How to Rank Your Nursery Higher on Google: A Simple Local SEO Checklist for Busy Nursery Owners

If your nursery isn’t showing up on Google when parents search “nursery near me” or “childcare in [your area],” you’re missing out on enquiries — even if your setting is warm, caring, and high-quality.

And here’s the truth most nursery owners discover too late:

Parents don’t choose nurseries by walking around the neighbourhood anymore. They choose based on what they see online — especially on Google.

If you’re not appearing in those top Google results, parents don’t even know you exist.

The good news? You can change this quickly, and you don’t need to be “techy” or hire a huge marketing team.

Local SEO (Local Search Engine Optimisation) is simply about helping your nursery show up more often to local parents.

This guide explains exactly how to do that — in a simple, clear checklist you can follow even on your busiest days.

Why Local SEO Matters So Much for Nurseries

When parents search online for childcare, the steps are always the same:

1. They open Google.

2. They type “nursery near me”.

3. They look at the top three nurseries on Google Maps.

4. They click the ones with:
   – real photos
   – recent posts
   – strong reviews
   – clear information

5. They book a tour with the setting that feels the safest and most trustworthy.

If your nursery isn’t in those top results, parents simply don’t see you — even if your nursery is amazing.

Many outstanding nurseries struggle not because of quality, but because of low visibility.

This simple checklist will help you fix that.

The Local SEO Checklist for Nurseries (Easy, Quick, Proven)

This is the same process InGrowth uses when helping nurseries increase visibility and fill spaces faster.

1. Make Sure Your Google Business Profile Is Fully Complete

Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is the number one way parents find you online.

It must include:

• Your nursery name (exactly as registered)

• Your full address

• Phone number

• Opening hours

• Website

• Correct categories (“Nursery”, “Childcare”, “Preschool”)

• A warm description of your setting

• Ofsted rating

• Lots of real photos

Most nurseries think their profile is complete — but usually it’s only 40–60%.

AI Prompt:
“Write a warm, parent-friendly Google description for a nursery in [location], focusing on safety, learning environment, and settling-in support.”

If you want help checking your listing, you can book a free call here: https://ingrowth.io/calendar

2. Add New Photos Every Week

Google loves fresh content. Nurseries that upload photos regularly rank higher because Google sees them as more active.

Post photos of:

• indoor activities

• outdoor learning

• art and crafts

• sensory play

• reading areas

• staff interacting with children

3–5 photos per week is ideal. This single habit can improve your ranking within weeks.

3. Post Weekly Google Updates

Think of Google Updates as mini social-media posts.

You can post:

• “This week at our nursery…”

• “Our toddlers explored sensory play…”

• “We have limited spaces available…”

• “Meet our new practitioner…”

Short posts are enough - consistency matters more than length.

AI Prompt:
“Write a weekly update for a nursery’s Google profile describing EYFS activities in a warm, friendly tone.”

4. Keep Your Nursery Information Consistent Everywhere

Google checks whether your:

• Name

• Address

• Phone number

match across the internet.

If your website says “Road” and Facebook says “Rd,” Google may treat them as different locations.

This is a very common nursery mistake.

To avoid more easy-to-miss digital errors, read: 5 Common Digital Marketing Mistakes Small Businesses Make

5. Get Reviews Regularly (Not All at Once)

Google prioritises nurseries with:

• recent reviews

• steady review activity

• positive parent feedback

Aim for 2–4 new reviews per month.

Where to ask:

• parents during settling-in

• happy parents after a compliment

• families who recently joined

• parents who are leaving on good terms

AI Prompt:
“Write a friendly, polite message asking parents to leave a Google review about their nursery experience.”

Reviews make a huge difference in ranking and trust.

6. Add Local Keywords to Your Website

Your website helps Google understand what you do and where you do it.

Include phrases such as:

• “Nursery in [town]”

• “Childcare in [area]”

• “Preschool near [landmark]”

• Your postcode

Also add alt-text to images like: “nursery in [location] classroom”

If you want to understand how website improvements affect results, read: How Digital Optimisation Impacts Your Digital Marketing Results

If your website feels outdated or slow, explore: https://ingrowth.io/digital-marketing-services-london

7. Make Sure Your Website Loads Fast

Parents won’t wait more than 3 seconds.

A slow website leads to:

• fewer enquiries

• lower rankings

• higher bounce rate

If your bounce rate is high, this guide will help: 10 Reasons Your Website Bounce Rate Is Higher

8. Stay Active on Social Media (Google Checks This!)

Social media isn’t just for engagement — it improves your local SEO too.

Google looks at:

• how active your nursery is

• whether parents interact with you

• updates that show you’re a real, operating business

Posting 3–4 times per week is enough to strengthen your visibility.

If social media is a struggle, InGrowth can support you: https://ingrowth.io/free-marketing-consultancy .

Helpful AI Prompts (Copy & Use Today)

1. Content ideas:
“Generate 20 social media posts for a UK nursery showing learning, play, nurturing, and EYFS activities.”

2. Website help:
“Rewrite our homepage paragraph to naturally include ‘nursery in [location]’.”

3. Google Posts:
“Write a short Google update for a nursery describing this week’s activities.”

4. Review messages:
“Write a gentle, friendly message asking parents to leave a Google review.”

5. Local SEO ideas:
“Suggest 10 local keywords to help our nursery rank higher on Google Maps.”