People & places

Abacus Family Solutions

Head office: c/o Kids Kit Co, Barker Chambers, Barker Road, Maidstone, Kent ME16 8SF

Tel: 01622 693500 Fax: 01622 693599

Managing director: Emma Wood

Directors: James Wood , David Northcroft, Robert Chris, Peter Noyon

Established: 1992

Owns/manages 4 shopping centre nurseries and crches: Hart Centre, Fleet (30), Chequers Centre, Maidstone (60), West Quay, Southampton (55), St Nicholas Centre, Sutton (30)

Places: 175

Employees: 60

Plans: Opening eight more sites over the next three years across the south east. This includes three nursery projects in progress creating 315 additional places in the next year and opening 100-place nursery in Burgess Hill in January 2004.

ABC Nurseries

Head office: Main Road, Ecclefechan, Dumfriesshire DG11 3BU

Tel/fax: 01576 300765

Directors: Ann and Malcolm McEwan

Established: 1988

Owns 2 nurseries: Dumfries (70), Ecclefechan (20) [both in Dumfriesshire]

Places: 90

Employees: 22

Plans: Acquired new nursery in West Cumbria, due to open early 2004.

Academy Childcare

Head office: East Wing, Turkey Court, Turkey Mill, Ashford Road, Maidstone, Kent ME14 5PP

Tel: 01622 683868 Fax: 01622 683833

E-mail: enquiries@academychildcare. co.uk

Website: academychildcare.co.uk

Chief executive: John Bradney

Operations director: Christina Richards

Established: 1996

Owns 12 nurseries: Ashford (125), Bluewater Day Nursery (116), Bluewater Shoppers' Nursery/Crche (106), Brierley Hill (68), Bristol (44), Chichester (126), Chorley (59), Dartford (48), Ipswich (60), Kings Hill (128), London (12), York (74)

1 after-school club: Kings Hill after-school Club (16)

Places: 966

Employees: 240

Plans: To open 128-place nursery in Guildford in February 2004.

Acorn Childcare

Head office: Wesley House, 17 South Street, Castlethorpe, Milton Keynes MK19 7EL

Tel: 01908 510309 Fax: 01908 510222

E-mail: info@acornchildcare.co.uk

Website: www.acornchildcare.co.uk

Directors: Zo Hedges, Chris Hedges, Jenny Brighton

Established: 1989

Owns 4 nurseries: Brafield-on-the-Green, near Northampton (36), Castlethorpe (51 plus 16 out-of-school), Shenley Church End (40), West Bletchley (33 plus 24 out-of-school places) [all in Milton Keynes]. Also runs childcare agency and training and assessment centre.

Places: 160

Employees: 66

Plans: Expansion through the acquisition of properties and nurseries.

Acorns Nurseries

Head office: Acorns House, 7 Park Grove, Cathays, Cardiff CF10 3BJ

Tel: 02920 382009 Fax: 02920 221044

Website: www.acornsnurseries.co.uk

Directors: Martyn Hogg, Susan Hogg, Peter Reynolds, Cherie Wilson

Established: 1988

Owns 8 nurseries: Henbury Hill House, Bristol (100), Acorns, Roath (26), Baby Acorns, Roath (27), Acorns House (75), Priory House Acorns (65), St Mellons Acorns (32), Whitchurch Acorns (84) [all in Cardiff], Duffryn, Newport (45)

Manages 3 nurseries: BBC Wales Acorns (61), AXA Acorns, Bristol (30), ONS Acorns, Newport (35)

Places: 580

Employees: 196

Plans: Further expansion planned in Bath, Cardiff and Cheltenham.

Ashford Play (Nursery Schools) Kent

Head office: Strathmore, 43 Albert Road, Ashford, Kent TN24 8NU

Tel: 01233 625301 Fax: 01233 610420

Proprietor: Val Webb

Established: 1971

Owns 3 nurseries: Albert Road (44), Wall Road (46), both with an 8-place after-school club and an 8-place summer school (for 5-8 year olds), Willesborough (24) plus a 5-place summer school (for 5-6 year olds) [all in Kent]

Places: 114

Employees: 24

Astley Grange Nurseries

Head office: Norwood House, 9 Kilgraston Road, Edinburgh EH9 2DX

Tel: 0131 668 2797 Fax: 0131 668 2738

E-mail: info@astleygrangenurseries.co.uk

Directors: Earl Black, Sue Black

Established: 1991

Owns 4 nurseries: Baby Crche (27), Norwood House Nursery (59), Toddler Nursery (30), Tweenie Nursery (42) [all in Edinburgh]

Places: 158

Employees: 65

Asquith Court Schools

Head office: Orbital House, Park View Road, Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 3EY

Freephone: 0800 591 875

Website: www.asquithcourt.co.uk

Chief executive: Phil Rhodes

Established: 1989

Owns/manages 113 nurseries: Ashtead, Surrey (48), Basildon, Essex (77), Bedford (101), Belfast (22), Birmingham (51), Bolton (84), Brighton (62), Bristol (53), Bromley 1 (90), Bromley 2 (87), Bromsgrove (22), Bushey, Herts (45), Canterbury (97), Cardiff (61), Caterham, Surrey (72), Cheadle, Cheshire (56), Cheam (22), Chigwell, Essex (59), Derby (78), Dublin (54), Eastbourne (12), Edinburgh (50), Ellesmere Port (24), Enfield 1 (69), Enfield 2 (75), Enfield 3 (64), Epsom 1 (73), Epsom 2 (18), Epsom 3 (86), Fareham, Hants (92), Faringdon, Oxon (40), Guildford (61), Hampton, Middlesex (41), Heathrow, Middlesex (104), Harpenden, Herts 1 (52), Harpenden, Herts 2 (68), Haslemere, Surrey (77), Hatch End, Middlesex (70), Hinckley, Leics (86), Horton, Berks (50), Hounslow, Middlesex (77), Hull (70), Kenton, Middlesex (65), Kew Riverside, (66), Kidbrooke (20), Kingston upon Thames 1 (52), Kingston upon Thames 2 (64), Kirkby (57), Leatherhead (96), Leicester (12), Lichfield, Staffs 1 (75), Lichfield, Staffs 2 (73); London: Balham (63), Battersea (69), Dulwich (72), Ealing (35), Eltham (47), Finsbury Park (81), Fulham (18), Golders Green (54), Hendon 1 (69), Hendon 2 (65), Hendon 3 (92), Islington (34), Kensington (23), Knightsbridge (132), Lambeth (82), New Eltham (117), Peckham Rye (67), Putney (41), Southgate (75), West Hampstead (70); Luton (24), Maidstone 1 (28), Maidstone 2 (80), Maidenhead (24), Manchester 1 (24), Manchester 2 (15), Milford, Staffs (68), Milton Keynes (70), Moortown, Leeds (75), Nottingham 1 (88), Nottingham 2 (26), Orpington (52), Port Solent (70), Portswood, Southampton (65), Reigate (84), Renfrew (46), Richmond (62), Ridgeway, Swindon (60), Royal Earlswood, Surrey (73), Sidcup (49), Slough 1 (52), Slough 2 (94), Solihull 1 (25), Solihull 2 (62), Speke (19), Surbiton (72), Teddington (97), Tingley, Leeds (78), Teesside (76), Tonbridge (100), Tunbridge Wells 1 (56), Tunbridge Wells 2 (15), Tunbridge Wells 3 (52), Twickenham (35), Warrington (93), Warsash, Hants (76), West Dorking (65), Weybridge (22), Wilmington (51), Windsor (70), Wroughton, Wilts (60)

Twelve independent preparatory schools: Breaside Preparatory School (London), Downsend School Ashtead Lodge (Ashtead, Surrey), Downsend School (Leatherhead, Surrey), Downsend School Epsom Lodge, (Epsom, Surrey), Downsend School Leatherhead Lodge, (Leatherhead, Surrey), Ferndale School (Oxon), Harpenden Preparatory School (Herts), Hendon Preparatory School (London), Long Close School (Slough, Berks), Meoncross School (Hants), Polam School (Bedford), Salcombe Preparatory School (London)

Jointly owns: Montessori Centre International and St Nicholas Preparatory School (central London)

Places: 6,839

Employees: 3,000

Plans: The company's expansion plans are set to continue, with more nurseries opening and being acquired over the next 12 months.

ambinos

Head office: Foot & Bowden Building, 19 The Crescent, Plymouth, Devon PL1 3AD

Tel: 01752 206566 Fax: 01752 226767

Directors: William Lane, Alison Lane

Established: 1993

Owns 4 nurseries: Devonshire Racquet Club Crche (18), Plymouth Centre (112), Plympton (62), Woolwell (70)

Places: 262

Employees: 83

Plans: To open two purpose-built sites over the next two years.

Beechwood Nurseries/ Childcare Scotland

Head office: Chaseley Courtyard, 33 Shore Road, Skelmorlie, Ayrshire PA17 5EH

Tel/fax: 01475 522311

Director: Meg Macleod

Established: 1989

Owns 7 nurseries: Aberdeen (105), Edinburgh (104), Glasgow Caledonian University (59), Spectrum Glasgow (76), Kilmarnock (119), Royston (78), Skelmorlie (65)

Places: 606

Employees: 163

Plans: New 145-place nursery in Irvine opening soon. Planning permission applied for in Largs (60), and Langbank (80), both in Scotland.

Beehive Day Nurseries

Head office: St James Road, Southam, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire CV47 OLY

Tel: 01926 811549 Fax: 01926 811599

Directors: JRM and LC Phillips

Established: 1992

Owns 4 nurseries: Barford, Warwick (52), Kenilworth (60), Rugby (60), Southam (55)

2 out-of-school clubs: Kenilworth (24), Warwick (24)

Places: 227

Employees: 75

Beehive Nurseries/CTRScotland

Head office: Suite 9, Carron House, Carron Way, Cumbernauld, Glasgow G67 1ER

Tel: 01236 782 455 Fax: 01236 724 017

Owners: Margaret Armour, Boyd Houston

Established: 1989

Owns 5 nurseries: Cumbernauld (84), Lauder College Nursery, Dunfermline (55), Benefits Agency, Falkirk (42), Falkirk Royal Infirmary (60), University of Stirling Nursery (40). Training division CTR Scotland is open to all and offers training in childcare, nursery management and modern apprenticeships.

