Directory of private & independent chains of nurseries, playgroups and creches: E-L

Head office: Collina House, Oxon Business Park, Welshpool Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY3 5HJ

Tel: 01743 244 600 Fax: 01743 341 500

Website: www.earlyworld.co.uk

Managing director: Paul Edwards

Established: 1995

Owns 3 nurseries: Shrewsbury (118), Hadley Park, Telford (109), Stafford Court, Telford (110)

1 out-of-school-club: Shrewsbury (57)

Places: 337

Employees: 120

Plans: To open a fourth purpose-built nursery in Shropshire and further enhance training, benefits and career prospects.

Early Years Childcare

Head office: 42 Wilbury Villas, Hove, East Sussex BN3 6GD

Tel: 01273 778775 Fax: 01273 724583

E-mail: earlyyrs@pavillion.co.uk

Managing director: Julie Bates

Established: 1989

Owns/manages 9 nurseries: Horsham, Sussex (110), Hove, Sussex (74), Worthing (57), Crawley, Sussex (27), Brighton (71), Lewes, Sussex (51), Runcorn, Cheshire (50), Sheffield (51), Greenwich, London (50)

Also operates: 8 holiday play schemes, 2 after-school clubs, 1 creche

Places: 541

Employees: 280

Plans: To open 2-3 nurseries per year for the next five years.

Early Years Childcare Group

Head office: Manor Farm, Castle Hill, East Leake, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 6LU

Tel/Fax: 01509 852797

E-mail: enquiries@manor-farm-animal-centre.co.uk

Partners: Glennis Robinson, Rita Thurman

Established: 1980

Owns 4 nurseries: Adbolton Kindergarten, Nottingham (65), Bingham Day Nursery (50), East Leake Day Nursery (70), Trent Fields Kindergarten, Nottingham (70). Manor Farm Animal Centre (educational resource), Loughborough. Careercare (City & Guilds NVQ training and staff development programme)

Places: 255

Employees: 107

Eaton Square Schools

Head office: 79 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1PP

Tel: 020 7931 9469 Fax: 020 7828 0164

Directors: Yvonne Cuthbert (principal), Alison Jones (director of nursery schools)

Established: 1981

Owns 5 nursery schools:79 Eccleston Square Nursery School, London (28), 28 Eccleston Street Nursery School, London (21), 30 Eccleston Street Nursery School, London (24),The Boltons Nursery School, London (32), Twickenham Park Day Nursery (55),and 2 mother and toddler groups

Places: 160

Employees: 30

Plans: Further growth of afternoon sessions in order to incorporate two-year-olds in Westminster-based nursery schools.

The Edinburgh Nursery

Head office: 129 Broughton Road, Edinburgh EH7 4JH

Tel: 0131 557 5675 Fax: 0131 476 6346

Director: Karen Fairlamb

Established: 1986

Owns/manages 5 nurseries: The Gyle Nursery for Marks & Spencer, Edinburgh (40), East London St (18), Broughton St (8), Beaverhall Road (31), Broughton St (20) (all in Edinburgh)

Places: 117

Employees: 42

Plans: Considering new nurseries.

Edith Rose Day Nursery

Head office: South Lodge, Station Road, Sunningdale, Berkshire SL5 OQW

Tel/Fax: 01344 873140

Directors: Rebecca Fishwick, Nicola Sowerby

Established: 1988

Owns 3 nurseries: Windsor, Berks (24), Sunningdale, Berks (27), Banbury, Oxfordshire (30)

Places: 81

Employees: 26

Educare for Early Years

Head office: Walshaw Road, Bury, Lancashire BL8 1PL

Tel/Fax: 0161 763 6636

Proprietors: David and Mandy Owen

Established: July 1996

Owns 2 nurseries: Bury (61), Rawtenstall (81)

Places: 142

Employees: 45

Elm Park Nursery Group

Head office: 90 Clarence Avenue, Clapham, London SW4 8JR

Tel/Fax: 020 8660 2538

Partners: Sandra Taylor, Enley Taylor

Established: 1991

Owns 4 nurseries: Elm Park Nursery, Clapham (72), Riverside Nursery, Putney (60), Wiltshire Nursery, Brixton (40), Elm Park Nursery, Tooting Common, Streatham (34) (all in London)

Places: 206

Employees: 65

The Eveline Day and Nursery Schools

Head office: 30 Ritherdon Road, Tooting Bec, London SW17 8QD

Tel: 020 8672 7549 Fax: 020 8672 7259

Established: 1964

Directors: Maria Keaveney-Jessiman, Alfred Clifford Jessiman, Eveline Drut, Gordon Jessiman

Owns: 4 day nurseries: Tooting Bec (36), Wandsworth (57), Seely Hall, Tooting Broadway (41), Wimbledon (50)

1 prep school: Tooting Bec (90)

Places: 184

Employees: 104

* Field House & Church View Day Nurseries

Head office: 6 Chester Crescent, Jesmond, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE2 1DH

Tel/Fax 0191 261 5900

Owner: Kohli family

Established: 1998

Owns: 2 nurseries: Field House Nursery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (82), Church View Day Nursery, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (60)

Places: 142

Employees: 50

Plans: To further expand our operation.

