Gymfinity Kids opens third nursery - acquisitions roundup

On Monday, Gymfinity Kids opened its third nursery, a purpose-built setting in Chatham. 

Its other nurseries are in Maidstone and Milton Keynes, and a fourth is due to open in Bracknell.

Founded in 2017, Gymfinity Kids claims to be ‘the UK’s first and only provider of clubs and nurseries using movement, development and nourishment to enhance overall wellbeing in children.’

The nursery group is led by a core group of the founding PureGym management team.

Gymfinity Kids operates seven clubs across the UK, providing gymnastics and Ninja Knights (mixture of non-contact martial arts and parkour) classes led by coaches. It also runs holiday camps.

Its nurseries are based at its clubs, which it says focus on movement, with children taking part in at least 60 minutes a day on the gym floor.

Anita Wilden, head of nursery operations at Gymfinity Kids, said, ‘At Gymfinity Kids, everything we do is rooted in an ambition to lay the foundations for a happier, healthier nation. The pandemic saw inactivity levels soar and it is now more important than ever to get children active, to fuel their bodies with healthy food and to support their development.

‘We are so excited to have opened our largest and most impressive club and nursery to date, in Chatham, and to encourage even more children to love being active from an early age.’

Grandir UK

Meanwhile, Grandir UK, which operates 50 nurseries under the Kiddi Caru brand, has acquired the 39-place DayDream Nursery in Woking (below), which occupies a large building converted from a residential dwelling into a day nursery, and is in an affluent area in Horsell, Woking.

The setting was opened in 2001 by Gill and Giles Verity and their business partner, Jayne Noble, who, together, have owned and managed the nursery ever since and are now retiring.

Giles Verity said, ‘We are delighted that Grandir are the new owners, and we look forward to seeing the development of the nursery that we founded all those years ago.’

Grandir UK CEO Lydia Hopper, said, ‘A very warm welcome to all the children, families, and the team at DayDream! We are very much looking forward to meeting everyone over the coming weeks.’

Sophie Willcox, director of childcare & education at Christie & Co, who handled the sale, said, ‘We are seeing more and more parties looking to acquire freehold properties recently and I wish Grandir UK all the best for the future of DayDream.’

Kids Planet

Kids Planet - the UK's third largest nursery group, with more than 100 settings - has acquired Stepping Stones, a 42-place nursery in Sutton Coldfield (pictured below).

The business was previously owned by Sara Reece who decided to sell to retire from the early years sector.

'This is a key location for Kids Planet in the Midlands which will add to the group’s growing profile in the region and endorse their investments alongside other recent acquisitions such as Peepo Day Nurseries and George Perkins Day Nursery,' said Jassi Sunner, associate director, childcare and education at Christie & Co.

The group also officially opened its Chorley nursery at the end of March. Located in the new Buckshaw Village development, the purpose-built 120 place nursery includes a sensory room and large outdoor areas.

Kids Planet has worked with Newby Leisure to create a playground design, inclusive of a natural, bespoke bridge, water play stream, sand play and plants throughout the surroundings. 

Nursery manager Rachel Price said, ‘We are absolute thrilled to be landing in Buckshaw Village, and have been very warmly welcomed by the community already.’

Staff from Kids Planet Chorley at the new nursery's open day on Saturday 19 March