The group has bought three settings based in Milton Keynes, with one in Bury St Edmunds.
Former owner Paul Sharp said he is selling the nurseries after 17 years, as he and the group’s operations director are nearing retirement age.
Kids Play’s four nurseries provide 455 registered places.
The flagship setting in Milton Keynes known as ‘The Hub’ provides childcare for around 240 children, with a forest school, rooftop five-a-side pitch/activity area, and outdoor climbing wall.
Sharp, former owner and managing director, said, ‘We are very proud of what the team at Kids Play has achieved over the 17 years in childcare. With both me and fellow director, Jimmi Dickson, reaching retirement age, we wanted to find a company to continue our legacy of doing what is best for our children and staff.
‘From the first meeting with Family First, it was clear they bought into our ethos of learning through nature-based play and shared our values of supporting their teams. We were also impressed that, despite Family First’s rapid growth, their nursery settings continued to operate with the community in mind and were willing for nurseries to retain their individual identity.’
Sharp is also the owner of nine other nurseries, providing more than 800 places, which operate as the Farm Day Nurseries and are based in Beaconsfield, Hertfordshire, Cambridge, Burton-on-Trent, Durham, Lincoln, and Godstone in Surrey. Sharp, who is not fully retiring yet, will continue to run these nurseries.
Family First is the fourth largest nursery group in the UK, according to the latest issue of Nursery World's Nursery Chains supplement, published in March.
Commenting on Family first’s acquisition of Kids Play, Craig Grant, corporate development and strategy officer, Family First Day Nurseries, said, ‘Paul has done an exceptional job in creating these premium nurseries which have a “wow factor” which stands them apart from their competitors.
‘We are delighted to be able to welcome these four settings into the Family First portfolio and this marks a very important milestone for the group in hitting the 100 settings mark which is a phenomenal achievement by all of the team.’
The deal was brokered by Christie & Co for an undisclosed price. Nick Brown, head of brokerage, said, ‘We would like to wish Paul all the best for continuing down the path of his Farm schools which he is passionate about.’
