Welcome closes three nurseries following exit of co-founder Jonathan Jay

As we reported, the fourth biggest group in the UK sold at the end of July.

The group, which grew over three years to more than 50 settings, is closing nurseries that are underperforming.

Ofsted’s website confirms that Welcome's Stalybridge nursery is now closed.

The 85-place setting, based in Cheshire, reportedly shut at the end of last month, with parents given just four days’ notice of its closure.

It was graded inadequate by Ofsted in February and three months later a complaint was made to Ofsted about the nursery. Under its previous inspection in February 2020 when it was operated by the former owners, the setting was rated good.

The Village Pre School in Osbaldwick, in York, and the Rainbow House nursery in Blackburn, both closed permanently on Friday, with parents told by the group’s management that this was due to the restructure of Welcome Nurseries.

The closure of both settings follows that of St Helen’s in Merseyside, which was closed in July immediately before the sale of the group.

A letter was emailed to parents of The Village Pre School on the evening of Friday 5 August saying that the nursery has now closed for good without prior warning.

York Press online published a letter sent to parents from Welcome Nurseries that stated, ‘Welcome Nurseries are currently undergoing a restructure and unfortunately, we will not be able to move forward with the Village Pre-school nursery.

‘Unfortunately, the nursery at the Village Pre-school will be permanently closed at the end of business today Friday 5^thAugust. You should make sure you collect all your belongings as you will not be able to access the building after today.

‘We understand that this will come as a shock to you, and we apologise for the short notice and any frustration or inconvenience caused.’

The Village Pre School had been graded outstanding in 2018 under its previous owners.

A source close to the company told Nursery World that the Welcome Rainbow House nursery in Blackburn has also been closed since Friday.

Meanwhile, Welcome’s St Helen’s nursery has been closed since 18 July prior to the management buyout.

Local reports suggested that the closure of St Helen’s was due to the heatwave, but the nursery subsequently failed to reopen.

Nursery World understands that some of the nursery’s staff have left the company.

The landlord, Bearly There Limited, posted a notice of forfeiture regarding non-payment of rent outside the nursery on 16 July and it has been reported that Welcome is not returning to the site.

St Helen’s was previously graded outstanding in 2018 under its previous owner, Little Saints nursery.

Two other Welcome Nurseries have closed in recent months.

Welcome’s Birkenshaw setting in Bradford closed without notice in May over non-payment of rent.

Welcome Nurseries @ Leyland, which was registered as a 65-place setting, closed in April, according to LancsLive. It had been graded inadequate in all areas in February.

The fate of a further Welcome nursery is unclear.

Welcome’s Thrybergh nursery, which is registered for 176 places, was graded inadequate in March and has until 15 August to meet Ofsted’s requirements. At the time of its inspection the nursery employed 20 staff.

A complaint was also made to Ofsted about the Thrybergh setting on 4 July and on 11 July Ofsted made ‘a regulatory telephone call’.

The provider is still registered with Ofsted but a google search lists it as ‘under new ownership’.

The original co-founder of Welcome Nurseries and majority investor Jonathan Jay has left the business.

The group was started in 2019 by Jay, and Linda Cuddy – who was previously a nursery operator – and was also a shareholder.

Cuddy is staying on to lead the running of the group.

According to NMT, a private investor is backing the business following a management buyout, and the group will continue to be run by the current management team.

Welcome Nurseries has been contacted repeatedly for comment.

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