Places: 281

Employees: 130

Beeline Nurseries

Head office: Beeline Nurseries, Beehive Kindergarten, Hillberry Road, Onchan, Isle of Man IM3 3JP

Tel: 01624 674655 Fax: 01624 611352

Directors: Richard and Vivienne Welch

Established: 1985

Owns 5 nurseries: Alice in Wonderland (56), The Beehive (72), Pig and Pepper baby wing (15), Shelleig (32), Wind in the Willows baby wing (18) [all in the Isle of Man]

Places: 193

Employees: 40

The Birrell Collection

Head office: 26 White House Road, Cramond, Edinburgh EH4 6PH

Tel: 0131 336 0900 Fax: 0131 336 0909

Directors: Yvonne Birrell, Christine MacDowel

Established: 1988

Owns 6 nurseries: Annandale St Lane (60), Bruntsfield (49), Cramond (100), Morton Mains Farm (75), Queen Margaret University College (59), West End (25) [all in Edinburgh]

Places: 368

Employees: 100

Plans: Working with partners on expansion projects.

*Bizz Kidz

Head office: Ground Floor, Silkhouse Court, 7/17 Tithebarn Street, Liverpool L2 2LZ

Tel: 0151 907 2350 Fax: 0151 907 2369

Proprietors: Strategic Systems Solutions

Established: 2002

Owns 2 nurseries: Liverpool (63), Preston (61)

Places: 124

Employees: 35

Plans: To expand into Manchester and Chester in 2004 and across the north west in 2005.

Bramleys Nurseries

Head office: The Old School, School Road, Ardington, nr Wantage, Oxon OX12 8PN

Tel: 01235 833255 Fax: 01235 864477

E-mail: bramleys@fsbdial.co.uk

Directors: John and Sue Watson

Established: 1990

Owns 6 nurseries: Ardington, Wantage (102), Horton Hospital, Banbury (53), Bedford Hospital (58), Didcot (87), Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford (49), Salisbury (44)

Places: 393

Employees: 120

Plans: Planning further steady growth.

Bridges Nurseries

Head office: 323 Broomhill Road, Aberdeen AB1 7LR

Tel/fax: 01224 319530

E-mail: bridges@abd1.com

Directors: Marie Mogford, Lois Duncan

Established: 1985

Owns 3 nurseries: Aberdeen (48), Westhill, Aberdeenshire (48), Arnhall (100)

1 out-of-school club: Aberdeen (20)

Places: 196

Employees: 50

Bright Horizons Family Solutions

Head Office: 2 Crown Court, Rushden, Northamptonshire NN10 6BS

Tel: 01933 415900 Fax: 01933 315199

Website: www.brighthorizons.co.uk

Chairman: Susan Hay

General manager: Ian Stocks

Director of operations: Linda Oury

Established: 1988

Owns/manages 74 nurseries:

Aberdeen, Shell (35), Aberystwyth, Institute of Grasslands & Environmental Research (40), Andover, Hampshire Defence Logistics Organisation (40), Bath 1, MoD (37), Bath 2, MoD (60), Birkenhead, Dept for Work & Pensions (30), Bootle, Merseyside (70), Bristol, MoD (117), Burnaston, Derbyshire, Toyota (49), Cardiff, Inland Revenue (60), Coventry, Land Registry (40), Crowthorne, Berkshire, Broadmoor Hospital (50), Croydon 1, London Borough of Croydon (40), Croydon 2, Immigration and Nationality Directorate (90), Dagenham, Centre for Engineering & Manufacturing Excellence (82), Didcot, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (56), Dublin, Beaumont (40), Dublin Blanchardstown, Dublin College of Technology (124), Dublin, Churchtown (33), Dublin, City West (118), Dublin Fairview, East Point Business Park (113), Dudley, West Midlands, Dept for Work & Pensions (39), Edinburgh, Abbeyhill (62), Edinburgh, Ardmillan (28), Edinburgh, East Craigs, Scottish Executive (15), Edinburgh, Leith, Scottish Executive (36), Edinburgh, Rutland (46), Falkirk, Dept for Work and Pensions (34), Feltham, Middlesex, The Defence Geographic Intelligence Agency (21), Glasgow, Inland Revenue (59), Grange, County Meath, European Commission (30), Guildford, Surrey, DEFRA (40), Harlow, Essex, Merck, Sharpe & Dohme (51), Hastings, Dept for Work & Pensions (38), Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, BP (54), Ipswich, Suffolk,

Inland Revenue (30), Irthlingborough, Northamptonshire (52), Kingston-upon-Hull, Land Registry (40), Leeds, Department for Work & Pensions (30), Leicester, Inland Revenue (32), Liverpool, HM Customs & Excise (35), Livingston, West Lothian (136); London: Alperton, Sainsbury's (32), Billet's Corner, Sainsbury's (38), Broadgate (50), Dulwich, Sainsbury's (24), Finchley (35), Fleet Street (45), Highgate (55), Islington (42), Spitalfields (50), SW1, Foreign & Commonwealth Office (36), Waterloo (38), WC2, Amey BPOServices (35); Manchester: Salford, HMCustoms & Excise (36), Stretford, Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council (30); Newbury, Berkshire, Institute of Animal Health (36), Newcastle-upon Tyne, NICO (52), Nottingham, Inland Revenue (50), Plymouth, Devon, Dept for Work &Pensions (30), Reading, Berkshire, Microsoft (52), Rothamsted, Hertfordshire, Rothamsted Research (25), Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, Unilever R &D Colworth (75), Silsoe, Bedfordshire, Silsoe Research Institute (35), Sunbury, Surrey, Johnson Control for BP Intl (46), Surbiton, Surrey, Dept for Work &Pensions (38), Teddington, Middlesex, Laboratory of the Government Chemist(66), Telford, Land Registry (43), Tyne & Wear, Child Benefit Office (55), Warwick 1, Horticulture Research International (42), Warwick 2, Jaguar & Landrover (48), Wetherby, The British Library (45), Weymouth, Land Registry (40), Wolverhampton,Customs & Excise (20)

Manages 18 holiday playschemes: Bedford (30), Bootle, (90), Croydon (70), Guildford (40), Harlow (16), Hounslow (40), Hull (40), Leeds (50), Manchester (40), Nottingham (40), Portsmouth (40), Rothamsted, Herts (22), Silsoe, Bedfordshire (20), Telford, Shropshire (32), Warwick (40), Washington, Tyne & Wear (48), Weymouth (24), Winchester (40)

Places: 3,576

Employees: 1,062

Plans: Opening a 50-place nursery at Wooldale Centre for Learning, Northampton in September 2004 and a 40-place purpose-built nursery for Plymouth Land Registry in January 2005.

Bright Kids

Head office: Millennium Suite, The Grange, 37 Alcester Road, Studley, Warwickshire B80 7LL

Tel: 01527 855409 Fax: 01527 855427

E-mail: brightkids@supanet.com

Website: www.bright-kids.co.uk

Owner: Tricia Tolley

Established: 1999

Owns 3 nurseries: Cleobury Mortimer (54), Crabbs Cross (47), Studley (50)

2 out-of-school clubs: Cleobury Mortimer (16), Crabbs Cross (24), Studley (26)

Places: 151

Employees: 52

Plans: To open an additional nursery in 2004. To complete the CfBT Quality Matters scheme at Cleobury Mortimer nurseries and to have all three of the sites fully quality assured.

Bright Start Day Nurseries

Head office: 300 Meadowcroft, Aylesbury, Bucks HP19 9HZ

Tel: 01296 381 479 Fax: 01296 422 550

E-mail: enquiries@brightstart.fsnet.co.uk

Proprietors: Frank Fymruk, Bev Fymruk

Operations manager: Beverley Sims

Established: 1990

Owns 5 nurseries: Bedgrove, Aylesbury, (65), Meadowcroft, Aylesbury (50), Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire (69), Long Crendon, Buckinghamshire (38), Wingrave, Buckinghamshire (27)

Places: 249

Employees: 56

Plans: Recently became an NVQ assessment centre and training school, with City & Guilds accreditation, offering NVQ Levels 2, 3 and 4. Plans to offer this service to local nurseries.

Bringing up Baby

Head office: Lansdowne House, 3/7 Northcote Road, London SW11 1NG

Tel: 020 7738 0160 Fax: 020 7228 2975

E-mail: office@bringingupbaby.co.uk

Website: www.bringingupbaby.co.uk

Established: 1989

Managing director: Anne de Zoysa

Executive directors: Sue Woodford, Lord Hollick, Rohan Worrall

Owns 4 nurseries: Brentford (42), Hammersmith (70), Kentish Town (55), Wembley (29) [all in London area]

Places: 196

Employees: 50

Plans: To open two new sites in London in 2004.

Brooklands Childcare

Head office: 137B Market Street, Hindley, Wigan WN2 3AA

Tel: 01942 760044

E-mail: hindley2@brooklandschildcare.com

Website: www.brooklandschildcare.com

Owners: Ivan and Linda Rawlins

Established: 1990

Owns 4 nurseries: Ashton-in-Makerfield, Wigan (82), Garswood, near Wigan and St Helens (86), Hindley, Wigan 1 (82), Hindley, Wigan 2 (83) [all in Lancashire]

1 crche: Hindley Green Sure Start, Wigan (7)

Places: 333

Employees: 86

Plans: Expansion locally and nationally, some through possible acquisition.

Buffer Bear Nurseries

Head office: The Hospitium, Valpy St, Reading, Berkshire RG1 1AR

Tel: 0118 950 3200 Fax: 0118 956 0338

Managing director: Dr Kay Turner

Operations: Diane Robson

Finance: Richard Norton

Human resources: Deanna Surman

Development: Bethan Parry

Established: 1994

Owns/manages 28 nurseries: Brighton, Moulsecoomb (43), Brighton, Whitehawk (32), Bristol (72), Croydon, Mayday Hospital (65), Elstree (29); London: Acton (68), Royal London Hospital (64), St Bartholomews Hospital (26), Tooting (66), Wimbledon (57), and in Westminster: Bessborough (83), Carlton Hill (53), Katharine Bruce (59), St Jude's (45), St Stephens (71), Warwick (48); Newcastle (92), Oxford (58), Poole 1 (58), Poole 2 (60), Rainham (50), Reading (84), Sutton (66), Swindon (68), Children's Trust, Tadworth (52), Warrington (53), Watford (55), West Drayton (39)

Places: 1,616

Employees: 425

Plans: Ongoing staff training and development programme via Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative and NHS Trusts in place for 2003/2004.

