Kids Planet grows to 113 settings with purchase of three-site nursery group
Katy Morton
Friday, May 20, 2022
Kids Planet, the UK’s third largest nursery group, has bought the Little Acorns (Huddersfield) Day Nursery group of three settings in West Yorkshire.
The acquisition takes Kids Planet to 113 settings in the UK, providing more than 9,500 childcare places.
Kids Planet has bought the three settings from former owner Allison Lee who acquired the Little Acorns Day Nursery group in 2010.
Redwoods Dowling Kerr’s Childcare Broker Sarah Ellison stated, ‘It has always been a pleasure to work with the seller Allison, I have worked with Allison on a number of occasions and finally now helped her retire from the childcare business to spend time with her family. Kids Planet are an excellent Childcare provider with a fantastic reputation and we are pleased they have acquired three more successfully setting to their growing group. I would like to wish all parties all the best with their future plans.’
Smaller nursery groups add more settings
Portland Nurseries Group has also acquired another site, as has Family First.
Portland Nurseries has bought Huddersfield-based Bradley Bar Nursery, which it will rename Bradley House, growing the group from four to five settings.
Michael Murphy, joint managing director of Portland Nurseries, said, ‘Bradley House has always had a good reputation. We started around the same time and we are delighted to bring a nursery of its standing into the Group.
‘We are looking forward to bringing the Portland Nurseries brand of early years education to Bradley House and building on the excellent foundations that have been established over the last 30 plus years.’
Murphy confirmed that all Bradly House staff will keep their positions at the setting.
He explained, ‘It was important for us that we retained the staff as we know how tough the economic climate is at the moment. Moreover, it will bring new career prospects and personal growth opportunities, such as cross-site roles, training and wellbeing programmes for our current staff members and the staff at Bradley House.’
Family First has also added another site, 65-place Drayton House in Guildford, Surrey.
The deal, which was brokered by Christie & Co, sees the group grow to more than 30 settings
Sophie Willcox, director, childcare & education at Christie & Co, who assisted with the sale, said, ‘This is yet another example of the demand for good quality nurseries that have recovered to pre-Covid levels.’