Fledglings

Head office: 2 Hazelfields, Worsley, Manchester M28 2LS

Tel: 0161 281 2821 Fax: 0161 281 2822.

Director: Christopher Gray

Established: 1990

Owns 4 nurseries: Stretford, Manchester (70), Warrington, Cheshire (87), Worsley, Manchester (100), Irlam, Manchester (80)

Places: 337

Employees: 105

Plans: Possibly building a fifth nursery.

Flying Start

Head office: 24 Drump Road, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 1LU

Tel: 01209 210710 Fax: 01209 715437

Partners: Sharon and Steve Cowburn

Established: 1993

Owns 8 nurseries: (all in Cornwall) Camborne (52+8 out-of-school places), Helston (21), Bodmin (20), Penryn (32+24 after school places), Saltash (28+30 out-of-school places), Redruth (24+24 out-of-school places), Duchy (18+30 out-of-school places), Cornwall College (49+24 out-of-school places)

Places: 244

Employees: 70

Plans: Several centres will be expanding their range of services, number of registered places and premises.

Formative Years

Head office: The PIES Kindergarten and Private Day Nursery, 221 Bury New Road, Whitefield, Manchester M45 8GW

Tel: 0161 766 2929

Proprietors: Jillian Banks, Frances Lawrence, William Lawrence

Established: 1988

Owns 2 nurseries: PIES Kindergarten and Private Day Nursery, Manchester (36), Radcliffe Hall Kindergarten and Private Day Nursery, Manchester (20)

Places: 56

Employees: 15

For Under Fives

Head office: 33 Abbey Rd, Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire DN32 0HQ

Tel: 01472 232300 Fax: 01472 232301 Website: www.forunderfives.co.uk

Directors: DA Lang, JR Lang, S Lampard

Established: 1987

Owns 5 nurseries: Springfield Lodge Montessori Day Nursery, Grimsby (53), Springfield Lodge for under-twos, Grimsby (27), County Day Nursery, Beverley (60), Dearne Valley College Day Nursery, Wath upon Dearne, near Rotherham (50), Village Day Nursery, Cottingham (50)

Manages 4 nurseries: Havelock Day Nursery, Grimsby NHS Trust (42), County Hospital Day Nursery, Lincoln and Louth NHS Trust (42), Woodlands Day Nursery, S****horpe and Goole NHS Trust (50), Springhill Day Nursery, West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service (39)

Places: 413

Employees: 110

Plans: To continue to expand and to create a training arm. Opening a nursery in north Wakefield this month (November) in partnership with West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service.

Freshfields Nursery Schools

Head office: Clifford Forge House, Clifford Road, Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire C37 8HW

Tel: 01789 261 633 Fax: 01789 294 783

Principal/Proprietor: Julie Cox

Manager (2-5 yrs): Anne Wassell

Established: 1990

Owns 2 nursery schools, both teaching Montessori philosophy: The School House, Alcester Road, Stratford-upon-Avon (50), Clifford Forge House, Clifford Road, Stratford-upon-Avon (80, plus separate before- and after-school care and holiday club facility)

Places: 130

Employees: 46

Plans: Imminently increasing Clifford Forge Housesite to accommodate 92 children. Interesting new developments at the School House site for 2002.

Gosford House Nurseries

Head office: 229-231 Beehive Lane, Gants Hill, Ilford IG4 5EB

Tel: 020 8551 2241

Director: Edna Usher

Established: 1988

Owns 3 nurseries: Clarence House Nursery, Gants Hill (30), Gosford Baby Nursery, Redbridge (22), Gosford Pre-school, Redbridge (78) (all in Essex)

Places: 130

Employees: 44

Plans: Pre-school now registered for up to 8-year-olds. Teacher in post and it is our second year offering a full curriculum. Parents' association is to be developed and we propose to expand school provision by year 2001.