Bush Babies Children's Nurseries

Head office: The Old School House, Leicester Road, Countesthorpe, Leicester LE8 5QU

Tel: 0116 2774088 Fax: 0116 2788744

Directors: Jane and Robert Brailsford

Established: 1992

Owns 5 nurseries: Blackberry Bush, Countesthorpe (54), Holly Bush, Leicester City (50), Blueberry Bush, Oadby (52), Gooseberry Bush, Wigston Magna (54), Mulberry Bush, Wigston Magna pre-school (40) [all in Leicester]

1 before-and-after-school and holiday club: Wigston Magna (40)

Places: 250

Employees: 72

Plans: Planned controlled expansion programme both locally and nationally, some through possible acquisition.

Busy Bees

Head office: The Rom Building, Eastern Avenue, Lichfield, Staffs WS13 6RN

Tel: 01543 309020 Fax: 01543 419144

Website: www.busybees.com

Chairman: Claire Spottiswoode

Group directors: John Woodward, Margaret Randles, Simon Irons, Lynn Woodward, Dave Thackray

Marketing co-ordinator: Katy Matthews

Established: 1983

Owns 27 nurseries operating under the Busy Bees, Tibbi Tots and Kindercare brands:

Busy Bees Great Barr, Birmingham (90), Thorley Park, Bishops Stortford (55), Chorley NHS, Chorley (60), St David's Park, Deeside (100), Farnborough (160), Formby (57), Hatching Green, Harpenden (70), Leyton Road, Harpenden (55), Hartham Park, Hertford (44), The Rye, High Wycombe (80), Colton Mill, Leeds (151), Hoover, Perivale (50), Preston NHS, Preston (60), Hatfield Road, Smallford (61), Bernard Street, St Albans (50), Glenalmond ( formerly King Harry Lane), St Albans (104), Mardley Hill, Welwyn (45)

Tibbi Tots Southport (91)

Kindercare Blackpool (238), Chorley (215), Lancaster (216), Land Registry, Lytham (48), Ashton House, Preston (248), BAE Warton, Preston (30), Bamber Bridge, Preston (167), Lostock Hall, Preston (67), BNFL Oakfield, Salwick (33)

Manages 18 nurseries: Rover Group, Birmingham (60), HMCE, Blackburn (38), Essex University, Colchester (120), IKEA, Grays, Essex (28), David Lloyd, Heston (22), Inland Revenue, Leeds (35); London: Stork Exchange, Cartwright Street (72), David Lloyd Leisure, Enfield (44), David Lloyd Leisure, Finchley (75); Liverpool University (79), BMW, Oxford (28), Derriford Hospital, Plymouth (54), David Lloyd Leisure, Raynes Park, Essex (30), Salford University (104), CAMR, Salisbury (59), Landrover, Solihull (90), David Lloyd Leisure, Southampton (55), Writtle College, Essex (99)

6 Tesco crches: Bury Kids' Club, Lancashire (40), Cardiff Kids' Club (40), Glasgow Kids' Club (10), Peterborough Kids' Club (39), Pitsea Kids' Club, Essex (40), Watford Kids' Club, Hertfordshire (40)

3 crches: Boots, Middlesex (21), Golds Gym, Perivale (10), David Lloyd Leisure, Stevenage (20)

24 after-school and holiday clubs: Busy Bees St David's Park After School Scheme, St David's Park Holiday Scheme, both in Ewloe, Flintshire, North Wales, Farnborough Holiday Scheme, Lichfield After School Scheme, Staffordshire, Lichfield Holiday Scheme, Manchester Holiday Scheme, Salford, King Harry Lane After School Scheme, St Albans, King Harry Lane Holiday Scheme

Tibbi Tots Southport After School Scheme, Southport Holiday Scheme

Kindercare Blackpool After School Scheme, Blackpool Holiday Scheme, Chorley After School Scheme, Chorley Holiday Scheme, Lancaster After School Scheme, Lancaster Holiday Scheme, Lostock Hall After School Scheme, Preston, Lostock Hall Holiday Scheme, Preston, Ashton House After School Scheme, Preston, Ashton House Holiday Scheme, Preston, Bamber Bridge After School Scheme, Preston, Bamber Bridge Holiday Scheme, Preston

Places: 3,997

Employees: 1,350

Plans: Busy Bees is committed to delivering quality and growth and has exceeded its development plans for the past 12 months. The group will continue to build new nurseries and work with partners in the public and private sectors. Busy Bees is the recognised national provider of corporate childcare vouchers and forecasts 100 per cent growth in this area over the next year.

Busy Nought to Fives

Head office: Old Home Farm, Brimstage Road, Bebington, Wirral CH63 6HD

Tel/fax: 0151 342 8050

E-mail: info@busynoughttofives.co.uk

Website: www.busynoughttofives.co.uk

Director: Emma Collins

Established: 1992

Owns 4 nurseries: Great Sankey, Warrington (129), St Nicholas House, Warrington (116), Brimstage Village Hall, Wirral (30), Old Home Farm, Wirral (27)

Places: 302

Employees: 85

Plans: 116-place nursery opening in Liverpool, summer 2004. Extension planned at Old Home Farm to increase places to 90, opening 2004.

Buttercups

Head office: 18 Woodfield Road, Ealing, London W5 1SH

Tel: 020 8840 4740 Fax: 020 8997 6236

Director: Mrs Carol Whitehouse

Established: 1980

Owns 6 nurseries: Acton (41), Syon Park, Brentford (52), Chiswick (31), Florence Road, Ealing (60), Isleworth (40), West Drayton (36) [all in the London area]

Places: 260

Employees: 80

Caring Daycare

Head office: Pitfold House, Woolmer Hill, Haslemere, Surrey GU27 1QA

Tel: 01428 661960 Fax: 01428 653929

Chief executive: Peter Churchley

Established: 1989

Owns 5 nurseries: Dorking, Surrey (52), Guildford, Surrey (86), Haslemere, Surrey (88), Midhurst, West Sussex (41) Salisbury, Wiltshire (36)

1 after-school club: Midhurst (26)

Places: 303

Employees: 76

Plans: To open a 106-place nursery in Woking in January 2004.

Caring Kindergartens

Head office: The Poplars Stables, High Street, Pitsford, Northampton NN6 9AD

Tel: 01604 882241 Fax: 01604 882233

Proprietor: Sonia Carvell

Established: 1992

Owns 5 nurseries: Daventry, Northants (90), Moulton Park Industrial Estate, Northampton (70), Peterborough Business Park, Peterborough (112), Stratford upon-Avon, Warwickshire (49), Wellingborough, Northants (80)

Places: 401

Employees: 110

Carousel Nurseries

Head office: Glenfield House, 69 Glasgow Road, Dumbarton G82 1RE

Tel: 01389 732636 Fax: 01389 730469

Directors: Anne Jenkins, Claire Rowan

Established: 1995

Owns 3 nurseries: Alexandria (19), Dumbarton (72), Helensburgh (50)

1 out-of-school club: Dumbarton (48)

Places: 141

Employees: 70

Plans: To continue to expand a network of nurseries across west Scotland.

Castle Childcare

Head office: 14 South Hill, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3SY

Tel: 01483 533344 Fax: 01483 267679

E-mail: ian@daycare.co.uk

Owner: Ian Lambert

Established: 1995

Owns 3 nurseries: Markenfield (70), South Hill (40) [both in Guildford], Shamley Green, Surrey (30)

Manages: Veterinary Laboratories Agency Nursery, Addlestone, Surrey (16), RBKC Kensington, London (51)

Holiday playscheme: 16

Places: 207

Employees: 50

Catherine House Day Nursery Schools

Head office: 9 St Agnes Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 9PH

Tel: 0121 449 1444 Fax: 0121 449 1440

E-mail: Matthew_poray@compuserve.com

Website: www.catherinehouse.co.uk

Directors: Rita Howe-Douglas, Matthew Poray

Established: 1987

Owns 6 nurseries: Moseley (60), Northfield (40) [both in Birmingham], Brockley, London (70), Leamington Spa (58), Northampton (55), Walsall (50)

Places: 333

Employees: 115

CfBT (Centre for British Teachers) Nurseries

Head office: 60 Queens Road, Reading RG1 4BS

Tel: 0118 902 1000 Fax: 0118 902 1434

E-mail: enquiries@cfbt.com

Website: www.cfbt.com

Development director: Tim Emmett

Established: 2001

Owns 4 nurseries: Chorley (55), Coulby Newham, Middlesborough, (80), Horwich (70), Lancaster (106)

Places: 311

Employees: 88

Chapman Child Education

Head office: The Access Centre, Bar Lane, Wakefield, West Yorkshire WF1 4AD

Tel: 01924 203200

E-mail: info@cliffschool.com

Websites: www.cliffschool.comwww.silverwoodschool.com www.frendz club.com; www.4kidz.tv; www.access centre.co.uk www.4kidztraining.co.uk

Director: Kathleen Wallace

Established: 1995

Owns 3 nurseries: Barnsley (60), Wakefield 1 (40), Wakefield 2 (120)

2 pre-prep and preparatory schools: Cliff School, Wakefield and Silverwood School, Barnsley

16 Frendz Clubs (out-of-school childcare facilities): in Barnsley, Leeds, Knaresborough, York and Wakefield.

Training and recruitment: Early Years & Playwork Training College, Wakefield. Early Years Childcare & Playwork Recruitment Agency, Yorkshire. Conference facilities at head office.

Places: 220

Employees: 110

Plans: Integration of staff training with present nurseries; widen scope of courses on offer to early years practitioners and playworkers; expansion of Frendz Clubs in North, West and South Yorkshire; expansion of recruitment agency in the north of England.

Cherry Childcare

Head office: Weybourne House,

St Peters, Guildford Road, Ottershaw, Surrey KT16 ORR

Tel/fax: 01932 874911

Director: Barry Rolfe

Senior manager: Trisha Fisher

Established: 1993

Owns 8 nurseries: Addlestone (78), Ash Vale (98), Chertsey (53), High Wycombe (120), Ottershaw (77), Sandhurst (48), Stoneleigh (94), Weybridge (28)

Places: 596

Employees: 176

Plans: A major development programme planned over the next two years.

*Cherub Childcare Centre

Head office: Lindsey Place, Anlaby Road, Hull HU4 6AJ

Tel: 01482 509 598

Proprietor: Ann Barnes

Established: 1976

Owns 2 nurseries: Leeds 1 (125), Leeds 2 (77)

Places: 202

Employees: 55

Plans: To open a new nursery in Beverley, Humberside in January 2004 with an estimated 80 places.

