Family is at the very heart of Fountain Montessori and with nearly
20 years of proven success, we are now expanding through selective
franchising after creating four thriving nurseries across London.
Mission
Some parents pick a nursery because it's the closest. Others pick one because it's right, and they will pay more and drive further to get it. Fountain Montessori has built its business around that second group of families since 2006.
The family-owned group runs Montessori nurseries across London and Hertfordshire. Each one is built on child-led learning, generous outdoor space and parents who feel part of the journey from their very first visit. Founder and CEO Arike Disu is now opening the model to a select group of franchise partners who want to do meaningful work in their own community and run it as a serious, profitable business.
Concept
Fountain Montessori nurseries care for children from three months to five years, with dedicated spaces for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. The Montessori method runs alongside the Early Years Foundation Stage, so children learn at their own pace with hands-on materials while every nursery meets national requirements in full.
What sets a Fountain nursery apart goes well beyond the classroom:
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Generous staff-to-child ratios, so every child gets real attention
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Outdoor play space treated as a core part of the nursery, not an afterthought
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Enrichment woven into the week, from music and football to French and Mandarin
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Carefully chosen Montessori materials and eco-conscious everyday practices
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Parents welcomed as partners in their child's learning from day one
Why the model works
Montessori sits at the premium end of UK early years. Specialist training, beautifully prepared rooms and a visibly different experience give families good reason to pay more. Fountain Montessori estimates that Montessori settings commonly charge 20% to 40% above standard nurseries. Families who choose a values-led nursery also tend to stay for years, often with siblings following, and that loyalty underpins the steady occupancy a nursery needs to perform.
What parents want from early years has shifted. Emotional wellbeing, independence and time away from screens now sit near the top of many families' lists, and Montessori has put those things at its centre for more than a century. The approach has moved from alternative choice to premium mainstream.
The UK nursery market is also highly fragmented, with most settings run by single-site independents. That leaves clear space for a recognisable premium brand backed by proven systems, a strong compliance record and an operator who has done it all herself.
Two Ways In:
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Open a new nursery. Start from the ground up, with support on site selection, lease negotiation, Montessori-led design and fit-out, recruitment and Ofsted registration
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Convert an existing nursery. Already own a setting? Retrain your team, adapt your rooms to Montessori standards and reposition as the premium choice in your area
Support From First Site to Second Nursery
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Finding your site. Arike personally reviews every shortlisted site, walks the neighbourhood with you and helps negotiate lease terms. Relationships with specialist nursery property agents give you early sight of strong opportunities
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Raising finance. Lender-ready business plan and cashflow templates, direct introductions to franchise banking contacts, and the team alongside you in key bank meetings
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Design and fit-out. Montessori-led design shaped around your building and your community rather than a fixed template
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Building your team. Proven hiring strategies, interview templates, access to the brand's candidate network and an HR toolkit covering salary benchmarking, contracts and retention
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Ofsted readiness. A full suite of policies and procedures from day one, help with registration, and mock inspections before and after opening
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Filling your places. A launch campaign, branded materials, social media templates, your own page on the Fountain Montessori website and dedicated social accounts, with the team reviewing your local marketing plans
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Training. Pre-opening training inside an established Fountain nursery covering the Montessori method, safeguarding, daily operations, customer service, marketing and staff management. Hands-on launch training then follows at your own nursery ahead of your first intake
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Growing on. Ongoing business coaching from Arike, regular business reviews, a peer network and expansion planning when you're ready for a second site
Find out more!
Platinum Wave is supporting Fountain Montessori with franchise recruitment across the UK. Territories are limited. To request the full franchise information pack and arrange an informal first conversation, contact Steve Lampshire at steve@platinumwave.co.uk.