Hopscotch Early Years Consultancy Ltd

What Hopscotch Early Years Consultancy Ltd does

Hopscotch Early Years Consultancy Ltd is a UK-based professional services firm founded in 2011 by Laura Hoyland, a former Ofsted inspector, and headquartered in Thirsk, North Yorkshire. The company provides advisory, training, and inspection-preparation services to the Early Years education sector, with a stated track record of supporting more than 300 nursery settings to Outstanding gradings at Ofsted inspection over the past decade-plus. Its service portfolio spans mock Ofsted inspections conducted by experienced current inspectors, post-inspection triage and EYFS support visits, certified and bespoke training courses, an annual Nursery Managers' Conference at Rockliffe Hall Hotel, international consultancy for British-curriculum schools, and due-diligence plus startup advisory for nursery investors and operators.

The firm is not a technology company; it has no proprietary platform, software product, or AI capability, and delivers value through human consultants deployed on-site at customer settings. Customers include UK independent nursery operators, multi-site chains such as Kids Planet and Just Childcare, UK and international nursery investors, and English-language schools in the USA, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy, Spain, the UAE, Ireland, and Greece. Revenue mechanics rest on quote-based consultancy engagements, priced training courses, and a two-day annual conference delegate pass priced at £745 per attendee for the 2025 edition.

The go-to-market is sales-led and direct, with lead generation driven by the firm's website, the EYBB podcast, a regular column in Nursery World magazine, House of Commons working-party participation, and the annual conference. A co-marketing partnership with Famly extends the firm's reach into the Early Years SaaS buyer base. The company operates with seven employees, is privately held with no disclosed external investors, and is led by founder and Managing Director Laura Hoyland.

Name

Hopscotch Early Years Consultancy Ltd

Legal name

Hopscotch Early Years Consultancy Ltd

Website

https://hopscotchconsultancy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

UK-based Early Years consultancy founded in 2011 by former Ofsted inspector Laura Hoyland, providing mock inspections, EYFS support, training, and investor advisory to nursery operators across the UK and nine international markets, with a track record of 300+ settings achieving Outstanding gradings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Early Years Consultancy Services

NAICS

Other Management Consulting Services (541618), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Nursery School Programs (2–4 Years) (EDACACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Full-Day Nursery Programs (EDACACAD), Nursery School Readiness & Transition Programs (EDACACAL)

Keywords

• Early years consultancy
• Ofsted inspection support
• EYFS curriculum support
• Nursery compliance training
• Nursery startup advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Thirsk

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Consultancy Services: Professional consultancy services including mock inspections, EYFS support visits, post-inspection triage, and investor/startup advisory services. Engagement scoped and priced based on customer requirements and project complexity.
2. Training Courses: Certified and bespoke training courses delivered at customer settings and at various UK locations. Includes safeguarding training, mental health first aid, leadership courses, and DISC assessments.
3. Nursery Managers' Conference: Annual two-day conference at Rockliffe Hall Hotel with masterclasses, accommodation, meals, and networking. Delegates pay per-attendee fee (NMC 2023: £695, NMC 2025: £745).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hopscotch Early Years Consultancy delivers fee-based advisory, inspection-readiness, training, and support services to UK and international nursery operators and investors. Standalone offerings include mock Ofsted inspections, post-inspection triage, EYFS curriculum support, face-to-face training, international early years consultancy, and dedicated advisory for nursery startups and investors. An annual Nursery Managers' Conference and an associated podcast (EYBB) extend the company's reach within the nursery manager community.

Product overview

Hopscotch Early Years Consultancy Ltd operates as a professional services consultancy rather than a software product company. The company offers a portfolio of advisory and training services for the Early Years education sector, including Mock Inspections (conducted by experienced Ofsted inspectors to prepare nurseries for real inspections), Post-Inspection Triage (support following inspection outcomes), EYFS Support Visits (ongoing consultancy support), Training (certified and bespoke courses), the annual Nursery Managers' Conference, International Services (British education consultancy for overseas nurseries), and Startups & Investors Services (advisory for new ventures and acquisitions). Additionally, the company produces the Early Years Bottomless Brunch podcast as a content offering. These services are delivered through expert consultants who provide inspection preparation, regulatory compliance guidance, staff training, and commercial advisory support to nursery operators across the UK and internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Early Years Bottomless Brunch (EYBB) Podcast: Weekly podcast providing Early Years news, opinion and discussion hosted by Edward, Laura, Chris and the Hopscotch team.