Cherubs Day Nurseries

Head office: Executive House, St Albans Road, Bulwell, Nottingham NG6 9FT

Tel: 0115 979 5975 Fax: 0115 976 4593

Managing director: Susan Mills

Director: Robert Everist

Established: 1993

Owns 6 nurseries: Executive House, Bulwell, Nottingham (70), Cherubs Vale View, Bulwell, Nottingham (86), Kimberley, Nottingham (70), Newark (44), Mansfield Woodhouse (50), Ravenshead (120)

2 preparatory schools: Kimberley Prep School, Mansfield Prep School

Places: 440

Employees: 141

Plans: To open two more nurseries in Mansfield by the end of 2003.

Child & Co

Head office: Elizabeth House, Reading Road, Wallingford, Oxfordshire OX10 9HA

Tel: 01491 824040 Fax: 01491 824055

Directors: Lesley Millar, Ian Millar, Anne Sheldon

Established: 1991

Owns/manages 11 nurseries: St Mary's Day Nursery, Abingdon (67), Talbot Woods Day Nursery, Bournemouth University (48), Talbot Woods Nursery School, Bournemouth University (38), Northwick Park Day Nursery, Harrow, Middlesex (96), Mount Vernon Nursery School, Northwood, Middlesex (50), Mount Vernon Day Nursery, Northwood, Middlesex (74), Great Haseley Nursery School, Oxfordshire (63), Abbeymore Day Nursery School, Reading, Berkshire (104), Mongewell Park Nursery School, Wallingford, Oxfordshire (124), The Park Nursery, Watford, Herts (63), Scott's House School, Eynsham Park, Witney, Oxfordshire (120)

Places: 847

Employees: 300

Plans: Further expansion of sites will be limited to those areas where we can guarantee to maintain our standards. Our work with the charity Hope & Homes for Children continues.

Child Base

Head office: Kingston House, Northampton Road, Newport Pagnell, Bucks MK16 8NJ

Tel: 01908 211699 Fax: 01908 211698

E-mail: info@childbase.com

Website: www.childbase.com

Established: 1989

Directors: Michael Thompson (managing director), Emma Phillips (operations director), Lynda Gostelow (regional director), Angela Bramham (finance director)

Operates 29 nurseries: Aylesbury, Stoke Mandeville Hospital (90), Barnet (54), Bedford (58), Birmingham (80), Buckingham (68), Cranfield, Bedfordshire, Cranfield University (43), Farnborough (36), Finchampstead (66), Hemel Hempstead, Herts (59), Hitchin (74), Kettering (128), Leicester (70), Leighton Buzzard (84), London, Chiswick (74), Luton, Luton and Dunstable Hospital (100), Maidenhead (63), Milton Keynes (69), Newbury (52), Newport Pagnell, Bucks (49), Northampton (120), Nottingham (80), Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital (120), Oxford, Churchill Hospital (93), Reading (75), Staines (80), Welwyn Garden City QEll (90), Welwyn Garden City (55), West Downs Day Nursery, Winchester, King Alfred's College (65), Winchmore Hill (66)

Places: 2,161

Employees: 640

Plans: New nursery in Stevenage in 2004.

The Childcare Corporation

Head office: 6 The Lanchesters, 162-166 Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, London W6 9ER

Tel: 020 8741 7741 Fax: 020 8741 7766

E-mail: info@childcare.uk.com

Website: www.childcare.uk.com

Chairman: Alan Bentley

Directors: Adrian Moore, Martin Sherwood

Established: 1998

Owns 11 nurseries, some operating under the brands Kiddi Caru or Carey Days: Bedford (95), Colchester (125), Exeter (129), Glengarry (88), London, Streatham (35), Milton Keynes (70), Nottingham (120), Taplow, (60), Taunton (129), Torquay (96), Wellingborough (106)

Places: 1,053

Employees: 166

Plans: The group has eight new developments planned for 2004.

Childcare Enterprise

Head office: 131 Bedford Street, North Shields, Tyne and Wear NE29 6LA

Tel: 0191 200 5765 Fax: 0191 200 6301

National operations manager: Julia Doxford

Established: 1994

Manages 13 nurseries: Birmingham, NEC (35), Bromley, Bromley Social Services (50), Durham, Durham District Land Registry (56), Gloucester, RAF Innsworth (26), London, BBC World Service (27), Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Aqumen Facilities Management Company (65), Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Howdon Sure Start Partnership (30), North Shields, FuDA International Trading Co (28), Nottingham, Nottingham Land Registry (60), Falsgrave, Scarborough, (45), Wyton, RAF (30), York, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (44), Sand Hutton, York, Central Science Laboratory (47)

9 playschemes: BBC World Service holiday playscheme, (16), DTI Playscheme (32), Inland Revenue playscheme (40), 4 Westminster Holiday Playschemes (96) [all in London], Inland Revenue playscheme, Longbenton (60), Nottingham Land Registry playscheme (40)

Places: 543

Employees: 350

Plans: Expansion programme for the next three years.

Children's Corner Group of Nurseries

Head office: 29/31 Clare Road, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX1 2JP

Tel: 01422 347866 Fax: 0113 2300757

E-mail: lad.ccg@cwcom.net

Directors: Lesley and Allan Dawson

Established: 1998

Owns 4 nurseries: Halifax Centre (68), Northowram, Halifax (44), Granary Wharf, Leeds (27), Headingley, Leeds (20)

Holiday playscheme: holiday clubs, Halifax (16), Leeds (32)

Places: 159

Employees: 49

Plans: To develop further sites.

The Children's Place

Head office: The Poplars, Free School Lane, Halifax, West Yorkshire HX1 2YE

Tel/fax: 01422 329030

E-mail: info@childrens-place.co.uk

Website: www.childrens-place.co.uk

Directors: Karen Walker and Debbie Burke

Established: 1991

Owns 7 nurseries and 1 holiday club: Daisy Hill, Bradford (52), Leeds Road, Bradford (30), Wyke, Bradford (50), Dewsbury (35), Halifax (55 plus a 30-place holiday club), Ravensthorpe (44), Scarborough (38)

Places: 304

Employees: 90

Plans: Expansion to include a neighbourhood nursery (66), an NHS nursery (50), a partnership initiative with Sure Start to create a 30-place nursery and with Bradford social services to create a 30-place nursery.

Christopher Robin Day Nurseries

Head office: 31 Claremont Avenue, Woking, Surrey GU22 7SF

Tel: 01483 757507

Website: www.daynurseriessurrey.co.uk

Director: Penny Owen

Established: 1986

Owns 5 nurseries: Cranleigh (44), Burpham, Guildford (44), Merrow, Guildford (47), Wood Street Village, Guildford (33), Woking (44), and a Montessori training college, Montessori Centre International (Surrey)

Places: 212

Employees: 72

Plans: Actively looking for new sites.

Complete Childcare

Head office: Cliff Lodge, Rock House Lane, Maidencombe, Devon TQ1 4SX

Tel: 01803 329240 Fax: 01803 329185

Directors: Kenneth Livingston, Carole Livingston

Established: 1982

Owns 4 nurseries: Newbury (102), Reading (60), Wokingham 1 (55), Wokingham 2 (29)

Places: 246

Employees: 65

Plans: Extend existing nurseries.

Coombe Valley

Head office: Old Tree Lodge, Trebursye, Launceston, Cornwall PL15 7ET

Tel: 01566 776846 Fax: 01566 776835

E-mail: cve@coombevalley.com

Website: www.coombevalley.com

Directors: Sue Ranson, Charles Ranson, Stephen Gregg

Established: 1990

Owns 4 nurseries: Exeter, Devon (32), Launceston, Cornwall (29), Pentrebach, Mid Glamorgan (40), Trebursye, Cornwall (37)

Places: 138

Employees: 36

Plans: Five out-of-school clubs opening in Cornwall, January to September 2004.

Countryside Nurseries

Head office: Tythe Barn, Dean Lane, Cookham Dean, Berks SL6 9BB

Tel: 01628 476153 Fax: 01628 487019

E-mail: kids@csns.fsnet.co.uk

Director: Angela Palmer-Moore

Established: 1991

Owns 5 nurseries: Burnham, Bucks (35), Cookham Dean, Berkshire (24), Flackwell Heath 1, Bucks (33), Flackwell Heath 2, Bucks (25), Henley-on-Thames, Oxon (38)

Places: 155

Employees: 60

Cranbrook Group Nursery Schools

Head office: Ye Olde Post Office, Antlands Lane East, Shipley Bridge, Burstow, Surrey RH6 9TE

Tel: 01293 772561/823279

Fax: 01293 772971

Director: Maureen Luxford

Established: 1940

Owns 9 nurseries: Balcombe 1, West Sussex (8), Balcombe 2, West Sussex (20), Charlwood 1, Surrey (32), Charlwood 2, Surrey (24hrs, 48), Horley 1, Surrey (30), Horley 2, Surrey (58), Horley 3, Surrey (12), Horley 4, Surrey (29), Maidenbower, West Sussex (125) and an after-school club: Cats Club, Horley, Surrey (36)

Places: 362

Employees: 160

Crche-n-Co

Head office: Office D1, Hopwood Hall College, Rochdale Road, Middleton, Manchester M24 6XH

Tel/fax: 0161 643 4747

Directors: Lorraine Darlington, Marilyn Prescott

Established: 1989

Owns/manages 3 nurseries: Bury, Lancs , Fairfield General Hospital (48), Middleton, Manchester, Hopwood Hall College (35), Rochdale, Manchester, Hopwood Hall College (48, plus 50 place holiday playscheme). Also provides childcare services for corporate events and exhibitions.

Places: 131

Employees: 42

Plans: To open a 60-place Neighbourhood Nursery in Bury, with ten out-of school places, in January 2004.

Crocus Early Years Centre

Head office: Newlands, Hempstead, Essex CB10 2NZ

Tel: 01799 586796 Fax: 01799 586721

Website: www.crocuskids.co.uk

E-mail: info@crocuskids.co.uk

Directors: Alison Midgley, Ross Midgley

Established: 2001

Owns 2 nurseries: Saffron Walden County High School, Saffron Walden, Essex (85), Great Cornard Upper School, Sudbury, Suffolk (50).

Manages 1 nursery: The Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge (50)

Places: 185

Employees: 45

Plans: Several developments in pipeline for 2004/2005.

Crystal Childcare

Head office: 202 Venner Rd, Sydenham, London SE26 5HT

Tel: 020 8659 6417 Fax: 020 8659 6712

Directors: Lorraine Duffy, Paul Duffy

Established: 1988

Owns 3 nurseries: Anerley (34), Sydenham (24), Upper Norwood (20) [all in London]

Places: 78

Employees: 30

Plans: To expand Anerley Nursery to 59 places by 2004 and to establish additional nursery within the next 12 months.

