Nursery World - Ashbourne Nurseries saves Harp Group setting from permanent closure

Ashbourne Nurseries has taken over one setting previously owned by the Harp Group, which now has six fewer sites since purchasing 26 nurseries from Welcome.

Ashbourne Day Nurseries has taken over a setting from the Harp Group

At the end of October, Nursery World reported that 23 of the 26 nurseries taken on by the Harp Group, which is owned by entrepreneur Simon Fox, were operating. The three remaining sites were under review.

Following this, just 20 nurseries were listed as being registered with Ofsted under the Harp Group in November. The three not registered with the inspectorate are:

The Wellingborough site, which closed on 8 November after the boiler was condemned by an engineer and deemed a health and safety risk, has now been taken on by Ashbourne Nurseries, a group of 16 sites.

Nursery World understands that the setting had also not been receiving any Government funding due to the council’s refusal to do so since the summer.

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