Nursery World - First Steps turns school into third nursery

A West Midlands nursery group has opened its third setting in an old school building renovated and refurbished with a 600,000 loan from the Co-operative Bank.

First Steps Children's Nurseries has opened the 113-place nursery in theNorthfield area of Birmingham to cater for demand. It has been turningaway children from its other fully-subscribed Birmingham nursery inHarborne, which is just two-and-a-half miles away.

The group now offers a total of 223 childcare places, including a50-place nursery at Wolverhampton.

Owner Debbi Gould said there had been 'an upturn' in the business asmore mothers return to work earlier as a result of the recession.

She said, 'This is reflected in the fact that our nurseries are lookingafter younger babies than ever before.

'We are delighted to be in a position to expand our business. We've justopened and we have 35 children already registered. We have lots ofbookings already and are recruiting staff.'

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