O'Keeffe Education Consultancy

For investors, family offices and education groups

Independent due diligence, feasibility and market entry advice, and the integration support that decides whether an acquisition actually performs. This is the senior, specialist end of the practice: the view the financials do not show. Drawing on extensive experience across British and American curriculum settings, OEC contributes educational judgement, governance insight and quality assurance expertise alongside specialist teams supporting school establishment, transition and growth.

Services include

The outcomeConfident decisions, grounded in educational reality and regulatory fluency.

For owners, principals and boards

OEC conducts independent quality assurance reviews, independently reviews self-evaluation and supporting evidence, and supports leaders in identifying the priorities that will strengthen children's outcomes, wellbeing, inclusion and the quality of education and care. Through rigorous evaluation and a senior leadership debrief, schools and nurseries gain a clear understanding of their strengths, areas for development and the actions most likely to secure sustained improvement. Janet has led this work from within schools and early years settings, supporting inspection readiness and continuous improvement across KHDA and SPEA frameworks.

Beyond inspection, OEC supports sustainable school improvement through leadership development, strategic change and organisational capacity building, guiding leaders through the decisions that define a year and building cultures of continuous improvement that strengthen outcomes for children and young people.

Services include

The outcomeA clear, evidence-based understanding of current performance and the priorities most likely to improve children's outcomes, wellbeing, inclusion and the overall quality of education and care, leading to sustained improvement and greater inspection readiness.

For owners, boards and senior leaders

OEC strengthens governance, safeguarding, inclusion and wellbeing oversight, ensuring boards keep a clear focus on outcomes for all learners, including students of determination. Independent governor support and retained board advisory provide an experienced, independent educational voice alongside owners and leaders. Having served at once as board member, chair of governance and executive leader inside major UAE education groups, Janet works alongside owners and boards as a natural counterpart, and coaches principals and senior leaders through the decisions that define a year.

Services include

The outcomeGovernance that earns the confidence of regulators and stakeholders, and leaders who are clearer, more confident and measurably more effective.

For founders, owners and nursery operators

The first years shape whether a child feels secure, whether they belong, and how they come to see themselves as learners for the rest of their lives. Quality is never simply about attractive environments or regulatory compliance. It is about understanding how young children learn and develop, and creating settings where children, families and educators flourish.

Learning environments should be designed with pedagogical intent. OEC brings together educational design, environment planning and operational readiness, ensuring settings are intentionally created to support children's wellbeing, belonging and development from the outset.

OEC supports the establishment of new nurseries and Early Childhood Centres from first concept to confident opening: the Academic Plan and Education and Care Plan, the Educational Services Permit and licensing pathway, coordination with KHDA, Dubai Municipality, DHA and Civil Defence, the learning environment, and operational and inspection readiness.

For existing settings, OEC supports quality enhancement across the domains of the KHDA ECCE Quality Framework, with particular attention to children's wellbeing, pedagogical practice, enabling environments and leadership for continuous improvement. Bilingual learning and Loughat Al Daad are approached with intention and authenticity, ensuring belonging, inclusion and cultural identity are embedded throughout the setting.

Throughout the process, Janet provides educational oversight to ensure educational intent, safeguarding, safety and operational functionality remain central to implementation decisions.

Janet has led the establishment of nurseries from first concept to confident opening, authoring Academic Plans and Education and Care Plans, guiding regulatory approvals and supporting settings through opening and first inspection under both KHDA and SPEA.

Services include

The outcomeA high-quality early years setting intentionally designed around children's wellbeing, belonging and development, with the systems, environments and leadership required to sustain continuous improvement and achieve inspection readiness from the outset.

For owners and senior leadership teams

OEC helps owners and leadership teams strengthen the way an organisation actually runs, aligning structures, roles and processes with educational priorities. The work spans organisational change and transition, capacity building and operational readiness, helping schools and groups scale, restructure or steady themselves without losing sight of children and quality. The emphasis is on building durable systems and a culture of continuous improvement that outlast any single engagement.

Services include

The outcomeAn organisation that runs with clarity and consistency, built to sustain quality as it grows and changes.