Daisies Day Nurseries

Head office: St James the Less School, Moreton St, London SW1V 2HQ

Tel: 020 7931 7978 Fax: 020 7233 8973

E-mail: daisiesdaynurseries@daisies. fsworld.co.uk

Directors: Kate Attieh, Liz Wren

Established: 1995

Owns 3 nurseries: Pimlico (80), Regents Park (75), Stockwell (64) [all in London]

Places: 219

Employees: 68

Plans: Negotiations taking place for further expansion in London.

The Dan Leisure Group

(Including Leisure Operations/Pelican Childcare)

Head office: Acorn House, Houghton Street, Warrington, Cheshire WA2 7DD

Tel: 01925 232202 Fax: 01925 235380

Director: Neil Ritchie

Established: 1992

Owns 4 nurseries: Dunfermline (62), Northampton (42), Reading (32), Washington (74), plus crches, playgroups and toddler groups throughout the UK.

Places: 210

Employees: 350

Plans: To open three nurseries in 2003-2004.

Dolphin Nurseries

Head office: Devonshire House, 31 Holmesdale Road, Reigate, Surrey RH2 0BJ

Tel: 01737 243200 Fax: 01737 221220

Website: www.dolphinnurseries.com

Directors: Martin Pace, Alnur Dhanani, Ole Bettum, Fritz Ternofsky, Maarten Hemsley

Established: 2000

Owns 5 nurseries: Bracknell (93), Chigwell, Essex (78), Kingston, Surrey (104), Tooting Bec, London (104), Upminster, Essex (42)

Places: 421

Employees: 125

Plans: Three further nurseries are in development in London. Funding is in place to open ten further nurseries in the south-east region over the next three years.

Earlyworld Nurseries

Head office: Collina House, Oxon Business Park, Welshpool Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY3 5HJ

Tel: 01743 244 600 Fax: 01743 341 500

Websites: www.earlyworld.co.uk and www.earlyworldclubs.co.uk

Managing director: Paul Edwards

Established: 1995

Owns 3 nurseries: Shrewsbury (126), Hadley Park, Telford (115), Stafford Court, Telford (130)

6 out-of-school-clubs: Market Drayton (24 and 40), Shrewsbury (84), Central Telford (80), Shifnal (30), Wolverhampton (40)

Places: 371

Employees: 146

Plans: Two new clubs in 2004 in West Midlands.

Early Years Childcare

Head office: 42 Wilbury Villas, Hove, East Sussex BN3 6GD

Tel: 01273 778775 Fax: 01273 724583

E-mail: info@earlyyearschildcare.co.uk

Managing director: Julie Bates

Established: 1989

Owns/manages 9 nurseries: Brighton (71), Crawley (27), Horsham (110), Hove (74), Lewes (51), London, Greenwich (50), Runcorn, Cheshire (50), Sheffield (51), Worthing (57)

Also operates: 6 holiday play schemes (218)

Places: 541

Employees: 280

Plans: To open two new nurseries in 2004.

Early Years Childcare Group

Head office: Manor Farm, Castle Hill, East Leake, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE12 6LU

Tel/fax: 01509 852797 E-mail: headoffice@earlyyearschildcare group.co.uk

Website: www.earlyyearschildcare group.co.uk

Partners: Glennis Robinson, Rita Thurman

Established: 1980

Owns 4 nurseries: Bingham (50), Loughborough (82), Adbolton Kindergarten, Nottingham (65), Trent Fields Kindergarten, Nottingham (70)

Also operates: out-of-school and holiday club, East Leake (34), Manor Farm Animal Centre (educational resource), Loughborough. Careercare (City & Guilds NVQ training and staff development programme)

Places: 267

Employees: 107

Eaton Square Schools

Head office: 79 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1PP

Tel: 020 7931 9469 Fax: 020 7828 0164

Directors: Yvonne Cuthbert (proprietor), Paul David (headmaster).

Established: 1981

Owns 5 nursery schools: The Boltons Nursery School (32), 79 Eccleston Square Nursery School (28), 28 and 30 Eccleston Street Nursery School (21 and 24) [all in London], Middlesex (60)

Places: 165

Employees: 33

The Edinburgh Nursery

Head office: 3 Beaverhall Road, Edinburgh EH7 4JQ

Tel: 0131 556 9252 Fax: 0131 478 5653

Website: www.edinburghnursery.com

Director: Karen Fairlamb

Established: 1986

Owns/manages 5 nurseries: Beaverhall Road (31), Broughton Street 1 (8), Broughton Street 2 (20), East London Street (18), The Gyle Nursery for Marks & Spencer (40) [all in Edinburgh]

Places: 117

Employees: 42

Edith Rose Day Nursery

Head office: South Lodge, Station Road, Sunningdale, Berkshire SL5 OQW

Tel/fax: 01344 873140

Directors: Rebecca Fishwick, Nicola Sowerby

Established: 1988

Owns 3 nurseries: Banbury, Oxfordshire (30), Sunningdale (27), Windsor (24) [both in Berks]

Places: 81

Employees: 26

Plans: To extend the Sunningdale nursery.

Elm Park Nursery Group

Head office: 90 Clarence Avenue, Clapham, London SW4 8JR

Tel/fax: 020 8769 0077

Partners: Sandra Taylor, Enley Taylor

Established: 1991

Owns 4 nurseries: Brixton (40), Clapham (72), Putney (60), Tooting Common (34) [all in London]

Places: 206

Employees: 65

The Eveline Day and Nursery Schools

Head office: 30 Ritherdon Road, Tooting Bec, London SW17 8QD

Tel: 020 8672 7549 Fax: 020 8672 7259

Established: 1964

Directors: Maria Keaveney-Jessiman, Alfred Clifford Jessiman, Eveline Drut, Gordon Jessiman

Owns 5 nurseries: Raynes Park (54), Tooting Bec (36), Tooting Broadway (41), Wandsworth (63), Wimbledon (50) [all in London]

1 prep school: Tooting Bec (90)

Places: 244

Employees: 110

Fennies Under 5s Day Nurseries

Head office: 54 Woodcote Valley Road, Purley, Surrey CR8 3AJ

Tel: 020 8660 0088

E-mail: sarah_fenn@lineone.net

Established: 1993

Director: Sarah Fenn

Owns 4 nurseries: Croydon (40), South Croydon (36), Purley (47), Sanderstead (32) [all in Surrey]

Places: 155

Employees: 40

*First Class Childcare

Head office: Suite 3I, Ribble Court, Shuttleworth Mead Business Park, Padiham, Lancs BB12 7NG

Tel: 01282 774758 Fax: 01282 774791

Website: www.fccc.co.uk

Proprietors: Alan and Gail Clifford

Group manager: Andrew Clifford

Senior manager: Judith Gannon

Established: 1984

Owns 5 nurseries: Accrington, Lancashire (63), Dill Hall, Accrington (61), Clayton Lemoors, Lancashire (48), Halifax, Yorkshire (91), Nelson, Lancashire (50)

1 after-school club: Accrington (50)

Places: 313

Employees: 95

Plans: Tendering for Neighbourhood Nurseries in east Lancashire 2003/2004.

Fisherfield Farm Nursery

Head office: Hargate Avenue, Rochdale OL12 6BT

Tel: 01706 655000 Fax: 01706 347777

Website: www.ffn.co.uk

Directors: David MacGill, Nicky MacGill

Established: 1996

Owns 3 nurseries: Bamford (49), Central (59), Norden (44) [all in the Rochdale area]

Manages 1 nursery: My Travel, Head Office, Sandbrook Park, Rochdale (55)

Places: 207

Employees: 68

Plans: To continue expansion in the north Manchester area in both owned and managed sectors.

Fledglings

Head office: 2 Hazelfields, Worsley, Manchester M28 2LS

Tel: 0161 281 2821 Fax: 0161 281 2822

Director: Christopher Gray

Established: 1990

Owns 4 nurseries: Irlam (100), Stretford (70), Worsley (120) [all in Manchester], Warrington, Cheshire (87)

Places: 377

Employees: 120

Plans: Possibly building a fifth nursery.

Flying Start

Head office: 24 Drump Road, Redruth, Cornwall TR15 1LU

Tel/fax: 01209 210710

Owner: Sharon Cowburn

Established: 1993

Owns 8 nurseries: Bodmin (20), Camborne (52 plus 8 out-of-school places), Cornwall College (49 plus 24 out-of-school places), Duchy (16 plus 30 out-of school places), Helston (48), Penryn (40), Redruth (48), Saltash (34 plus 8 out-of-school places) [all in Cornwall]

Places: 307

Employees: 90

Plans: Several centres will be expanding their range of services, number of registered places and premises.

For Under Fives

Head office: 33 Abbey Road, Grimsby, north-east Lincolnshire DN32 0HQ

Tel: 01472 232300 Fax: 01472 232301

Website: www.forunderfives.co.uk

Directors: DA Lang, JR Lang, S Lampard

Established: 1987

Owns 5 nurseries: Cottingham (50), Grimsby 1 (53), Grimsby 2 (27), Lincoln (55), Wath upon Dearne, near Rotherham (50)

Manages 5 nurseries: Grimsby, Franklin College (44), Grimsby, Grimsby NHS Trust (53), Lincoln, Lincoln and Louth NHS Trust (42), S****horpe, S****horpe and Goole NHS Trust (50), Yorkshire, West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service (53)

Places: 477

Employees: 120

Plans: To create a training arm. Expansion of Rotherham nursery to 123 places by December 2003.

The Foundation Nursery Group

Head office: Grimsditch House, Grimsditch Lane, Lower Whitley, Warrington WA4 4ED

Tel: 01925 730055 Fax: 01925 730064

Proprietor: Sue Jones

Established: 2000

Owns 4 nurseries: Lower Whitley (60), Northwich (100), Warrington 1 (60), Warrington 2 (115) [all in the Warrington area]

Places: 335

Employees: 45

Plans: Six-year nursery school roll-out programme.

Freshfields Nursery Schools and Forge House Preparatory School

Head office: Clifford Forge House,

Clifford Road, Stratford Upon Avon, Warwickshire CV37 8HW

Tel: 01789 261 633 Fax: 01789 294 783

Principal/proprietor: Julie Cox

Headteacher: Anne Wassell

Established: 1990

Owns 2 nursery schools and 1 preparatory school: Alcester Road (50), Clifford Road (90) [both in Stratford-upon-Avon]. 112 school places (4- to 11-year olds), plus separate before and after-school care and holiday club.

