From Teacher to 22 Classes a Week: How Nicola Roseby Grew Kidslingo South Derbyshire & Burton

In this episode of The Class Business Podcast, Krissy Monaghan is joined by Nicola Roseby from Kidslingo South Derbyshire & Burton, where she delivers French and Spanish classes for children across nurseries, schools, community classes, childminders, home education groups and private tuition. Nicola spent 13 years as a secondary school teacher and 10 years as Head of Languages before leaving education in search of a better work-life balance without giving up the teaching she loved. She launched her Kidslingo business in January 2024, initially starting with community classes and a small number of nurseries. Less than three years later, Nicola is now delivering 22 classes across four teaching days and has reached the point where her own capacity has become the biggest barrier to further growth. Her next challenge is moving from solo delivery towards building a team. What makes Nicola's story particularly interesting is how organically that growth has happened. Families from her early toddler classes recommended her into schools, home education families found her through word of mouth, and one relationship gradually created the next opportunity. We talk about: • Nicola's 13-year career as a secondary school teacher • Spending 10 years as Head of Languages • Why becoming a parent changed the way she thought about work • Leaving 60+ hour school weeks without leaving teaching behind • Why she chose a franchise rather than starting independently • The support she has received through Kidslingo • Starting with community classes and a couple of nurseries • Growing to 22 classes across four teaching days • Using French and Spanish across multiple settings • How word of mouth helped the business snowball • Parents recommending Nicola into local schools • Building a home education offer organically • Reaching the limit of solo delivery • Why Nicola's next move is building a team • Helping families learn together • Developing confidence and self-esteem through languages • Why early positive experiences with languages matter • Reducing the fear of speaking before children reach their teenage years • How songs, games and movement make language learning memorable • Why children end up practising French and Spanish outside the class too • What Nicola has learned from growing an emerging business faster than she expected 👉 Find out more about Nicola's classes: French: https://www.kidslingo.co.uk/area/fren... Spanish: https://www.kidslingo.co.uk/area/span... Nicola Roseby is a finalist for Emerging Business of the Year at The Class Business Awards 2026. Join us on Saturday 10 October 2026 at the National Conference Centre in Solihull for The Class Business Live, followed by The Class Business Awards & Afterparty. https://www.kristinemonaghan.online/o... #TheClassBusinessPodcast #TheClassBusinessAwards Suggested YouTube chapters 00:00 Meet Nicola Roseby 00:42 Starting Kidslingo South Derbyshire & Burton 00:55 13 years in teaching and 10 as Head of Languages 01:12 Why Nicola left school teaching 02:35 Choosing franchising over going independent 04:03 The value of Kidslingo support 04:37 22 classes across four teaching days 05:16 Reaching the limit of solo delivery 06:20 How the business started 06:49 The word-of-mouth snowball 07:36 Growing into home education 08:27 The wider impact on children and families 09:46 Where Nicola's love of languages began 11:45 Why language provision is shrinking 13:23 Why adults regret not learning languages earlier 14:14 Building confidence before the teenage years 15:35 Language apps versus in-person learning 16:47 Why songs, movement and games work 17:45 How to find Kidslingo South Derbyshire & Burton