Family First buys seven nurseries
Catherine Gaunt
Tuesday, April 6, 2021
Nursery group Family First has acquired Poppies Nurseries in Berkshire, and Kiddies Academy in Maidenhead.
The latest deals take the number of nurseries owned by Family First, set up just under two years ago by ex-Asquith Nurseries CEO Andy Morris, to 17.
The group's existing settings include eight nurseries in London, and the expansion into the Home Counties means that it now offers more than 1,000 childcare places within the capital and the surrounding areas.
The group chair Mr Morris said, ‘Family First Day Nurseries is on target to owning 30 nurseries by the end of August and this now gives us quality scale in the South of England.
‘Poppies Day Nurseries are very well-run nurseries at the heart of their local communities. We are the perfect match as we share the same ethos when it comes to providing excellent quality childcare implemented by skilled members of the team with years of experience between them.
‘Providing a safe, high-quality environment for our staff and children is our number one priority. Acquiring these day nurseries is a perfect example of how our joint expertise can make a positive impact on the staff and children in our care.’
Poppies day nursery in Maidenhead is now part of the Family First nursery group
The Poppies nurseries offer just under 400 registered childcare places and employ more than 100 staff. The six settings are in Bourne End, Marlow, Beaconsfield, and Holmer Green in Buckinghamshire, as well as Maidenhead and Old Windsor in Berkshire.
The group was founded by Anne Fox and Linda Hill in 2006, and all are graded Good by Ofsted, apart from the most recent, Maidenhead, which is awaiting inspection.
Separately, Family First has also acquired the 54-place Kiddies Academy Day Nursery, also graded good, and also based in Beaconsfield.
Family First director of operations and quality Dianne Lumsden-Earle added, ‘Poppies are known for their exceptional, nurturing staff who have provided a safe, progressive environment for the children in their care, especially throughout Covid-19.
‘Each nursery has a relaxed yet stimulating environment with plenty of educational play and activities provided on a daily basis.’
Mr Morris sold Asquith’s 92 nurseries to Bright Horizons in 2016.
Backed by August Equity, he bought the Little Garden Nurseries group of four nurseries in June 2019, expanding the nursery group and changing its name to Family First last year.
In Nursery World's Spring 2021 edition of Nursery Chains, Family First was listed as offering 661 places across 10 nurseries.