* Grasshoppers Day Nurseries

Head office: U9 Executive Park, 229 Hatfield Road, St Albans, Herts AL1 4TA

Tel: 01727 812731

Fax: 01727 833197

Directors: Nerissa Burton, Phillip Bowers

Established: 1989

Owns 5 nurseries and 1 out-of-school club: Erdington, Birmingham (53), Edgbaston, Birmingham (48), Harborne, Birmingham (35), St Albans (25), Hertford, Herts (60)

Places: 221

Employees: 90

Greendale Nursery Complex

Head office: Greendale House, 633 Antrim Road, Glengormley, Newtownabbey, Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland BT36 4RF

Tel: 02890 838389 Fax: 02890 847389

E-mail: ianmcfall@greendale.sagehost.co.uk

Owners/partners: Frank Cassells, Louise McFall, Ian McFall

Established: 1992

Owns 3 nurseries: Greendale House (50), Meadowdale House (50) and Frankie's Den (42) (all in Newtownabbey)

Places: 142

Employees: 40

Happy Child

Head office: 109 Uxbridge Road, Ealing, London W5 5TL

Tel: 020 8579 8558 Fax: 020 8579 6709

E-mail: happychild@compuserve.com

Website: www.happychild.co.uk

Directors: Ashoob Cook, Dr Julian Cook

Established: 1990

Owns: 14 day nurseries: Ealing (35), Happy Child Montessori School, Ealing (26), Ealing (50), Ealing (41), Ealing (18), Harlesden (66), Acton (32), Kilburn (70), Northfields (35), Ealing Common (35), Queens Park (20), Alperton, Middlesex (35), Perivale, Middlesex (39); Ruislip, Middlesex (60) 3 preparatory schools: Aston House School, Ealing, St Christopher's School, Wembley and St Nicholas School, Kingsbury. Owns Aston Training.

Manages: Four after-school clubs for the London Borough of Hillingdon.

Places: 562

Employees: 250

Plans: To expand through establishing and acquiring up to six nurseries per year over the next two to three years within the London region.

Happy House Educational Care

Head office: Hollywood, Hollybush Ride, Wokingham RG40 3QR

Tel/Fax: 01344 771946

Directors: Linda and Bruce Tranter

Established: 1997

Owns 4 nurseries: Little Red House Day Nursery, Crowthorne (50), Little Ducklings Day Nursery, Woodley, near Reading (48), Happy House Day Nursery, Reading (32), Little Miss Muffet Nursery, Basingstoke (43)

Places: 173

Employees: 65

Happy Jays Nurseries and Childcare Centres

Head office: Lancaster Park, Audax Close, Clifton Moor, York YO30 4RA

Tel: 01904 479261

Directors: Jacqueline Gernon and Tony Gernon

Established: 1996

Owns 2 nurseries: York (70), Boroughbridge (35)

Places: 105

Employees: 30

Plans: Will open additional units throughout Yorkshire region over the next five years.

Happy Times Nurseries and Childcare

Head office: HTC Healthcare Group, Happy Towers, 16-20 Wendell Road, London W12 9RT

Tel: 020 8746 4222 Fax: 020 8746 4223

E-mail: team@happytimes.co.uk

Websites: www.happytimes.co.uk,www.supercarer.com

Directors: Adam Shaw, Elizabeth Cullen, Ian Taylor, Russell Thornhill

Established: 1997

Owns 4 nurseries: Hammersmith, London (140), Battersea, London (130), Fulham, London (170), Richmond, London (150)

Places: 590

Employees: 150

Plans: Developing a further five nursery sites.

Hatton Hill Day Nurseries

Head office: Hatton Hill, Windlesham, Surrey GU20 6AB

Tel: 01276 474764 Fax: 01276 453337

E-mail: enquiries@hhdn.co.uk

Website: www.hattonhilldaynursery.co.uk

Directors: David Lewis, Clem Malcolmson, Paul Whitlam

Established: 1996

Owns 4 nurseries: Windlesham, Surrey (90), Farnborough, Hants (120), Frimley Green, Surrey (55), Esher, Surrey (70)

1 creche: River Bourne Health Club, Chertsey (21)

Places: 335

Employees: 130

Plans: 100% increase in registration within the next three years.

Headstart Nursery Schools

Head office: Top Floor, 7 London Street, Edinburgh EH3 6LZ

Tel: 0131 558 3494 Fax: 0131 558 3591

Director: Christopher Slater

Established: 1996

Owns 2 nurseries: Morningside (40), Leith (59) (both in Edinburgh)

Places: 99

Employees: 27

Plans: Interested in purchasing or setting up another nursery in Edinburgh.

