Owen Froebel

04/09/2026

Funded hours have become a much bigger part of the operating model for many nursery businesses.

But as the landscape has evolved, so too have the expectations placed on providers.

Understanding what sits behind the funding, how local arrangements work and where responsibilities lie is increasingly important, not only from a compliance perspective, but from a commercial one too.

Together with MBK Early Years, we’ve produced a practical Provider Booklet to help nursery owners and operators understand the position more clearly.

Download the Provider Booklet: owenfroebel.co.uk/get-the-guide-provider-booklet/

03/09/2026

AI is becoming part of everyday working life in the early years sector. The more important question is how it is being used.

For nursery owners and managers, there are clear opportunities to reduce administrative pressure. From drafting parent communications and recruitment materials to supporting activity planning and summarising lengthy policy updates, AI can create valuable capacity within already busy teams.

But efficiency needs to sit alongside appropriate oversight.

AI can make mistakes, miss context and produce information that requires checking. Particularly around safeguarding, employment and compliance, professional judgement remains essential.

In our HR Guide, produced with Childcare HR, we explore some of the practical ways AI can support early years settings, as well as the guardrails that should sit around its use.

The settings that benefit most may not be those using the most technology, but those using it with the greatest clarity and purpose.

Read the blog: https://owenfroebel.co.uk/insights/hr-guide-ai-in-the-workplace/

Technology has always shaped the way businesses operate, but the pace of change surrounding artificial intelligence is unlike anything many sectors have

01/09/2026

Staffing is one of the largest costs within a nursery business, but its importance when preparing for a sale goes well beyond the payroll figure.

For a prospective buyer, the team provides an important indication of how the nursery operates without its current owner.

They will want to understand staffing costs, qualifications and experience, the strength of the management structure, and where key responsibilities sit within the business.

This is particularly important where an owner remains heavily involved in the day-to-day operation. A buyer needs to understand what happens when that individual steps away, and whether the existing team and management structure can support a smooth transition.

In our latest video, Leah Turner introduces the Owen Froebel Nursery Sellers Guide: Staffing and explains some of the areas owners should consider well before bringing their nursery to market.

Reviewing these areas early can highlight gaps, reduce uncertainty and help owners understand how their staffing structure may influence both valuation and the eventual transfer of the business.

Watch the full video here:
https://youtu.be/SLdfnXiZvk8

You can also access our free Nursery Sellers Guide: Staffing here:
https://owenfroebel.co.uk/resources/sellers-guides/

28/08/2026

Completion day gets a lot of attention. But a successful nursery sale does not simply end when the deal completes.

A well-managed handover matters.

For the seller, it means leaving the business in a considered way, with clarity around what happens next. For the buyer, it provides the continuity and understanding needed to take ownership with confidence.

The strongest transactions recognise this well before completion. Expectations are clear, responsibilities are understood and the transition has been properly planned.

Because getting the deal done is only part of a successful exit.

What happens afterwards matters too.

If you’re considering selling your nursery, speak to our team about preparing for the full journey, from understanding your position today through to completion and handover.

27/08/2026

Probation periods are more than an administrative milestone. Used properly, they can help nursery operators build stronger, more consistent teams.

In this blog, we look at the role probation periods play within an early years setting, from setting clear expectations and reviewing performance to addressing concerns fairly and giving new employees the support they need to succeed.

It is one of several HR topics we explore in our wider HR Guide, developed to provide nursery owners and operators with practical guidance around managing their teams.

Read the blog:
https://owenfroebel.co.uk/insights/hr-guide-probation-periods/

For a broader look at HR considerations within your nursery, you can also download the full HR Guide here: https://owenfroebel.co.uk/download-the-hr-guide/

Strong operational foundations are built over time, and good people management remains an important part of creating a sustainable nursery business.

In early years, the first few months of employment often set the tone for everything that follows. A well-managed probationary period is not simply a

25/08/2026

The right nursery acquisition is about more than finding a business that is available. It is about understanding what you are buying, how to assess it commercially, and where the risks and opportunities sit.

For buyers considering acquiring a children’s day nursery, we have created a dedicated YouTube playlist covering the practical questions that arise throughout the buying process.

From assessing an opportunity and understanding valuation, through to due diligence, funding and progressing towards completion, the series is designed to give prospective buyers a clearer view of what to expect.

Buying a nursery can be a significant investment, particularly for first-time buyers. Good preparation helps you ask better questions, assess opportunities more objectively and approach the process with greater confidence.

Our aim with this series is straightforward: to share practical insight from the nursery transactions we work on and help buyers make informed commercial decisions.

Watch the nursery buyers playlist on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwps_tYtD3cNmfee9DkyIHt-twUSp9H3o

21/08/2026

Staff absence is an inevitable part of running an early years setting. The operational impact, however, depends significantly on how it is managed.

With ratios, continuity of care and team stability closely connected, even relatively short periods of absence can create wider pressures. A clear and consistent approach helps providers support their people while protecting the stability of the setting.

In our HR Guide, produced with Childcare HR, we look at the practical foundations of effective absence management, including:

• Creating clear and consistent policies
• Balancing empathy with appropriate boundaries
• Tracking absence and identifying patterns
• Managing different types of leave correctly
• Understanding the implications of changes to Statutory Sick Pay

Good absence management is not about eliminating absence. It is about creating clarity for managers and employees, so that difficult situations can be handled fairly and consistently.

Read the full guide: https://owenfroebel.co.uk/insights/hr-guide-absence-from-work/

Absence is an inevitable part of running any early years setting. What defines a well-managed provision is not the absence itself, but how it is handled.

20/08/2026

Selling a nursery isn't simply a transaction.

It's the culmination of years of work, investment and commitment.

That's why choosing the right advisor matters.

The strongest outcomes don't always come from chasing the highest price. They come from finding the right buyer, preparing properly, and managing the process with care.

We believe in long-term relationships, honest advice and keeping owners informed at every stage.

Because confidence comes from clarity, not promises.

When you're ready to explore your options, the Owen Froebel team is ready to help.

📞 02476 013 929
✉️ [email protected]

19/08/2026

A valuation should do more than put a number on your nursery.

It should give you a clear, commercially grounded view of where your business stands today, what is driving its value, and where there may be opportunities to strengthen it.

That is particularly important when considering a future sale. An inflated valuation may sound appealing, but it rarely helps an owner make the right decisions.

We believe a useful valuation should be three things: evidence-led, fair and defensible.

Because understanding your value properly is not simply about knowing what your nursery could sell for today. It is about being better informed about what you do next.

18/08/2026

Thinking about selling your nursery often raises more questions than answers.

What is my nursery worth? When is the right time to sell? What should I do before going to market? And what does the sale process actually involve?

We’ve brought together our YouTube videos relating to selling your nursery into one dedicated playlist, making it easier for nursery owners to find practical guidance when they need it.

The videos cover different aspects of preparing for and navigating a nursery sale, drawing on the questions and considerations we regularly discuss with owners.

If selling is something you’re beginning to think about, whether that means soon or several years from now, this is a useful place to start building your understanding.

Explore the Selling Your Nursery playlist on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwps_tYtD3cNohK1OQXxWw_tl7jrbawk2

Good exits are rarely rushed. The more you understand before making decisions, the better prepared you can be when the time is right.