Derby company behind global schools software enters nursery sector

A Derby education technology company whose software is used by schools around the world has launched a new platform aimed at supporting quality improvement in nurseries.

Derventio Education, based in Vernon Gate and best known for its internationally recognised SchooliP platform, has announced the launch of NurseryiP, a specialist system designed to help nursery leaders by bringing improvement planning and professional development together in one place.

The new platform has been developed in partnership with early years expert Kara Kiernan, who has 17 years of nursery and school leadership experience, including senior roles at Nord Anglia Education, Cognita and Kings’ Schools Dubai.

The development marks the next phase of growth for Derventio Education, whose SchooliP software is used by schools, trusts and education organisations across more than 100 countries worldwide.

Initially launching across the UAE and wider Gulf region, NurseryiP has been specifically designed for the early years sector, providing nursery settings with tools to support continuous improvement through reflective practice rather than compliance-driven processes.

The company will launch NurseryiP to UK nursery groups in September 2026 but is hosting an online launch on June 17 featuring a live demonstration of the platform and discussion with nursery leaders and education professionals.

Derventio Education CEO Stuart Reece said the launch builds on the company’s success in supporting school improvement internationally and expands the firm’s portfolio, which also includes CollegeiP and HospitaliP, developed in conjunction with Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Stuart said: “SchooliP has shown how powerful it can be to connect self-evaluation, improvement planning and professional development in one place, helping schools create a culture of continuous improvement.

“NurseryiP extends that approach into the early years sector, providing nursery leaders with the same joined-up support tailored specifically to their setting.

“By combining our experience in education technology with Kara’s expertise in nursery leadership, we’ve developed a platform with real global potential. We’re excited to be launching a Derby-developed product that can support nursery leaders wherever they are in the world.”

The platform combines self-evaluation, improvement planning, professional development and practitioner portfolios into a single connected system, enabling nursery leaders to identify priorities and track progress more effectively.

Unlike many existing systems, NurseryiP is designed to work alongside a setting’s current platforms, creating a continuous cycle linking self-evaluation, improvement priorities and staff development.

It is currently aligned to Dubai’s new quality framework for nurseries and early years settings, with versions for other international markets and the UK ready to launch.

Kara said: “Nursery leaders have been telling us they need a platform that promotes and facilitates self-evaluation and reflection to inform setting improvement. They want something that does it all in one place and that is aligned to what they are working towards more broadly.

“NurseryiP has been built from those conversations and will continue to evolve alongside the practitioners using it.”