community, and a deep passion for early years educat...

🎥 NEW EPISODE DROPS TOMORROW

This is one of the most honest nursery stories I’ve shared on this channel.

Aklima and Andrea didn’t just “open a nursery”. They:

• started the journey from abroad
• spent 18 months trying to find a building
• prepared everything before even landing back in the UK
• balanced pregnancy, young children, and business
• compromised on a “far from perfect” building
• and still built a thriving, community-led nursery that’s changing lives

In this episode, they speak openly about:

– how tough the process really was
– why finding a building nearly broke the journey
– what no one tells you about opening a nursery while having children
– why community, culture, and language matter so much in early years
– and the moment they realised it was all worth it

This isn’t a glossy success story.
It’s real. Emotional. Honest. And incredibly inspiring.

If you’re: • thinking about opening a nursery
• already on the journey and feeling stuck
• or questioning whether it’s all worth it

👉 You need to watch this one: https://youtu.be/bGbnoLCcW5U

📅 Video goes live tomorrow
Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it.

From Dubai to UK Nursery Owners | Andrea & Aklima - Gems Nursery | So I Opened a Nursery In today’s episode of So I Opened a Nursery, we visit Gems Nursery, a setting built through persistence, community, and a deep passion for early years educat...

🌟 Are Your Interactions REALLY “High-Quality”? Here’s What Ofsted Are Looking For…

Let’s be honest, most practitioners practice is good…
but sometimes when an inspector walks in, everything suddenly feels 10x harder.

And under the new inspection expectations, your interactions aren’t just something they glance at, they’re one of the BIGGEST indicators of whether your practice is Exceptional or just expected.

What many people don’t realise is this:
It’s not about fancy activities.
It’s not about sounding “teacher-ish.”
It’s not about talking non-stop.

It’s the small moments that matter:

• How you respond when a child shows you something
• Whether your questions actually help them think
• The language you choose
• Your emotional attunement
• And whether your curriculum comes through naturally in conversation

In my new video, I break down exactly what Exceptional interactions look and sound like, including:
✨ Real examples from everyday practice
✨ The interaction styles Ofsted call “Exceptional”
✨ The subtle mistakes that hold practitioners back
✨ Easy changes you can use today that make a huge difference

If you want to feel more confident, more intentional, and more inspection-ready this video will give you complete clarity on what Ofsted value most in your practice.

🎥 Watch it here:

High-Quality Interactions in EYFS | What Exceptional Practice Looks Like If an Ofsted inspector walked into your room right now, would your interactions show Exceptional practice?Under the new inspection expectations, interactions...

💷 Do Nurseries Still Make Money?

With rising costs, staff shortages and constant talk about recession, a lot of people are wondering whether nurseries are even profitable anymore and it’s a fair question.

But the truth is, nurseries can still be one of the most stable and rewarding businesses in the UK… if the numbers are planned properly.

In this video, I break down:

📈Why some nurseries struggle while others are thriving
📈The biggest financial mistakes people make before opening
📈The real reasons so many settings are closing
📈Where the actual opportunities are in 2025
📈And how to work out your profit clearly before you even open your doors

I also show you the Nursery Finance Calculator I built, which lets you instantly estimate your potential income and costs without needing to understand spreadsheets.

If you’ve been thinking about opening a nursery or you want to understand the finances properly, this video will help you see exactly what’s possible.

🎥 Watch here:

Do Nurseries Still Make Money? The Truth About Childcare Profits With rising costs, staff shortages, and constant talk of a recession, many people are asking the same question: do nurseries still make money?The short answe...