Our Private Nursery Offer

Our Private Nursery Offer

Private Nurseries make up the majority of the Early Years sector in the UK yet they come in a variety of shapes and sizes and with a wide range of needs. At NurseryNook we have worked hard to put together a range of services to support your Nursery. If you can't find a service that you need please reach out to us directly on admin[at]nurserynook.co.uk and we'll do our best to help or guide you to someone who can help.

Coaching - our core service

Our coaching is tailored to the specific needs of each setting, ensuring that support is relevant, achievable, and embedded in everyday practice. Rather than offering broad advice, we work directly with practitioners to fine-tune interactions, adapt provision, and refine teaching approaches in real time. This could mean helping a teacher reshape their classroom environment to better support independent learning, guiding a practitioner in using high-quality language during play, or working with leaders to align provision with developmental goals. Coaching is always responsive—whether addressing a specific challenge or enhancing an already strong practice, we focus on small, meaningful changes that lead to significant long-term improvements.

Each coaching session is practical and discussion-based, balancing hands-on modelling, observation, and professional reflection. We don’t just tell practitioners what to do—we work alongside them, offering insight, reasoning, and adjustments that feel natural within their own setting. The goal is to ensure that improvements don’t rely on external input but become a sustainable part of daily practice. Through ongoing support, professional dialogue, and real-time problem-solving, we empower practitioners to make confident decisions that enhance children’s learning and development.

We start with a discovery call. Email admin[at]nurserynook.co.uk to arrange a call and start your journey.

Quality audit

A Quality Audit is an in-depth, supportive process designed to give nursery settings clear, actionable insights into their strengths and areas for development. Rather than a tick-box inspection, this is a collaborative and reflective process that helps leaders and teams see their provision through a fresh lens. The process begins with a discovery call, where we discuss your setting’s needs, priorities, and key focus areas. This is followed by a full day or half day in your setting, where we carry out a detailed review through observations, learning walks, team discussions, and leadership conversations. The aim is to understand the full picture—how daily practice supports children’s learning, how staff interact with provision, and where small changes could lead to meaningful improvements.

At the end of the day, settings receive comprehensive feedback with tailored recommendations and support to plan next steps. A full written report provides a clear summary of findings alongside practical ideas that can be implemented straight away. A follow-up call ensures leaders have the chance to reflect, ask questions, and fine-tune their approach. For those who want deeper, hands-on support we can create a coaching support package for you. The Quality Audit is designed to empower teams with clarity, direction, and practical steps—helping settings move forward with confidence in their practice.

We start with a discovery call. Email admin[at]nurserynook.co.uk to arrange a call and start your journey.

Navigating Inspection

A Navigating Inspection visit is a tailored support package designed to help nursery settings feel prepared, confident, and in control ahead of an inspection. Rather than offering generic advice, this process is shaped around your setting’s specific needs, ensuring that every aspect of your provision is aligned with best practice and inspection expectations. It begins with a discovery call to discuss your priorities and plan a bespoke approach. From there, Mel works directly with your team, offering practical training and guidance on key areas such as learning walks, staff observations, and leadership readiness. Whether it’s helping practitioners understand what Inspectors will look for, coaching teams through what an inspection day will feel like, or ensuring leaders can confidently discuss their strategic planning and vision, every session is designed to build clarity and competence.

This support goes beyond just ‘getting through’ an inspection—it’s about ensuring that high-quality practice is embedded and understood at all levels. Alongside in-the-moment coaching and discussion, settings receive structured guidance on each part of the inspection process, helping teams feel assured in their approach. A follow-up call provides the opportunity to reflect and make final adjustments, and for those wanting additional support, coaching and training packages are available to continue developing best practice. With the right preparation, an inspection visit becomes less about pressure and more about confidently showcasing the strengths of your setting.

We start with a discovery call. Email admin[at]nurserynook.co.uk to arrange a call and start your journey.

Schemaplay

SchemaPlay for Private Nurseries is a structured, hands-on process designed to embed schematic play into everyday practice by developing staff understanding, refining provision, and ensuring long-term impact. We begin by exploring the environment in detail, identifying the existing opportunities for schematic play and spotting where small adjustments could enhance children’s engagement and learning. Through carefully tuned observations, we focus on how children naturally interact with resources and spaces, using these insights to plan small, structured next steps that build on their existing knowledge. Coaching is delivered either in person or online, ensuring the process is accessible and fully tailored to the needs of each setting.

This approach is designed to support the whole team, but we also up skill a designated staff member to take the lead, ensuring that knowledge is sustained and passed on to new practitioners. As the team progresses through the programme, they not only deepen their understanding of schematic play but also work towards SchemaPlay Accreditation. Settings can choose to start at Bronze level and progress through Silver to Gold, with each stage offering further refinement and mastery of the approach. At the end of the process, settings receive a plaque to celebrate their achievement, marking their commitment to high-quality, research-informed practice. SchemaPlay isn’t just about recognising patterns of play—it’s about using them as a foundation for intentional, thoughtful interactions that truly support children’s learning.

We start with a discovery call. Email admin[at]nurserynook.co.uk to arrange a call and start your journey.

Looking for something else?

First aid training? 1:1 Leadership coaching? Training day? Whatever you're looking for, drop us an email at admin[at]nurserynook.co.uk to discuss your needs. Where we can't help we'll help you find someone who can!