Running a nursery isn’t just a job – it’s a full-body, full-heart experience. One moment you're deep in strategic planning, and the next you're unblocking a toilet, covering lunch breaks, or solving a staffing crisis. Sound familiar?

That’s why sustainable growth isn’t just about scaling up. It's about building a business that works for you, not the other way around. A nursery that serves your community, your team, and your own well-being. As someone who nearly lost her business (and herself) to the chaos, I know this terrain well and I want to show you that thriving doesn’t have to mean burning out.

Here are five practical strategies I’ll be sharing at Nursery Management Show Birmingham on 27 June – each one designed to help you grow with clarity, confidence, and calm.

1. Reconnect with your ‘why’

Before spreadsheets, before staff rotas, before Ofsted – why did you start this? Reconnecting with your core purpose grounds every decision you make. A clear, compelling vision isn’t fluff, it’s the foundation for consistency, connection, and credibility. Teams rally behind it. Families choose you for it. Growth is so much easier when everyone knows what you're building and why.

2. Know your numbers (like, really know them)

Sustainability isn’t guesswork. It's maths and mindset. You need to know your cost per hour, how many hours you've actually sold, how much cash you've collected, and what percentage of your turnover goes on staffing. And let’s not forget the environmental side of sustainability. Track your waste, utilities, nappies. Profit and planet go hand in hand. When you know the story behind the numbers, you make sharper decisions, faster.

3. People first, always

Staffing will make or break your setting. Invest in your team like they’re your most valuable asset, because they are. High retention doesn’t come from free biscuits in the staff room. It comes from strong leadership, honest feedback, clear boundaries, and opportunities to grow. Want stability? Build a culture people want to stay in.

4. Automate the repeatables

There is zero glory in doing everything manually. If you’re still chasing invoices, handwriting registers, or using sticky notes as a system, it’s time to upgrade. Automating admin and ops tasks isn’t about removing the human touch. It’s about protecting your energy for the work that matters most. Simpler systems = a calmer you.

5. Build in, not just up

Growth doesn’t always mean expansion. It means deeper roots. Strong community links create a ripple effect of trust and visibility. Be the nursery that schools recommend. The one parents talk about at the toddler group. The one that shows up and gives back. Engagement isn’t marketing, it’s a movement.

If you’re ready to move from chaos to clarity, from just surviving to truly thriving, I’d love to connect. This work is too important to do alone. Let’s keep the conversation going over on LinkedIn.

Book your free ticket for Nursery Management Show on 27 June to hear more from Lucy in her session in the Leadership theatre.