Nursery groups grow their businesses
Katy Morton
Tuesday, October 19, 2021
Derbyshire-based White House Nursery Group has bought its sixth setting, while Back to the Garden Childcare has started construction on its second site.
The White House Nursery Group has acquired Nursery Rhymes Day Nursery, a 50-place setting in Shirland, Derbybshire.
The deal brings the total number of sites operated by the group to six, providing more than 500 childcare places.
Established more than 34 years ago, the nursery group’s other settings are in Alvaston, Alfreton, Borrowash and Oakwood, all of which are rated ‘good’ by Ofsted. It also runs a kids club in Spondon.
The nursery group has renovated the new site in Shirland and introduced the procedures used across its settings. All existing members of staff have also been enrolled onto the group’s in-house training programme.
Director Mike Morgan said, ‘I would like to thank all our parents and staff for their patience during the building work. I hope they will agree that the disruption was well worth it, and that our renovated nursery provides a fantastic, safe and enriching nursery experience for all of our children and their families.’
The deal was brokered by Abacus Day Nursery Sales.
Back to the Garden Childcare, founded by Stewart and Jeannie Pickering, are also adding another site.
Back to the Garden Childcare's new nursery, which is currently under construction, will open in October 2022
Back left to right - Jeannie and Stewart Pickering, nursery administrator Gina Greef, and (front) mum Katy-Mae with her two-year-old Miller
Construction has begun on the pair’s second nursery in Lymm, Cheshire, which will be based on a new intergenerational housing development. Designed and built by the McGoff construction group, the nursery is expected to open in October 2022.
Jeannie Pickering said, ‘We are delighted to officially break ground on our second setting and excited to bring the Back to the Garden concept to Lymm. We aim to deliver the very best in childcare, based on a natural approach where children spend as much time as possible outside learning actively through outdoor play in the fresh air and developing at their own pace.’
The pair opened their first setting under the Back to the Garden Childcare brand in September 2019 in Altrincham, Cheshire, also in partnership with McGoff.
The couple were the original founders of kidsunlimited, which they sold to private equity group LDC in 2008. Kidsunlimited is now owned by Bright Horizons, which acquired the group of 64 settings in 2013.