Highgate Nurseries

Head office: 55 Glanmor Road, Uplands, Swansea SA2 OQA

Tel: 01792 281120 Fax: 01792 202879

Managing Director: Julie Halliday

Operations Director: Jayne Lewis

Established: 1989

Owns 3 day nurseries: Uplands Crescent (36), Glanmor Road (58), Morriston (71), plus one pre-school in Uplands (60) (all in Swansea)

Places: 165

Employees: 70+

Hippo Creche/First Child Care

Head office: Vale House, 40 Frensham Vale, Farnham, Surrey GU10 3HT

Tel: 01252 795800 Fax: 01252 795801

Managing Director: Charles Ullmann

Established: 1988

Owns 3 nurseries and creches: St Leonards nursery (78), Hastings creche (24) Tunbridge Wells nursery (46) and creche (18)

Places: 166

Employees: 60

Plans: To open 20 nurseries in the next five years.

Hopes and Dreams Nursery

Head office: 339-341 City Road, Islington, London EC1V 1LJ

Tel: 020 7833 9388, Fax: 020 7837 5517

E-mail: office@hopesanddreams.co.ukWebsite: www.hopesanddreams.co.uk

Shareholders and directors: Susan Bingham and Alasdair Ross

Established: 1997

Owns 1 montessori nursery school: (73) for 3 months - 5 years and a babysitting agency

Places: 73

Employees: 22

Plans: Searching to expand as soon as possible. Also to link up with larger businesses to establish in-house creche facilities. To open at least three more nurseries over the next few years.

Hopscotch Children's Nurseries

Head office: 9 Aymer Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 4GB

Tel: 01273 385577 Fax: 01273 774154

E-mail: office@hopscotch.uk.com

Website: www.hopscotch.uk.com

Directors: Barbara Watson (owner), Jo Halling (group manager)

Established: 1988

Owns 6 nurseries: Brighton (58), Hove (68), Brighton (16), Brighton (24), Peacehaven (39), Seaford (90). Also owns Hopscotch Training which runs customer service courses for childcare workers.

Places: 295

Employees: 65

Plans: Looking at several possible sites in the Sussex area.

ITM Childcare/Piccolo Nurseries

Head office: 209 Bradford Road, Shipley, Yorkshire BD18 3AA

Tel: 01274 597241 Fax: 01274 594612

Director: Linda Ward

Established: May 1989

Owns 5 nurseries: Pudsey, Leeds (98), Bradford (33), Shipley, Yorkshire (26), Saltaire, Yorkshire (29), Baildon, Bradford (32)

2 out-of-school clubs: Saltaire, Yorkshire (20), Pudsey, Leeds (20).

Accredited centre for NVQs from 1992.

Places: 218

Employees: 80

Plans: Available to discuss various options.

Jancett Group of Day Nurseries

Head office: Graylaw House, 42-54 Manor Road, Wallington, Surrey SM6 OAB

Tel: 020 8669 1725 Fax: 020 8669 1259

Proprietors: Chris and John Pritchard

Established: 1969

Owns 6 nurseries: Wallington (nursery) (70), Wallington (baby unit) (31), Pollyanna Day Nursery and Baby Unit, Carshalton (60), Gaytime Day Nursery and Baby Unit, Wallington (55), Startel Day Nursery, Wallington (50), Sunbeam Day Nursery/Baby Unit (71)

Places: 337

Employees: 183

Plans: We are keen to strengthen our links with day nurseries who require in-house training with their staff teams. The training arm of the organisation has been inspected by TSC with extremely successful grades being awarded. We are confident that we can help with staff training programmes and would be happy to discuss on 020 8773 8146.

Jigsaw Group

Head office: Brook Point, 1412-1420 High Road, Whetstone, London N20 9BH

Tel: 020 8343 8008 Fax: 020 8343 7812

E-mail: jigsaw@jigsawgroup.com

Website: www.jigsawgroup.com

Directors: Tom Shea (chief executive), David Hudd (chairman), Sir Christopher Ball (deputy chairman), Jane James (development director), Mike Gee (finance director), Mike Hirsch (property director), Kamelia Farhangi (IT director), Mike Paccitti (3i non-executive director)

Established: 1991 (management buyout in March 1998)