Places: 140

Employees: 63

Plans: Relocation and expansion of town centre nursery school in January 2004.

The Gables Day Nurseries

Head office: 11 St Matthews Gardens, St Leonards on Sea, East Sussex TN38 0TS

Tel: 01424 426101 Fax: 01424 421128

E-Mail: thegables@fsmail.net

Directors: Elaine Piper, Ann Stewart

Established: 1997

Owns 3 nurseries: Bexhill Road (24), The Green (55), St Matthews Gardens (20) [all in East Sussex]

Places: 99

Employees: 40

Plans: To expand the range of our services, and to open new provision in spring 2004.

Giraffe Childcare and Early Learning Centres

Head office: Brookfield House, Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, Co Dublin

Tel: 00 353 12833500 Fax: 00 353 12771017

E-mail: info@giraffe.ie

Chairman: Tony Kilduff

Joint managing directors: Mary Ann McCormack, Simon Dowling

Director: Tony McCormack

Owns 6 nurseries: Blanchardstown, Blanchardstown Corporate Park (120), Dublin, National College of Ireland (60), Leopardstown (40), Loughlinstown, Cherrywood Science and Technology Park (120), Irish Financial Services Centre (120), Park West Business Park (120) [all in Dublin]. Also owns Giraffe Corporate Childcare Services, a childcare consultancy

Places: 580

Employees: 135

Plans: To create another 15 centres over the next four years in the Dublin area.

Gosford House Nurseries

Head office: 229-231 Beehive Lane, Gants Hill, Ilford, Essex IG4 5EB

Tel: 020 8551 2241 Fax: 020 8551 1601

Director: Edna Usher

Established: 1988

Owns 3 nurseries: Redbridge 1 (22), Redbridge 2 (78), Gants Hill (30), [all in Essex]

Preparatory school: 30

Places: 130

Employees: 44

Grasshoppers Day Nurseries

Head office: U9 Executive Park, 229 Hatfield Road, St Albans, Herts AL1 4TA

Tel: 01727 812731 Fax: 01727 833197

Directors: Nerissa Burton, Philip Bowers, Kate Perrin

Established: 1989

Owns 5 nurseries: Edgbaston (48), Erdington, (53), Harborne (35) [all in Birmingham], Hertford (60), St Albans (25) [both in Herts]

Places: 221

Employees: 102

Greendale Nursery Complex

Head office: Greendale House, 633 Antrim Road, Glengormley, Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, Northern Ireland BT36 4RF

Tel: 02890 838389 Fax: 02890 847389

E-mail: ianmcfall@greendale.sagehost.co.uk

Website: www.greendalenursery.info

Owners/partners: Frank Cassells, Louise McFall, Ian McFall

Established: 1992

Owns 3 nurseries: Newtownabbey 1 (42), Newtownabbey 2 (50), Newtownabbey 3 (50)

Places: 142

Employees: 40

Happitots Day Nurseries

(Acquired Bright Beginnings October 2003)

Head office: 28 Colston Drive, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow G64 2AZ

Tel: 0141 772 4708 Fax: 0141 772 8496

E-mail: info@happitots.com

Website: www.happitots.com

Managing director: Heather Gilchrist

Group co-ordinators: Pauline Dolan, Susan McGhee

Established: 1996

Owns 8 nurseries: Ballieston, Glasgow (65), Bishopbriggs, East Dumbartonshire (71), Falkirk (74), Garrowhill, Glasgow (65), Paisley, Glasgow Airport (50), Penicuik, Mid Lothian (43), Roslin (39), Stirling (90)

Places: 497

Employees: 160

Plans: Expansion of Penicuik and Glasgow Airport sites. To open further branches in Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

Happy Child

Head office: 109 Uxbridge Road, Ealing, London W5 5TL

Tel: 020 8579 8558 Fax: 020 8579 3109

E-mail: enquiry@happychild.co.uk

Website: www.happychild.co.uk

Directors: Ashoob Cook, Dr Julian Cook

Established: 1990

Owns 18 day nurseries: Acton (32), Ealing 1 (35), Happy Child Montessori School, Ealing 2 (26), Ealing 3 (50), Ealing 4 (41), Ealing 5 (18), Ealing Common (35), Harlesden (66), Kilburn 1 (70), Kilburn 2 (20); Middlesex: Alperton (35), Kenton 1 (55), Kenton 2 (50), Perivale (39), Ruislip (60); Northfields (35), Shepherds Bush (27), Wembley (40) [all in London area]

3 preparatory schools: Aston House School, Ealing, St Christopher's School, Wembley and St Nicholas School, Kingsbury. Owns Aston Training Centre.

Places: 734

Employees: 300

Plans: To expand through establishing and acquiring up to six nurseries per year over the next two to three years within the London region.

Happy Days Day Nurseries

Head office: F2 Business Park, Treloggan Industrial Estate, Newquay, Cornwall TR7 2SX

Tel/fax: 01637 852630

E-mail: padstowhd@freeuk.com

Partners: Robin and Sarah Karkeek

Established: 1993

Owns 8 nurseries: Jacobstow (24), Newquay (56), Padstow (45), St Austell (50), Summercourt (24), Treloggan (20), Truro (45), Wadebridge (54)

1 holiday club: Pirates, Newquay (48)

Places: 318

Employees: 95

Plans: Delivering up to five Neighbourhood Nurseries across Cornwall by March 2004 and expanding existing sites, plus opening a new nursery in Truro by December 2004.

Happy House Educational Care

Head office: Laurel House, Hollybush Ride, Wokingham RG40 3QR

Tel: 01344 771946 Fax: 01344 771567

E-mail: happyhouseeducationalcare@ lifestylesolutions-uk.com

Directors: Linda and Bruce Tranter

Established: 1997

Owns 4 nurseries: Basingstoke (43), Crowthorne (82), Reading (32), Woodley, near Reading (48)

Places: 205

Employees: 85

Happy Jays Nurseries and Childcare Centres

Head office: Lancaster Park, Audax Close, Clifton Moor, York YO30 4RA

Tel: 01904 479261

Directors: Jacqueline Gernon and Tony Gernon

Established: 1996

Owns 2 nurseries: Boroughbridge (39), York (74)

Places: 113

Employees: 32

Plans: To open additional units throughout Yorkshire over the next five years.

Happy Times Nurseries and Childcare

Head office: The Limes, 123 Mortlake High Street, London SW14 8SN

Tel: 020 8392 5960 Fax: 020 8392 5961

E-mail: team@happytimes.co.uk

Websites: www.happytimes.co.uk, www.supercarer.com

Directors: Adam Shaw, Elizabeth Cullen, Russell Thornhill

Established: 1997

Owns 3 nurseries: Battersea (107), Hammersmith (124), Richmond (150) [all in London]

Places: 381

Employees: 100

Hatton Hill Day Nurseries

Head office: Hatton Hill, Windlesham, Surrey GU20 6AB

Tel: 01276 474764 Fax: 01276 453337

E-mail: enquiries@hhdn.co.uk

Website: www.hattonhilldaynursery.co.uk

Directors: David Lewis, Clem Malcolmson, Paul Whitlam

Established: 1996

Owns 5 nurseries: Esher, Surrey (85), Farnborough, Hampshire (124), Fleet, Hampshire (120), Frimley Green, Surrey (70), Windlesham, Surrey (101)

Places: 500

Employees: 140

Plans: A further five nurseries within the Surrey/Hampshire area are to open by 2006.

*Head Start Nursery Group

Head office: Plum Park Estate, Watling Street, Paulerspury, Northants NN12 6LQ

Tel/fax: 01327 811 200

Website: www.headstartnurseries.co.uk

Owners: Gary and Julie Moinet

Established: 1994

Owns 5 nurseries: Leighton Buzzard (61), Milton Keynes 1 (39), Milton Keynes 2 (34), Northampton (56), Peterbrough (50)

Places: 240

Employees: 64

Plans: The acquisition of two nurseries per year over the next five years.

Highgate Nurseries

Head office: 55 Glanmor Road, Uplands, Swansea SA2 OQA

Tel: 01792 281120 Fax: 01792 202879

Managing director: Julie Halliday

Operations director: Jayne Lewis

Established: 1989

Owns 2 day nurseries: Glanmor Road (58), Morriston (65), plus 2 pre-schools: Morriston (25), Uplands (60) [all in Swansea]

Places: 208

Employees: 75-plus

Hippo Crche/First Child Care

Head office: The Wheatley Oast, Wheatley Lane, Nr Binsted, Hampshire GU35 9PA

Tel: 01420 525254

Website: www.hippocreche.co.uk

Managing director: Charles Ullmann

Established: 1988

Owns 2 nurseries and 1 crche: St Leonards, east Sussex (78), Tunbridge Wells nursery (46) and crche (18)

Places: 142

Employees: 45

Plans: To open further two nurseries in the next year.

*Holyrood Nursery Group

Head office: 1 Gaskell Road, Altrincham, Cheshire WA14 1JF

Tel/Fax: 0161 941 7331

Email: Holyrood1@onetel.net.uk

Proprietors: Stuart Mercer and John Hoban

Established: 1994

Owns 7 nurseries: Altrincham, Cheshire (45), Astley, Lancashire 1 (105), Astley, Lancashire 2 (61), Prestwich, Manchester (86), Salford, Manchester (79), Shaw, Lancashire (81), Swinton, Manchester (100)

Training school: Swinton, Manchester. Accredited training centre delivering NVQs in early years childcare and education, both internally and externally.

Places: 557

Employees: 192

Plans: To continue group expansion in 2004.

The Honeytree Day Nursery

Head office: Willow House, 145 Oldmixon Road, Hutton, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset BS24 9QA

Tel: 01934 641588

Directors: Philip Weston and Linda Weston (company secretary)

Established: 1980

Owns 3 nurseries: Bristol (60), Portishead (46), Weston-super-Mare (51)

Places: 157

Employees: 53

Plans: Currently negotiating to purchase a nursery site in 2004 and there are plans to buy more.

Hopscotch Children's Nurseries

Head office: 9 Aymer Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 4GB

Tel: 01273 385577 Fax: 01273 774154

E-mail: office@hopscotch.uk.com

Website: www.hopscotch.uk.com

Business development director: Barbara Watson

Operations director: Jo Halling

Established: 1988

Owns 6 nurseries: Brighton 1 (58), Brighton 2 (16), Hove 1 (68), Hove 2 (22), Peacehaven (39), Seaford (92)

Places: 295

Employees: 80

Plans: Looking to expand at other sites across Sussex.