Products and services

• Mock Ofsted Inspections Independent full mock Ofsted inspection of a nursery setting, mirroring the behaviour of inspectors (including posing as parents if applicable) and producing detailed written feedback across all inspection areas to identify compliance gaps and improvement priorities before a real inspection.
• Post-Inspection Triage and Priority Response Priority, on-the-ground support for nurseries that have received a poor Ofsted outcome. The service focuses on stabilising the setting, protecting its reputation, engaging with parents, and creating a clear action plan led by senior inspectors and operators.
• EYFS Curriculum and Quality Support Advisory engagement to help nurseries deliver EYFS-compliant curriculum and consistently high-quality provision, including support for settings that face repeated or ongoing quality concerns.
• Face-to-Face Early Years Training In-person training programme delivered at client sites covering EYFS-related topics and the day-to-day realities of running a nursery, designed for managers, deputies, room leaders and nursery staff.
• International Early Years Consultancy Consultancy and training services delivered to nursery operators, schools, and other organisations outside the UK, often focused on adapting provision to UK EYFS or British early years standards. Marketed internationally, including in markets such as Pakistan and the Middle East.
• Startup and Investor Advisory for Nursery Ventures Specialist advisory for two audiences: (a) people opening a nursery for the first time, including recruitment, training, and Ofsted readiness; and (b) wealth funds, property investors, and international groups investing in nurseries, helping them turn a property or financial investment thesis into a working, inspection-ready nursery business.
• Nursery Managers' Conference (NMC) Paid annual conference for nursery managers, comprising face-to-face training, conference sessions, and networking, with tiered delegate pricing (Earlybird £695, Standard £745) and space for up to 250 nursery managers. Positioned as a key revenue-generating CPD and community event for the UK early years sector.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ settings supported to Outstanding grading at inspection
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• FamlyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHopscotch has partnered with Famly, the #1 Early Childhood Platform, to offer existing and new customers a 25% discount on their first 3-6 months with Famly's Premium or Professional packages. Customers sign up for a demo and join Famly within 30 days to claim the discount.
• Best-of-breed SuppliersminorOthersFor startups, Hopscotch sources fixtures and fittings, equipment and furniture using partnerships with best-of-breed suppliers. Specific supplier names are not disclosed.
• TBC (Event Sponsor)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerTBC is listed as the keynote presentation sponsor for NMC 2025, providing the drinks reception ahead of the gala dinner. Partner identity not confirmed at time of publication.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Famly: Early childhood management software platform partnered with Hopscotch. Comparable as an ecosystem participant addressing the same nursery operator base with adjacent (software vs. consulting) solutions.
• Childbase Partnership: UK nursery operator running a portfolio of high-quality day nurseries. Relevant as a prospective customer and as a UK nursery-chain comparable that influences demand for inspection-prep and training services.
• Family & Childcare Trust (now Connected Together): UK charity providing research, training, and policy work around early years and childcare. Comparable as an adjacent sector voice shaping the same policy and regulatory environment Hopscotch operates in.
• Kids Planet Day Nurseries: Major UK nursery chain and named Hopscotch customer with 26 consecutive Outstanding gradings. Relevant as a flagship client and as a scaled operator that anchors multi-site consulting engagements.

Broad incumbents

• PACEY (Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years): UK professional association providing training, CPD, and resources to childminders and early years practitioners. Comparable as a training and development body for the same early years workforce.
• Early Years Alliance: UK sector membership and training body offering training, resources, and consultancy to early years settings. Comparable because it serves the same nursery operator audience with training and quality-improvement support, although it operates as a membership charity rather than a private consultancy.
• National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA): UK nursery trade association providing training, quality schemes, and policy advocacy for day nurseries. Comparable because it competes for the same training and consultancy budget from nursery operators, especially around Ofsted preparation.

Direct peers

• Penelope Eden Training: UK early years training provider offering courses, consultancy, and resources to nursery practitioners. Direct competitor in early years training and consultancy, particularly in safeguarding and EYFS content.
• Connect2Childcare: UK early years and childcare consultancy offering training, mentoring, and inspection-preparation support to nurseries. Closely comparable on core service lines (training, inspection prep, mentoring) and customer base.
• Mindstretch (Early Years): UK early years training and consultancy firm delivering training, leadership development, and quality-improvement services to nurseries. Direct peer given overlapping training, EYFS, and leadership offerings aimed at the same operator segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hopscotchearlyyears

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hopscotch Early Years Consultancy Ltd