Owns 38 purpose-built nurseries: Abbeymeads, Swindon (108), Broome, Swindon (108), Windmill Hill, Swindon (108), Chineham, Basingstoke (108), Bristol (108), Hammersmith, London (108), Chatham Maritime (108), Westwood, Coventry (108), Coventry 2 (108), Harlow (108), Stockley Park, Heathrow (108), Hemel Hempstead (108), Letchworth (108), Brownswood, Milton Keynes (108), Eelbrook Avenue, Milton Keynes (108), Ocean Park, Cardiff (108), Littlemore, Oxford (108), Portsmouth (108), Welwyn Garden City (108), London Road, Stevenage (108), Kings Way, Stevenage (108), Shenley (108), Thames Valley Park, Reading (108), Woodley, Reading (108), Reading International (108), Green Park, Reading (108) Northampton (108), Wandsworth (108), Solihull (108), Capability Green, Luton (108), Chingford (108), Bedford (108), Dartford (108), Leamington Spa (108), Leicester (108), Birmingham Great Park, Birmingham (108), Colchester (108), Guildford (108).

Places: 4,104

Employees: Over 1,000 full-time equivalents

Plans: Ten further units in 2001/2002 and 12 thereafter.

Joint Responsibility

Head office: Epworth Halls, High Street, Quorn, Leicestershire LE12 8DT

Tel: 01509 621700, Fax: 01509 416634

Managing director: Gina Lafferty

Established: 1993

Owns 2 nurseries: Epworth Halls (118), Loughborough (53), plus school at Epworth Halls (126). Kids' Club and Holiday Club at Epworth Halls, and Trinity Halls, Loughborough.

Places: 171

Employees: 45+

Plans: Loughborough Nursery expanding to 80-plus places.

Just Learning

Head office: 48 College Road, Maidstone, Kent ME15 6SA

Tel: 01622 687668 Fax: 01622 670799

E-mail: college-road@just-learning.freeserve.co.uk

Website: www.justlearning.co.uk

Directors: Duncan Bannatyne (chairman), Michael Fallon

Established: 1995

Owns 21 nurseries: Darlington, County Durham (88), Ingleby Barwick, Stockton-on-Tees (100), Great Notley Garden Village, Braintree, Essex (100), College Road, Maidstone, Kent (50), Angel Lodge, Maidstone, Kent (50), High Trees, Larkfield, Kent (48), Toad Hall, Maidstone, Kent (30), King George Hospital, Ilford (100), Whipps Cross, Leytonstone (100), Walkden Avenue, Wigan (82), Chafford Hundred, Lakeside, Essex (92), St Andrews Business Park, Norwich (72), Hinchingbrooke Business Park, Huntingdon (100), North Hampshire Hospital, Basingstoke (100), Enstone Court, Wellingborough (100), Cardiff Gate Business Park, Cardiff (100), Willingdon Drove, Eastbourne (100), Higham Hill, Walthamstow, London (100), Pinewood, Ipswich (100), Cambourne, Cambridgeshire (100), Trowbridge, Wiltshire (100)

Places: 1,812

Employees: 495

Plans: Three sites awaiting development; three more awaiting planning permission.

Kidcare

Head office: 55 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G2 3BD

Tel: 0141 400 6050 Fax: 0141 400 6053

Established: 1990

Chief executive: Rita Hopper

Parent bodies: One Plus, SASCA

Operates 6 nurseries: Wellpark Enterprise Nursery, Glasgow (31), Strathclyde University Nursery (56), Glasgow University Nursery (78), Clydebank College Nursery (40), Braidfield Community Nursery (27), The Leisuredrome Nursery, Bishopbriggs (31)

1 drop-in creche: The Allander Sports Centre, Bearsden, Glasgow (15)

3 after-school clubs: Hillhead Primary School, Glasgow (32), The Glasgow Academy (24), SPLOSH, Glasgow (24).

Also runs a holiday playscheme for Scottish Enterprise (32) and operates mobile creches across Scotland.

Places: 263

Employees: 80

Plans: To open a new nursery - target date August 2001.

Kids-Time Day Nurseries

Head office: The Bridge Cottage, 88 Green End Road, Great Barford, Bedfordshire MK44 3HD

Tel/Fax: 01234 871799

Established: 1999

Managing director: David Kedwards

Owns 1 nursery: Colchester, Essex (65)

Places: 65

Employees: 16

Kids Unlimited

Head office: Kids of Wilmslow Ltd, Westhead, 10 West Street, Alderley Edge, Cheshire SK9 7EG

Tel: 01625 585222 Fax: 01625 583444

Website: www.kidsunlimited.co.uk

Established: 1983

Directors: Stewart and Jean Pickering, Flo Armstrong, Stephen Chalmers-Morris, Mark Winderbank, Neil Carr