Horn End Nurseries

Head office: Egg Lane, Hixon, Stafford, Staffs ST18 0PR

Tel/fax: 01889 271051

Website: www.hornend.co.uk

Owner: Deborah Falshaw

Established: 1990

Owns 3 nurseries: Hixon (33), Rugeley (33), Stafford (59)

Places: 125

Employees: 45

Plans: We are looking at other possible nursery sites in Staffordshire with a view to the chain's further expansion in the next five years.

ITM Childcare/Piccolo Nurseries

Head office: 209 Bradford Road, Shipley, Yorkshire BD18 3AA

Tel/fax: 01274 597241

Director: Linda Ward

Established: 1989

Owns 5 nurseries: Baildon, Bradford (32), Bradford (33), Pudsey, Leeds (98), Saltaire, Yorkshire (29), Shipley, Yorkshire (26)

2 out-of-school clubs: Saltaire, Yorkshire (20), Pudsey, Leeds (20).

Accredited centre for NVQ training since 1992.

Places: 218

Employees: 80

Jancett Group of Day Nurseries

Head office: Graylaw House, 42-54 Manor Road, Wallington, Surrey SM6 OAB

Tel: 020 8669 1725 Fax: 020 8669 1259

Proprietors: Chris and John Pritchard

Established: 1969

Owns 5 nurseries: Carshalton (60), Wallington 1 (nursery) (70), Wallington 2 (baby unit) (31), Wallington 3 (55), Wallington 4 (50) [all in Surrey]

Places: 266

Employees: 183

Plans: Keen to strengthen our links with day nurseries that require in-house training with their staff teams. We are confident that we can help with staff training programmes and would be happy to discuss this on 020 8773 8146.

Jigsaw Day Nurseries

Head office: Tempus House, 249 Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 1EA

Tel: 01908 246440 Fax: 01908 246444

E-mail: jigsaw@jigsawdaynurseries.com

Website: www.jigsawdaynurseries.com

Directors: Les Cullen (chairman), Sir Christopher Ball (deputy chairman), Mike McKechnie (chief executive), Graham Rutter (finance director), Mike Paccitti (3i non-executive director)

Established: 1991 (management buyout in March 1998)

Owns 36 purpose-built nurseries:

Basingstoke, Chineham (104), Birmingham, Great Park (120), Bristol, Parkway (126), Cardiff , Ocean Park (66), Chatham, Maritime (72), Colchester, Severalls Business Park (106), Coventry, Coventry Business Park (115), Coventry, Westwood Business Park (66), Dartford, Crossways Business Park (126), Harlow, Harlow Business Park (121), Hemel Hempstead, Buncefield Lane (93), Leamington Spa, Warwick Gates Business Park (126), Leicester, Meridian Leisure Park (130), Letchworth, Icknield Way (104); London: Chingford, Larkswood Leisure Park (120), Hammersmith (60), Heathrow (100), Wandsworth, Riverside West (101); Luton, Capability Green (118), Milton Keynes, Bradwell Common (126), Milton Keynes, Browns Wood (107), Northampton, Riverside Park (126), Oxford, Littlemore (118), Portsmouth, North Harbour Business Park (126), Radlett, Shenley (90), Reading, Green Park (116), Reading, International Business Park (126), Reading, Thames Valley Park (109), Reading, Woodley (112), Solihull, Blythe Valley Business Park (100), Stevenage, Leisure Park (110), Stevenage, North Herts College (98), Swindon, Abbeymeads (91), Swindon, Broome (72), Swindon, Windmill Hill Business Park (94), Welwyn Garden City, Shire Park (73)

Places: 3,768 Employees: 1,000 full-time equivalents

Joint Responsibility

Head office: 188 Sileby Road, Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire LE12 8LT

Tel: 01509 621723

Website: www.jointresponsibility.com

Operations director: Gina Lafferty

Established: 1993

Owns 2 nurseries: Epworth Halls, Leicestershire (118), Loughborough (84), plus a school at Epworth Halls (126). Kids' Club and Holiday Club at Epworth Halls, and Trinity Halls, Loughborough.

Places: 202

Employees: 45

Just Learning

Head office: 45 High Street, West Malling, Kent ME19 6QH

Tel: 01732 846333 Fax: 01732 846444.

Scottish office: 15 York Place, Edinburgh EH1 3EB

Tel: 0131 524 6131 Fax: 0131 524 6132

E-mail: info@justlearning.co.uk

Website: www.justlearning.co.uk

Directors: Michael Fallon (managing director), Hamilton Anstead (non-executive chairman), Alan Cox (finance director), Rachel Murphy (non - executive director)

Established: 1995

Owns 60 nurseries: Basingstoke (100), Bedford (112), Bristol (112), Cambourne (100), Cardiff (100), Chafford Hundred (92), Coventry (44), Croydon (112), Darlington (88), Dundee (58), Dunfermline, Carnegie (100), Lauder (51), Durham (124), Eastbourne (100), East Kilbride (103); Edinburgh: Beechwood (41), Hillview (57), Lochside (44), Newhaven (54), Port Hamilton (100), Royal Infirmary (78); Gillingham (112); Glasgow: Heritage (92), Netherton (56), Glenrothes (100); Great Notley, Essex (100), Huntingdon (100), Ingleby Barwick (100), Inverness (72), Ipswich (100), Kinross (86), Larkfield (48), Liverpool 1 (55), Liverpool 2 (92); Livingston: Alba (100), Parkside (32), Riverside (36), Sunnyside (80), Woodside (48); London: Higham Hill (140), King George Hospital (124), Whipps Cross Hospital (100); Maidstone 1 (50), Maidstone 2 (50), Maidstone 3 (30), Melrose (75), Newbury (104), Newcastle (112), Norwich (72), Norwich Airport (112), Meridian Business Park (112), Southwell (37), Stevenage (112), Stockton (57), Stowmarket (112), Sunderland 1 (115), Sunderland 2 (82), Trowbridge (100), Wellingborough (100), Wigan (79)

Places: 5,054

Employees: 1,350

Plans: There are further sites under development.

*Key Day Nurseries

Head office: 38-40 Lickhill Road, Calne, Wiltshire SN11 9DF

Tel: 01249 815307 Fax: 01249 822142

Website: www.keydaynurseryschools.com

E-mail: gilliankey@btinternet.com

Owns 3 nurseries: Calne 1 (39), Calne 2 (40), Chippenham (57)

Owns 1 out-of-school club (24) and 1 breakfast club (16)

Places: 176

Employees: 50

Plans: Continued expansion in Wiltshire.

Kidcare

Head office: 55 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G2 3BD

Tel: 0141 564 1150 Fax: 0141 564 1148

Established: 1990

Chief executive: Rita Hopper

Parent bodies: One Plus

Operates 6 nurseries: Bishopbriggs (31), Clydebank (27), Clydebank, Clydebank College (40), Glasgow (31), Glasgow, Glasgow University (74), Strathclyde, Strathclyde University (58)

3 out-of-school services: Hillhead After School Care, Glasgow (30), The Glasgow Academy After School Care (24), SPLOSH, Glasgow (24).

Also runs a holiday playscheme for Scottish Enterprise (32) and operates a mobile crche service across Scotland.

Places: 261

Employees: 98

*Kids Inc Nurseries

Head office: Crown House, 227 Aldborough Road South, Ilford, Essex IG3 8HZ

Tel: 020 8598 2600 Fax: 020 8598 2601

Established: 2003

Chairman: Sarup Kalsi

Managing director: Sav Kalsi

Financial director: Balvinder Kalsi

Operations director: Elaine Eastham

Owns 3 nurseries: Ilford (111), Loughton (60), South Woodford (47) [all in Essex]

