Editorial Warmth
Serif headlines, cream palette, and considered whitespace — a school's voice, not a brochure.
Thabile Nursery School
A warm editorial redesign for a play-based pre-school in Blairgowrie, Randburg — family-run since 1973, 140 children aged two to six, and a principal who still knows every child by name.
The Project
About Thabile
Fifty-two years on the same quiet street in Blairgowrie. A registered non-profit pre-school welcoming 140 children between two and six, where play is the way learning happens — not a break from it.
Client Profile
Family-run, play-based pre-school in Blairgowrie, Randburg. Founded 1973. Registered Non-Profit Company. Principal Jacki Graham has been there from the start.
Scope
Full website redesign — editorial visual direction, four year-group architecture, daily rhythm timeline, fees breakdown, FAQ, and a school-tour booking flow.
Goal
Match the school's actual character — warm, unhurried, intentional — with a site that helps prospective families understand the place without ever visiting twice.
The Challenge
Warmth That Reads on Screen
A pre-school decides parents' next five years. The site needed to feel like the school feels — patient, considered, family-run — not like a generic education template.
Four Year Groups
The Youngest, Explorers, Thinkers, Ready for School — each with its own rhythm, ratio, and tone.
A Day, Not a Schedule
A rhythm from 07:00 arrivals to 16:45 Linger Longer — narrated, not just listed.
Book a Tour Flow
The conversion that matters most: a school tour. Surfaced as a first-class action, everywhere it makes sense.
The Approach
How I Built It
Lean on the editorial — typography that whispers, layouts that breathe, copy that sounds like a person who runs a school, not a content marketer.
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01
Research
Studied the school's voice, the year-group structure, and how parents actually shortlist a pre-school.
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02
Design
Warm cream palette, classical serif display, and a "founded 1973" stamp — institutional weight, family warmth.
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03
Build
Hand-coded HTML and CSS — semantic, accessible, fast. A site that loads as one quiet morning at the school.
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04
Deliver
Deployed as a live, shareable demo so the school and prospective parents can experience both versions in full.
Key Features
What's Inside
School & Classes
- Editorial hero + 1973 founded stamp100%
- About: 52 years, principal, philosophy100%
- Four year-group cards (ages 2–6)100%
- Daily rhythm timeline (07:00–16:45)100%
Parents & Practical
- Facilities & extra-murals100%
- Linger Longer aftercare details100%
- Fees, three ways100%
- FAQ & "Book a tour" CTA100%
Tech Stack
- Hand-coded HTML & CSS100%
- Static deployment (demo.covino.co.za)100%
- Responsive, mobile-first design100%
- Optimised for performance & SEO100%
See It Live
Compare Both Versions
Have a look at the current live website and my proposed redesign — judge for yourself.
thabilenurseryschool.co.za
The website currently representing Thabile Nursery School at its official domain.
Visit current sitedemo.covino.co.za/thabilenurseryschool
A warm editorial redesign — serif typography, four year-group cards, a narrated daily rhythm, and a first-class "Book a tour" flow.
View my proposalLike What You See?
Whether you're running a 52-year-old school or launching something brand new — let's talk about a digital presence that matches the work you actually do.