Owns/manages 36 nurseries:Clairmont House, Wilmslow, Cheshire (51), HSBC Bank Nursery, Sheffield (46),First Direct Nursery, Arlington (50), The Body Shop Family Centre, Littlehampton, West Sussex (75), Aldfields, Didcot, Oxfordshire (50), The Mango Tree Nursery, London (50), Woodlands Nursery, Peterborough (50), Little Flyers Nursery, Manchester (48), WH Smith, Swindon (43), Mansion House Nursery, Oxford (41),The Bridgewater Childcare and Education Centre, Manchester (30), Cambridge University Nursery, Cambridge (50), Milton Park Child Development Centre, Oxford (103) and (115), Clairmont Cottage, Wilmslow, Cheshire (27), Mary Seacole Nursery, London (50), Countess of Chester Hospital, Chester (60), Bradmore Road Nursery, Oxford (50), First Direct, Stourton, Leeds (120), First Direct Nursery, Blantyre, Hamilton (100), Hinxton Hall Nursery, Cambridgeshire (52), Summerfields Day Nursery and Education Centre, Wilmslow, Cheshire (130), Air Miles Nursery, Birchwood Business Park, Warrington (65), Foxton House Nursery, Cambridge (60),St Mary's, Hulme, Manchester (70), Total Fitness, Manchester (49), Fulbourn, Cambridge (107),Toddlers Inn, Holloway, London (45), Bunnybrookes, Cambridge (89), Oxford Business Park (130), Cambridge Science Park (115), Worthing Sixth Form College (55), Didsbury, Manchester (130), Beckenham (50), Regents Place, London (76), Total Fitness, Chester (55), plus one playscheme - Sheffield (40)

Places: 2,487

Employees: 600

KinderCare Learning Centres

Head office: Slapton Hill Farm, Blakesley Road, Slapton, Towcester NN12 8QD

Tel: 01327 861175 Fax: 01327 861273

Director: Charlotte Harnett

Established: 1995

Owns 2 nurseries: Callands Nursery Centre, Warrington (100), Bramingham Park Nursery Centre, Luton (144), (US branch owns 1,200 nurseries in 38 American states)

Places: 244

Employees: 60

Kindercare Childcare Centres

Head office: Ashton House, Ashton Park, Pedders Lane, Preston, Lancs PR2 1HL

Tel: 01772 726696 Fax: 01772 732318

E-mail: sc@kindercare.freeserve.co.uk

Website: www.kindercare-group.co.uk

Directors: Stuart Carr, Sarah Carr

Established: 1989

Owns/manages 9 nurseries:Preston (248), Blackpool (231), Bamber Bridge (176), Chorley (220), LostockHall (40) plus 28 after-school places, Salwick (BNFL workplace nursery) (33),Warton (BAE Systems workplacenursery) (30), Warton (Land Registry workplace) (60) plus 40 after-school places, Lancaster (248)

1 independent primary school: Ashbridge Independent School (80)

Places: 1,286

Employees: 250

Plans: Two more 220-place centres are under construction and a new independent school is to open for Christmas 2000.

Kindergarten (UK)

Head office: 14 Thorney Leys Park, Witney, Oxon OX8 7GE

Tel/Fax: 01993 700123

Directors: Jo and Nick Letherbarrow

Established: 1994

Owns 3 nurseries: Witney, Oxon (92), Witney, Oxon (48), Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire (42)

1 soft-play centre: Kinderkids, Witney (35)

Places: 182

Employees: 60

Kinderquest

Head office: 9-10 Sheep Street, Wellingborough, Northants NN8 1BL

Tel: 01933 440166 Fax: 01933 443492

E-mail: ewrenn@kinderquest.co.uk

Directors: Denise Wrenn (managing director), Ian Stocks, Ricky Wrenn, Debbie Thursby

Established: 1988

Manages 43 workplace nurseries: Bedford (75), Crowthorne, Berkshire (50), Merseyside (40), Guildford, Surrey (40), Surbiton, Surrey (27), Hemel Hempstead (50), Teddington, Middlesex (66), Nottingham (50), Croydon (40),Liverpool (50), Aberdeen (30), Harlow (42), Hastings (35), Dudley (33),Liverpool (35), Birkenhead (30), Plymouth (30), Bedford (35), Foxhill, Bath (37), Bristol (100), Salford, Manchester (36), Chilton, Oxon (40), Leeds (30), Washington (40), Aberystwyth (30), Leicester (28), Ipswich (27), Newbury (30), Telford, Shropshire (40), Bunaston, Derbyshire (50), Cardiff (60), Glasgow (56), Falkirk (34), Wetherby (45), Feltham (21), Hertfordshire (25), Trafford (30), Weymouth (40), Warwick (42), Central London (35), Coventry Land Registry (40), Edinburgh Scottish Executive 1 (35), Edinburgh Scottish Executive 2 (16)

