Nursery groups continuing to expand

Kids Planet Day Nurseries has acquired Rainbow Day Nursery, a group of three  early years settings and three out-of-school clubs based in Middlewich, Haslington, and Crewe, all in Cheshire.

This takes the number of nurseries owned by Kids Planet to 42.

• Nursery groups growing through investment and acquisition

The Rainbow Day Nursery group was previously owned by founders Alison and Paul Sumner. 

The out-of-school clubs offer before- and after-school and holiday childcare for children up to 12 years of age.

After securing an extra £6.5m investment from BGF to support further expansion, Kids Planet has grown to provide over 5,000 childcare places across the north of England and Midlands.

Clare Roberts, chief executive officer at Kids Planet, said, ‘We’re extremely excited to bring Rainbow Day Nursery into the group.

‘We’re very much looking forward to working with their teams and providing them with the support they need to continue delivering the best possible care for children and parents in this area.’

POPPY AND JACK’S

Fernhurst Court Children's Nursery in Blackburn

Meanwhile Poppy and Jack’s has acquired its ninth childcare setting.

The group, which was founded by Sarah Bellamy in 2009, has bought Fernhurst Court Children’s Nursery from Lorraine and James Kirkham and Christine and Kevin Cookson, who plan to retire.

The 80-place nursery in Blackburn has been open for 15 years and received an Outstanding rating from Ofsted at its most recent inspection.

Lead negotiator of the sale for Redwoods Dowling Kerr, Sarah Ellison, said, ‘I would like to wish James, Lorraine, Kevin and Christine a well-deserved retirement and believe that Poppy and Jack’s will continue to grow the business and see the nursery move from strength to strength.

‘I am delighted to have been able to assist Sarah with another setting to her ever-expanding portfolio for Poppy and Jack’s.’