Harp Nurseries sells fourth setting to Ashbourne Day Nurseries, amid rebrand of group

Ashbourne has purchased The Oak Children’s Day Nursery in New Ollerton, Newark, from Harp. The setting is now known as Ashbourne Day Nurseries in New Ollerton.

Ashbourne registered the nursery with Ofsted in June, a week after Nursery World reported that the Harp Group had just nine nurseries left after purchasing 26 from Welcome in August last year. The setting in New Ollerton was one of the 17 to close.

It is the fourth nursery Ashbourne has bought from the Harp Group. In April, Nursery World reported that Ashbourne had acquired Harp's settings in Central Leicester and Alfreton. Last December Ashbourne took over Harp's Wellingborough site.

The director the two groups had in common, Sarah Blyth, has also now resigned her position at Ashbourne. She remains a director of the Harp Group however.

A spokesperson for Ashbourne Day Nurseries said, ‘For a short period of time Ashbourne Day Nurseries had a director in common with another small childcare group.

‘As a fast growing group, Ashbourne Day Nurseries will be moving forward with directorship that is solely focused on the quality and continued growth of this one organisation, with our needs and best interests at the forefront of any further acquisitions.

‘We wish the other small childcare group every success in the future. At present Ashbourne Day Nurseries have no future plans to acquire anymore setting from the smaller group.’

Harp re-brands

The Harp Group, which is owned by Simon Fox, has also re-branded its remaining nine sites with Ofsted, changing their names from tree or flower references to 'Harp at ….(the location)'.

Blyth, director of the Harp Group, told Nursery World, 'New Ollerton was acquired by Ashbourne, this was simply due to its region sitting very well with Ashbourne due to their growth and structure.'

She added that Harp has no plans to grow and will be focusing on the settings they already own.