Owns: 2 nurseries: Liverpool (69), Northamptonshire (40)

16 holiday playschemes at 21 sites: Bedford (24), Central London (24), Nottingham (40), Westminster (80), Central London (32), Telford,Shropshire (30), Leeds (40), Addlestone, Surrey (60), central London (24), Blackpool (125), Guildford, Surrey (32), Washington (45), Hertfordshire (24), Liverpool (90), Harlow (12), Northamptonshire (46)

1 permanent creche: Central London (15)

Is a CACHE and SQA approved Assessment Centre for the NVQ in Early Years Care and Education

Places: 1,849

Employees: 500+

Plans: Bidding for other contracts.

Kinder Groups

Head office: Tovil Business Centre,Burial Ground Lane, Tovil, Maidstone,Kent ME15 6RJ

Tel: 01622 692 098Fax: 01622 693 338

Directors: Alan Bishop, Janet Bishop

Established: 1990

Owns 8 nurseries & 2 after-school/holiday centres: East Malling (100), 3 in Gravesend (98, 60 & 25), Tonbridge (60), Maidstone (71), Sittingbourne (63), Rainham, Kent (75)

Places: 536

Employees: 180

Plans: Two new nurseries to be constructed by September 2002.

Kingsclere Nurseries

Head office: Forest Road, Wokingham, Berks RG40 5SA Tel/Fax: 01344 489328

Proprietors: Sylvia Cox, Julia Cox

Established: 1986

Owns 5 nurseries: Kingsclere, Wokingham (12), Merrydale, Binfield (42), Stepping Stones, Finchampstead (33), Bramley Wood, Bracknell (78), Abacus, Newbury (52)

Places: 217

Employees: 98+

Plans: Expansion planned this year at three of our nurseries.

Ladybird

Head office: 24 High St, Fenstanton, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE18 9JZ

Tel: 01480 469166

Proprietor: Mary Crosby

Established: 1976

Owns 3 nurseries: Fenstanton (50), Papworth (30), Brampton (42) (all in the Cambridgeshire area)

Places: 122

Employees: 32

Leapfrog Day Nurseries

Head office: Central Office, Second Avenue, Centrum 100, Burton on Trent, Staffs DE14 2WF

Tel: 01283 510444 Fax: 01283 510445

Website: www.leapfrogdaynurseries.co.uk

Directors: Derek Mapp (executive chairman), Sue Husbands (managing director), Mike Butcher (finance director)

Established: April 1998

Owns 31 nurseries: Beverley, EastYorkshire (102), Bicester, Oxon (102), Brough, East Yorkshire (102), Burton on Trent, Staffs (102), Chippenham, Wilts (102), Daventry, Northants (91), Dundee (Next Generation Club) (59), Edinburgh (Next Generation Club) (54), Emersons Green, South Glos (102), Evesham, Worcs (102), Finsbury Square, London (90), Heatherton, Derby (102), Kettering, Northants (108), Mill Hill, London (64), Oakwood, Derby (102), Quedgeley, Glos (102), Telford, Shropshire (102), Warndon, Worcs (102), Swindon, Wilts (102), Chelmsford, Essex (102), Northwich, Cheshire (102), Daybrook, Nottingham (120), Edgbaston, Birmingham (98), Thurrock, Essex (102), Braintree, Essex (102), Cheshire Oaks, Cheshire (102), Bromborough, Wirral (102), Chiswick, London (72), Woking, Surrey (120), Enfield, Middlesex (102), Clifton Moor, York (120)

Places: 3,036

Employees: 950

Plans: Nurseries under construction by end of June 2001: Wollaton, Nottingham (102), Smithfield Market, London (102), Leicester (102), Reigate (102), Chandlers Ford (113), Chester (102), Royal Victoria Docks, London (100 plus creche).

Leisure Operations/ Pelican Childcare

Head office: 665 Knutsford Road, Latchford, Warrington WA4 1JJ

Tel: 01925 232202 Fax: 01925 235380

Directors: Dave Watson (managing director), Neil Ritchie (financial)

Established: 1992

Owns 3 nurseries: Northampton (45), Washington (50), Reading (50),plus 32 play areas/creches and16 playgroups. Offers mobile creches/supervised fun days.

