Nursery group Alpha Nurseries closes due to financial problems

The group, which opened its first site in 2010, operated nurseries and out-of-school clubs in Suffolk, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Kent, Staffordshire, and Essex.

Four of its nurseries were in Ipswich.

In a letter sent to parents on Friday, managing director Gerard Dooley said that the nurseries would be closing with immediate effect.

His letter said, ‘It is with great sadness that we are writing to inform you that the directors of Alpha Nurseries (and all subsidiary companies) have regretfully had to make the decision to cease trading with ever [sic] from today [29 December], December 2023 due to its financial position.

‘As a consequence, all nursery facilities will close with effect from today and will not re-open.

‘This was an extremely difficult decision and was not taken lightly, however essentially there was no ability for the business to continue to remain open.'

According to the East Anglian Daily Times, insolvency specialists Begbies Traynor have been engaged to put Alpha Nurseries into Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation.

The letter adds, ‘Please accept our sincere apologies for any difficultly which this may cause you and your family, and we hope you are able to secure alternate arrangements as soon as possible.’

Alpha Nurseries Group operated 21 nurseries, provided 875 childcare places and had 250 employees, according to Nursery World’s Nursery Chains, published in March 2023. It also ran out-of-school and holiday childcare.

Nursery World has attempted to contact the nursery group for a comment.

The nurseries and out-of-school clubs that Alpha has closed are:

Essex

Busy Beavers Community Nursery, Braintree, 

Kent

Bubbles Nursery & Out of School Club, Sandwich

Lincolnshire

ABC Day Nursery, Boston

Middlecott House, Kirton

Newton House Day Nursery, Grantham

Norfolk

Magic Tree Day Nursery, Dereham, 

Safe Hands Nursery, Diss

The Willows, Downham Market

Suffolk

The Oaks Nursery, Felixstowe

Bluebells Nursery, Ipswich

Burlington Road ASC, Ipswich

Grange Farm Nursery, Ipswich

Smash Out of School Club, Ipswich

Treehouse Nursery, Ipswich

Sea Horse Day Nursery, Lowestoft

Pixels Day Nursery, Martlesham Heath

Brambles Day Community Nursery and Out of School Club, Reydon (near Southwold)

Black Tiles Out of School Club, Woodbridge

Staffordshire

Kensington House Nursery, Uttoxter

Blossoms Nursery, Stoke-on-Trent

South Yorkshire

Brookhill Nursery, Rotherham

West Yorkshire

Rhubarb and Custards Nursery, Osset (near Wakefield)