How to open a nursery

A free, downloadable, step-by-step checklist

Where do I start with opening an Early Years setting?

When you envision your new nursery, it's probably...

• Fully occupied with children, excited to play and learn
• Run by a qualified and nurturing staff team
• Safe, hygienic, and promoting good health and well-being
• Making enough money to be sustainable and, hopefully, profitable.

But it can take a lot of work and planning to get there.

Luckily, Curtly Ania of How to Open a Nursery UK has created this step-by-step guide to help you out.

What do I need to know before opening a nursery?

Curtly breaks down the process into seven steps:

1. Early planning and research
2. Finding and securing suitable nursery premises
3. How to register with Ofsted and your Local Authority
4. Operational setup (systems, admin, and building preparation)
5. Marketing your setting and enrolling your first children
6. Recruiting your staff team
7. Final preparation before you open

Under each step, you'll find the tasks you need to complete, as well as helpful links to resources and Curtly's top tips.