Family & Education Consultancy
ESB Consulting is a London-based family and education consultancy founded by a royally appointed Norland Nanny and maternity nurse, and the former assistant headmaster of King’s College School, Wimbledon.
We support families during pregnancy and early parenthood – and specialise in navigating the complexities and hurdles of pre-school and school admissions in London and beyond.
We provide face-to-face and online consultations, offering a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet your family's needs. These include our pre-school and school advisory consultations, registration at birth service, school placement service, and school admissions assessments.
Additionally, we offer a pregnancy concierge service, a nanny search and advisory service, and our newborn and toddler troubleshooting consultations.
Through our directory, ESB can also connect families to experts in education, maternity care, property, relocation, nanny and household staff agencies, private security, interior design, lifestyle concierge, family law, and family photography.
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Why Us
At ESB, our core values - discretion, experience, and empathy - define our approach and commitment to the families we work with.
Discretion: We understand that positive relationships are founded on mutual trust and respect, especially when it concerns your family. Recognising the value of trust, we uphold the highest standards of confidentiality and have the utmost respect for your privacy at all times.
Experience: Our guidance is informed by years of personal and professional expertise. As lifelong learners, we remain at the forefront of the ever-evolving realms of family life and education. Additionally, we are privileged to collaborate with an extensive network of exceptional professionals through our directory, ensuring access to the very best insights and resources.
Empathy: Navigating pregnancy, parenthood, and school admissions can be overwhelming. While we provide honest and evidence-based advice that may sometimes differ from your aspirations, we do so with kindness and understanding. We recognise that every decision you make stems from a deep desire to act in your child’s best interest.
As you explore the "what" of our services, we invite you to reflect on the "why" - the purpose and passion behind everything we do. It is the foundation of who we are and why we are committed to supporting families.
Family Consultancy
Pregnancy Concierge
Having recently experienced our own pregnancy journey, we were struck by the lack of personalised, one-to-one support and practical guidance available to families, regardless of their birth choices. In response, our pregnancy concierge service and preparing for baby consultations have become the cornerstone of our family consultancy offering. Drawing on years of professional expertise and personal experience, we provide tailored support to help families prepare for the challenges of parenthood. Our consultations can take place in the comfort of your home, at a recommended shopping destination, your nearest Soho House, or online.
Norland Nanny and Maternity Nurse
Sabina is a degree-educated alumna of the world renowned Norland College in Bath. With over 14 years of professional experience, she has worked with a diverse range of families across the UK and internationally, including royalty and UHNW clients, as well as offering voluntary childcare to families facing challenging circumstances. Through her nanny search and advisory service, Sabina now provides expert guidance to families seeking to hire a nanny, rota nanny, maternity nurse, or night nanny. This service is typically delivered in collaboration with our favoured agencies in London and beyond, ensuring the highest standards of care and professionalism.
Mother
The skills needed to be a successful parent differ significantly from those required to excel as an early years professional. Experiencing the highs and lows of pregnancy and birth, the profound responsibility of caring for a newborn, the emotional turbulence of the pregnancy journey and fourth trimester, and the challenges of sleep deprivation have brought a deeper level of empathy and insight to our work and consultations. We are especially mindful of the difficulties faced by parents without an immediate family support network and recognise the invaluable role that one-to-one support from a Family Consultant can play in easing the transition to parenthood.
Education Consultancy
Distinctly Local
Uniquely, our pre-school and school advisory service is tailored to focus on three key geographic regions: London, Surrey and South West England. These areas are home to some of the most sought-after educational institutions, and our deep understanding of their nuances ensures families receive highly targeted advice.
We pride ourselves on being specialists in these regions, leveraging our extensive knowledge gained through regular pre-school and school visits. This hands-on approach allows us to stay up-to-date with each school’s ethos, admission criteria, and unique offerings, enabling us to provide informed, personalised guidance to families navigating the education landscape.
Experience
With over two decades of education in the South West of England, we possess a deep, first-hand understanding of the region's rich history and distinctive educational culture.
In addition, our combined experience of more than 20 years working in London and Surrey has equipped us with an extensive and current knowledge of the pre-schools and schools across these areas. This expertise enables us to provide highly informed guidance tailored to the unique characteristics of each region's educational landscape.
At ESB, we are particularly attuned to the intricacies of pre-school and school admissions. Our expertise extends to developing strategies for success in competitive entrance exams and navigating the organisational processes required to secure placements in institutions operating on a first-come, first-served basis.
Perspective
As a consultancy, we are uniquely placed to evaluate and review pre-schools and schools from three distinct and invaluable perspectives:
Firstly, as parents who have personally navigated the process of selecting a pre-school and school for our son, we understand the emotional and practical considerations involved in making such important decisions.
Secondly, as a former teacher and senior leader, we are skilled at looking beyond the surface - be it polished open mornings, impressive league tables, or glowing reviews. We identify subtle yet critical aspects of pre-schools and schools that may not be immediately apparent to the untrained eye, offering a clear and honest assessment of which institutions align best with your child’s unique needs.
Finally, as Norland Nanny with extensive experience in early years settings and a proven track record of guiding children into some of the country’s most prestigious pre-schools and prep schools, we bring a practical, hands-on perspective that is both insightful and uniquely informed.
Independent
While we enjoy positive relationships with pre-schools and schools, our advice and guidance remain entirely independent. We do not accept commissions or incentives from any institution for placing a child in their care.
This ensures that our consultations are exclusively focused on what we believe is in the best interest of your child and your family, delivering unbiased and objective recommendations tailored to your unique needs.