Kids Planet on expansion trail
Katy Morton
Monday, September 30, 2013
The family-owned nursery group is expanding rapidly, with the launch of two new nurseries, one in a former police station.
As of next summer, Kids Planet will operate 13 nurseries offering around 1,200 childcare places, firmly placing the group within the top 25 largest nursery chains in the UK and Ireland.
Dating back to the early 1900s, the police station, set within an acre of land, was once the headquarters of the north division of Salford City Police force in Manchester.
Kids Planet will refurbish the inside of the building and create a rooftop play area for pre-school children and a sensory garden. The 140-place nursery will open next July.
The group’s chief executive Clare Roberts said, ‘The former police station is a building of interest and we want to restore it to its former glory.
‘The building is ideally placed for commuters and we know there is a need for high-quality childcare in the area.’
Ms Roberts told Nursery World that the group also has plans to open a 120-place setting in Media City in Salford next April.
Kids Planet has continued to expand since its launch in 2008. In September the group acquired two nurseries from Jeffrey’s Corner in Oldham and it is due to open another setting in Sale later this month.
Ms Roberts said, ‘Our growth plan is to open settings around the North West, filling in where there are gaps of provision.’
