For Natasha, opening her own nursery has always been about more than ambition – it’s about creating something close to her heart in the community she grew up in. A lifelong connection to early years education and her local area shaped every step of her journey towards opening her own setting.

After years working across nurseries, kindergartens and as a nanny, she’s now brought her experience, care and commitment together to open Monkey Puzzle Crouch End.

Natasha’s journey into early years education began long before she opened Monkey Puzzle Crouch End.

As a qualified early years professional, she spent years working across nurseries and kindergartens, progressing into senior leadership and nursery management roles. Alongside this, she also worked as a long-term nanny for two families, gaining valuable knowledge of children’s development both at home and in educational settings.

“Working so closely with children and families over the years really strengthened my passion for early years education,” explained Natasha. “I’ve always loved helping children grow in confidence and creating spaces where they feel secure, valued and excited to learn.”

As her experience developed, so did her ambition to create something of her own. “I always knew I wanted to open my own nursery one day. I had a very clear picture in my mind of the kind of environment I wanted to create and the experience I hoped families would have.”

Although Natasha explored opening independently, she quickly recognised how much there was to navigate alone. “The franchise model meant I could focus my energy on building an exceptional setting for children and families, while knowing experienced support was there whenever I needed it.”

With the help of her dad, who played a major role throughout the process, when Natasha first enquired with Monkey Puzzle, she immediately felt reassured by the level of support available.

“From my first conversation with the managing director, I could tell how comprehensive the support network was,” said Natasha. “Everything from finding a site and securing finance to recruitment, marketing, project management and Ofsted compliance. It gave me real confidence moving forward.”

Finding the right location required patience and determination. Natasha viewed around 20 potential sites before discovering the perfect fit, and in a true full circle moment, Monkey Puzzle Crouch End is based on the site of the secondary school she attended.

“I didn’t want to compromise on the vision I had,” she explained. “Because I’m from Crouch End, opening a nursery here always felt especially meaningful to me, as I know the area and community so well.

“To have the nursery on the site of my old school is amazing too! Hopefully all the children that attend Monkey Puzzle Crouch End will share the same rewarding experiences I had here.”

One part of the search remained completely non-negotiable. “Outdoor space was incredibly important. Many local families don’t necessarily have access to large gardens or outdoor areas at home, so I wanted the nursery to give children that opportunity to explore, play and learn outside every day.”

Monkey Puzzle franchisees are extensively supported through their onboarding process and beyond. This training includes industry leading support in recruitment, financial management, marketing and property acquisition and maintenance. This method allows their franchisees the infrastructure to produce a growing, successful business.

“They were fantastic with demographic research, cash flow forecasting, site viability – the works,” added Natasha. “Having that level of expertise behind you made the whole process feel far less overwhelming.”

Natasha’s vision was realised in April 2026, with Monkey Puzzle Crouch End opening its doors – a calm, welcoming and carefully designed environment for children to enjoy and families to trust.

The spacious nursery features multiple outdoor areas, encouraging a strong focus on outdoor learning and exploration. Inside, thoughtful design choices help create a peaceful, homely atmosphere, including acoustic flooring and interiors intended to feel less overstimulating for young children.

“The nursery has turned out just how I wanted it,” said Natasha. “Every detail has been chosen with the children’s day-to-day experience in mind. We stayed true to our original vision throughout the project, with Monkey Puzzle helping us every step of the way. I’m so proud of the finished product – it’s a dream come true!”

As the nursery settles into the local community, Natasha is focused on creating the very best experience for children, families and staff. “At the moment, our priority is building strong links to the local community and, of course, helping the children settle in with a smile on their faces.”

Building the right team is equally important. “For me, it’s about finding people who genuinely care about children and want to make a positive difference every single day. The team you build has such a huge impact on the experience families have with your nursery.”

Looking further down the line, Natasha is excited about the possibilities ahead. “In the long term, I’d love to continue growing a strong nursery community here in Crouch End and then potentially explore opening a second site with Monkey Puzzle.”

For Natasha, one of the biggest advantages of becoming a Monkey Puzzle franchisee has been the support available across every aspect of the business.

“As a first-time nursery owner, having that infrastructure behind me has provided so much reassurance,” said Natasha. “Communication has always been open, and I’ve always felt confident to make decisions knowing the guidance was there if I needed it.”

From recruitment to marketing to quality assurance and project management, the high level of support has remained consistent throughout. “I never felt like I was facing things on my own. Even when something like finding the perfect location took a little bit of time, I always knew we’d achieve my vision together.

“There has always been somebody available to offer advice, answer questions or help overcome challenges – it’s been an amazing experience!”

For anyone considering franchising with Monkey Puzzle, Natasha’s advice is simple. “Go for it!”

“Keep an open mind throughout your journey and don’t be too proud to lean on the support available,” added Natasha. “There will always be obstacles to overcome, but if you stay focused on what you want to achieve, the reward at the end is absolutely worth it.”

One thing is a necessity though. “You need to have a genuine passion for early years education and delivering high-quality childcare. That passion is what keeps you motivated during difficult moments, but for me, it’s all worth it to spend time with all the children that come through our doors!”