Children's physical activity provider takes on its first nurseries

The group, whose headquarters are based in Manchester, has bought six settings, covering Yorkshire, Stoke-on-Trent and Manchester. Together they provide a total of 354 childcare places.

One of the nurseries it has acquired is Northfield Under 5’s in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

Founded 16 years ago, LSG which runs sports and physical activity programmes under numerous brands including – Tots FC and LSC, plans to acquire more nurseries, in particular in the North-West or Yorkshire.

Chelsea Melnyk, client manager at Abacus Day Nursery Sales, which handled the sale of Northfield Under 5’s, said, ‘I am really happy to have been able to help chief executive Craig  Brennan and The Little Sports Group take their first step into the childcare market sector while also enabling our client to fulfil his retirement plans. The market for day nurseries is really buoyant at the moment, with new entrants like The Little Sports Group coming in, as well as existing operators looking to build their businesses.’

London nursery group aspires to be the 'leading small to midsize' childcare provider

The Three Little Birds Nurseries group has also expanded with the acquisition of the London Preschool Group. The deal sees Little Birds Nurseries grow to 10 sites across the capital, offering 664 childcare places.

Founded more than 40 years ago, the London Preschool Group operates four settings, which specialise in music, performance and visual arts.

The deal by The Three little Birds Nurseries forms part of its plan to be the ‘leading small to midsize’ nursery provider in London and the South-East.

Joint chief executive James Morris said, ‘We now have a total of 10 nurseries across London, and the four newly acquired nurseries offer incredible facilities to add to our roster.'

The Three Little Birds was founded by cousins James and Edward Morris in 2019 in memory of three family members who passed away in quick succession; James' father, Paul, Uncle Nick and Grandad Terry.

Family First continues to grow 

The Family First nursery group has also added more settings, taking its number of nurseries to 40.

The group has bought the 10 settings operated by Footsteps Day Nurseries across the West Midlands.

The deal sees Family First grow to 40 nurseries in just two years.

Going forward, the group said it plans to acquire nurseries within commuter belts, metropolitan cities and areas of housing growth in recognition of a ‘shift in housing requirements as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic’.

Family First chairman Andy Morris said, ‘Footsteps is a nursery group that’s special and is an amazing business with great potential to grow. We’re excited to be working with the Footsteps’ team and look forward to welcoming them, the parents and children on board.

‘To date, we’ve concentrated on acquiring nurseries around London and the M25, dipping into the neighbouring counties of Kent, Surrey and Essex, but there are so many opportunities across the country for outstanding nurseries, particularly focusing in areas where there are shifting growth patterns caused by the pandemic.’