Places: 145

Employees: 325

Lesley Bothwell Nurseries

Head office: 534 Queensferry Road, Edinburgh EH4 6EE

Tel: 0131 339 6340

Proprietor: Lesley Bothwell

Established: 1984

Owns 3 nurseries: The Barnton Nursery (63), The Buckstone Nursery (35), The Royal Mile (21) (all in Edinburgh)

Places: 119

Employees: 60

Plans: Considering opening more nurseries.

Lilliput Childcare

Head office: 2 Lott Lane, Kilcoole, County Wicklow, Ireland

Tel: 01 287 5722 (international 00 353 1 287 5722) Fax: 01 287 5101

E-mail: ladybird@iol.ie

Website: www.lilliputcreche.com

Managing directors: Colin and Alison McMullen

Group operations directors: Carolyn Eglington and Ann Halliden

Established: 1987

Owns 2 nurseries: Foxrock, Dubin (54), Ringsend, Dublin (30)

1 after-school club: for up to 60 children in Kilcoole, County Wicklow

Places: 84

Employees: 22

Plans: We are actively looking for sites and have 3 possibilities at the moment.

Lilliput Children's Centres

Head office: Hersham Green, Burwood Road, Walton-on-Thames KT12 4AA

Tel: 01932 252202 Fax: 01932 228989

Partners: Tony and Phyleen Cunningham

Established: 1992

Owns 3 nurseries: Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (135), Redhill, Gatwick (71), Bagshot, Surrey (70)

Places: 276

Employees: 60

Plans: Actively looking for appropriate sites.

* Lilliput MontessoriDay Nurseries

Head office: Railway House, Hotel Street, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 3EQ

Tel: 01530 813913 Fax: 01530 817898

Directors: Samantha and Paul Graveling

Established: 1994

Owns 4 nurseries: Anstey (50), Glenfield (27), Coalville (50), Whetstone (36)

Places: 163

Employees: 71

Plans: Future plans include the extension of Glenfield to 60 places by December 2001 and the extension of Whetstone nursery to 63 places by September 2001. The extensions will include additional facilities for out-of-school care.

* Little Angels Nurseries

Head office: 2nd Floor, 3 Market Place, Hertford, Herts, SG14 1DF

Tel: 01992 505757 Fax: 01992 584414

Directors: Angela & Paul Spencer

Established: 1993

Owns 2 nurseries: Ware, Herts (39), Hoddersdon, Herts (69)

Places: 108

Employees: 28

* Little Darlings Childcare

Head office: 74 Belmont Road, Portswood, Southampton, Hampshire SO17 2GE

Tel/Fax: 02380 676301

Partners: Jill and Gary Darling

Established: 1991

Owns 5 nurseries: Little Darlings Day Nurseries, Southampton (29), Merritime Nursery, HMS Sultan, Gosport (40), Woodentots, HMS Collingwood, Fareham (45), Little Shipmates Nursery, HMS Nelson, Portsmouth (20), Portsmouth College Nursery, Portsmouth (40)

Places: 174

Little People Day Nurseries

Head office: South: 250a Lillie Road, Fulham SW6 7PX

Tel: 020 7386 0006 Fax: 020 7386 0078

North: Piccadilly Gardens, Piccadilly Road, Burnley BB11 4PP

Tel: 01282 411950

Partners: Anne Gleasure (north), Jane Gleasure (south), David Gleasure, Bob Gleasure

Established: 1976

Owns 7 nurseries: Habergham in Padiham, Lancashire (45), Little People of Colne, Lancashire (80), Little People of Burnley, Lancashire (50), Piccadilly Gardens Day Nursery, Burnley, Lancashire (80), Willow Vale, London (35), Shepherds Bush, London (35), Fulham, London (70)

Places: 395

Employees: 105

Little Sneakers Nursery

Head office: 2 Station House, 98 Station Road, Studley, Warks B80 7JS

Tel: 01527 850 330

Proprietor: Karyn Maddison

Established: 1995

Owns 1 nursery: Studley, Warks (29)

7 before- and after-school clubs and 3 holiday clubs: all in the Warwickshire and Worcestershire area

Places: 29

Employees: 45

Plans: Opening 3 new after-school clubs in Redditch, Worcestershire in September 2001.

Lonsdale Group

Head office: 8 Nelson Street, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 5AW

Tel: 0191 201 8888 Fax: 0191 261 4509

Director: David Horgan

Established: March 1999

Owns 1 nursery: Hartlepool, Teesside (50)

Employees: 10

Plans: To acquire another similar size nursery in north-east England. Looking to purpose-build high-quality 112-place nurseries across the north of England.

* Denotes entries that are new for this issue of Nursery Chains