Places: 218> Employees: 60> Plans: To be a major provider within three to five years.> Kidsunlimited> Head office: Kids of Wilmslow, Westhead, 10 West Street, Alderley Edge, Cheshire SK9 7EG> Tel: 01625 585222 Fax: 01625 583444> Website: www.kidsunlimited.co.uk> Established: 1983> Directors: Stewart and Jean Pickering, Stephen Chalmers-Morris, Adam Holloway, Chris Winstanley and Graham Smith> Owns/manages 40 nurseries: Milton Park 1, Abingdon, Oxfordshire (101), Milton Park 2 (146), Barrow-In-Furness, Furness General Hospital (58), Basingstoke, Chineham Park (149), Beckenham, Kent, HSBC (53), Cambridge, Addenbrookes Hospital 1 (90), Addenbrookes Hospital 2 (56), Fulbourn, Cambridge (128), Cambridge Science Park (165), Cambridge University (54), Chester, Countess of Chester Hospital (60), Chester, Total Fitness (56), Crewe, Crewe Business Park (132), Hamilton, Lanarkshire, FirstDirect (100), Harwell, Oxfordshire (51), Lancaster, Lancaster Royal Infirmary (58), Arlington, Leeds, First Direct (50), Stourton, Leeds, First Direct (120), Littlehampton, Body Shop (103), Liverpool (60); London: Islington (61), Ladbroke Grove (72), Regents Place (78), St Pancras Hospital (86), WC1 (61); Manchester: Bridgewater (43), Didsbury (146), St Mary's (84), Little Flyers, Manchester Airport (60); Oxford, Oxford Business Park, (166), Mansion House, Oxford (51), Oxford University (52), Peterborough (54), Sheffield 1(46), Sheffield 2 (84), Swindon, The Playhouse (45), Warrington (77), Wilmslow 1 (96), Wilmslow 2 (161), Wilmslow, Total Fitness (56)> Places: 3,369> Employees: 1,000> Plans: Opening nurseries in Oxford (January 2004), Mackintosh, Manchester (May 2004), Ely, Cambs (June 2004), Macclesfield (June 2004), Upper Norwood, London (2005), Watford (2005)> KinderCare Learning Centres> Head office: Slapton Hill Farm, Blakesley Road, Slapton, Towcester NN12 8QD> Tel: 01327 861175 Fax: 01327 861273> Director: Amanda Hunter> Established: 1995> Owns 2 nurseries: Bramingham Park Nursery Centre, Luton (134), Callands Nursery Centre, Warrington (100). (US branch owns 1,300 nurseries in 38 states.)> Places: 234> Employees: 60> Kindergarten (UK)> Head office: 14 Thorney Leys Park, Witney, Oxon OX28 4GE> Tel: 01993 700456 Fax: 01993 700123> E-mail: info@kindergarten-uk.co.uk> Directors: Jo and Nick Letherbarrow> Established: 1994> Owns 3 nurseries: Witney 1 (68), Witney 2 (48), Witney 3 (64) [all in Oxon]> Owns 1 soft-play centre: Kinderkids, Witney (35)> Places: 180> Employees: 60> Plans: 100-place nursery and soft play centre opening January 2004. Further nursery opening early 2005.> Kinder Groups> Head office: Tovil Business Centre,> Burial Ground Lane, Tovil, Maidstone,> Kent ME15 6RJ> Tel: 01622 692 098 Fax: 01622 693 338> Website: www.kindergroups.co.uk> Directors: Allan Bishop (managing), Janet Bishop (operations)> Established: 1990> Owns 8 nurseries and 3 after school/holiday centres: Clare Park, East Malling (100), Gravesend 1 (60), Gravesend 2 (98), Gravesend 3 (25), Maidstone ( 71), Rainham (75), Sittingbourne (63), Tonbridge (60)> Places: 552> Employees: 181> Plans: Three new nurseries scheduled for 2003.> *Kinderstart Day Nursery> Head office: Midsummer Court, 314 Midsummer Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 2UB> Tel: 0845 120 3842 Fax: 0845 280 4777> Email: info@kinderstart.co.uk> Website: www.kinderstart.co.uk> Managing director: Dean Dunham> Established: 2003> Owns 2 nurseries: Milton Keynes (50), Northampton (61)> Owns 1 after-school club: Milton Keynes, (15)> Places: 111> Employees: 20> Plans: 100-place purpose-built nursery being built in Milton Keynes, due to open March 2004. Three more nurseries are scheduled for 2004.> Kingsclere Nurseries> Head office: Forest Road, Wokingham, Berks RG40 5SA> Tel/fax: 01344 489328> Website: www.kingsclere-nurseries.co.uk> E-mail: mail@kingsclere-nurseries.co.uk> Proprietors: Julia Cox, Sylvia Cox> Established: 1986> Owns 7 nurseries: Arborfield (91), Bracknell (78), Finchampstead (33), Newbury (53), Reading (43), Wokingham 1 (18), Wokingham 2 (42)> Places: 358> Employees: 130> Plans: Expansion planned at Bracknell and Wokingham sites.> Leapfrog Day Nurseries> Head office: Central Office, Second Avenue, Centrum 100, Burton on Trent, Staffs DE14 2WF> Tel: 01283 510444 Fax: 01283 510445> Website: www.leapfrogdaynurseries. co.uk> Directors: Derek Mapp (executive chairman), Mike Butcher (finance director)> Established: 1998> Owns 39 nurseries: Beverley, east Yorkshire (108), Bicester, Oxon (108), Braintree, Essex (109), Bromborough, Wirral (105), Brough, east Yorkshire (110), Burton on Trent, Staffs (108), Chandlers Ford, Hants (116), Chelmsford, Essex (99), Cheshire Oaks, Cheshire (104), Chippenham, Wilts (106), Crawley, Sussex (132), Daventry, Northants (97), Heatherton, Derby (107), Oakwood (113), Edgbaston, Birmingham 1 (106), Edgbaston, Birmingham 2 (135), Emersons Green, South Glos (105), Enfield, Middlesex (114), Evesham, Worcs (102), Kettering, Northants (112), Carlton Park, Leicester (100); London: Chiswick (78), City of London (90), Mill Hill (78), Royal Victoria Docks (107), West Smithfield (109); Northwich, Cheshire (107), Nottingham 1 (120), Nottingham 2 (109), Peterborough, Cambs (114), Quedgeley, Glos (106), Reigate, Surrey (100), Salisbury (93), Swindon, Wilts (108), Telford, Shropshire (108), Thurrock, Essex (102), Warndon, Worcs (124), Woking, Surrey (130), York (120)> Places: 4,199> Employees: 1,440> Lesley Bothwell Nurseries> Head office: 534 Queensferry Road, Edinburgh EH4 6EE> Tel: 0131 339 6340> Proprietor: Lesley Bothwell> Established: 1984> Owns 3 nurseries: The Barnton Nursery (63), The Buckstone Nursery (35), The Royal Mile (21) [all in Edinburgh]> Places: 119> Employees: 60> Lilliput Childcare> Head office: Ladybird House, 1 Old Bray Road, Foxrock, Dublin 18, Ireland> Tel: 01 289 3941 (international 00 353 1 289 3941) Fax: 01 289 1052> E-mail: ladybird@iol.ie> Website: www.lilliputcreche.com> Managing directors: Colin and Alison McMullen> Group operations director: Carolyn Eglington> Established: 1987> Owns 4 nurseries: Bray, Co Wicklow (30), Foxrock, Dublin (57), Kilcoole, Co Wicklow (30), Ringsend, Dublin (30)> Places: 147> Employees: 34> Plans: Actively looking for sites and extending existing sites.> Lilliput Children's Centres> Head office: Hersham Green, Burwood Road, Walton-on-Thames KT12 4AA> Tel: 01932 252202 Fax: 01932 228989> Partners: Tony and Phyleen Cunningham> Established: 1992> Owns 3 nurseries: Bagshot, Surrey (70), Redhill, Gatwick (96), Walton-on Thames, Surrey (155)> Places: 321> Employees: 70> Plans: Actively looking at suitable sites in Surrey.> Lilliput Montessori Day Nurseries> Head office: Railway House, Hotel Street, Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 3EQ> Tel: 01530 813913 Fax: 01530 817898> E-mail: samgraveling@onetel.net.uk> Directors: Samantha and Paul Graveling> Established: 1994> Owns 4 nurseries: Anstey (55), Coalville (66), Glenfield (27), Whetstone (63) [all in Leicestershire]> Places: 211> Employees: 64> Plans: To extend Glenfield to 50.> Little Angels Nurseries> Head office: 2nd Floor, 3 Market Place, Hertford, Herts SG14 1DF> Tel: 01992 505757 Fax: 01992 584414> Directors: Angela and Paul Spencer> Established: 1993> Owns 2 nurseries: Hoddesdon (81), Ware (50) [both in Herts]> 2 nursery franchises: High Wych (40), Sawbridgeworth (51) (both in Herts)> Places: 131> Employees: 49> Plans: To open a new 123-place site in Ware.> Little People Day Nurseries> Head office: South: 250a Lillie Road, Fulham, London SW6 7PX> Tel/fax: 020 7386 0006> North: Piccadilly Gardens, Piccadilly Road, Burnley BB11 4PP> Tel: 01282 411950> Partners: Anne Gleasure (north), Jane Gleasure (south), David Gleasure, Bob Gleasure> Established: 1976> Owns 7 nurseries: Burnley 1 (50), Burnley 2 (80), Colne (80), Padiham (45) [all in Lancashire]; London: Fulham (70), Shepherds Bush (35), Willow Vale (35)> Places: 395> Employees: 105> Little Sneakers Nursery> Head office: 2 Station House, 98 Station Road, Studley, Warks B80 7JS> Tel: 01527 850 330> Proprietor: Karyn Maddison> Established: 1995> Owns 4 nurseries: Lodge Park, Redditch, Worcs (34), Redditch, Worcs (42), Studley, Warks (29), Matchborough (24)> 12 before- and after-school clubs and 3 holiday clubs: all in Worcestershire and Warwickshire> Places: 129> Employees: 65> Plans: Part of partnership involved in new Neighbourhood Nursery, due to open in Redditch in January 2004.> Magic Roundabout Nurseries> Head office: MRN House, Binfield Road, London SW4 6TB> Tel: 020 7498 1194 Fax: 020 7498 1196> Website: www.mrn-nurseries.co.uk> Director: Khalid Iqbal> Established: 1995> Owns 4 nurseries: Bristol (92); London: Docklands (39), Stockwell (188) and after-school and holiday scheme (32), Walthamstow (126) and after-school and holiday scheme (32)> Places: 445> Plans: To launch childcare training scheme in summer 2004.> Employees: 110> Manor Tree Group> Head office and educational training centre: Tithe Barn, Tithe Court, Parlaunt Road, Langley, Berks SL3 8AS> Tel: 01753 592200 Fax: 01753 549551> Partners: Chris and Sally Eaton> Established: 1983> Owns 5 nurseries: Binfield, Berks (136), Iver, Bucks (35), London, West Norwood (116), Slough, Berks 1 (134), Slough, Berks 2 (96)> 3 nursery units: Langley Manor School, Langley, Berks (68), Silchester Manor School and Early Years Centre, Maidenhead (120), Danesfield Manor School, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (90)> Places: 795> Employees: 275> Plans: We are currently looking to open three more nursery sites over the next two years.> Maytime Day Nurseries> Head office: 87 York Road, Ilford, Essex IG1 3AF> Tel: 020 8553 1524 Fax: 020 8518 3179> Director: Mary Mahoney> Established: 1984> Owns 3 nurseries: Goodmayes (50), Ilford 1 (47), Ilford 2 (50) [all in Essex]> Places: 147> Employees: 61> Mid Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce Group of Nurseries> Head office: Commerce House, Wakefield Road, Aspley, Huddersfield HD5 9AA> Tel: 01484 438800 Fax: 01484 514199> Director: Stewart McShane> Established: 1989> Owns 5 nurseries: Barnsley (48), Halifax (42), Huddersfield (33), Mirfield (48), Wakefield (36)> Places: 207> Employees: 67> Mother Goose Nurseries> Head office: 54 Linden Grove, Nunhead, London SE15 3LF> Tel: 020 7277 5956 Fax: 020 7358 1407> Website: www.mothergoose nurseries.com> E-mail: prospectus@mothergoose nurseries.com> Owners: Curtis and Krish Brown> Established: 1989> Owns 5 nurseries: Camberwell (38), Dulwich (24), Lewisham (18), Peckham (18) Peckham baby unit (25) [all in London]. Also owns Queens Road Training Centre in Peckham, catering for 20 NVQ students.> Places: 123> Employees: 32> Plans: To open a purpose-built nursery in the south of the borough in 2004.> Nord Anglia Education Group/Princess Christian Nurseries> Head office: Anglia House, Eden Place, Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 1AT> Tel: 0161 491 4191 Fax: 0161 491 4517> E-mail: enquiries@pcnurseries.com> Website: www.princesschristiannurseries. com> Established: Nord Anglia: 1972, Princess Christian College: 1901> Directors: Nord Anglia Education: Kevin McNeany, David Johnson, Derek Green, Felicity Goodey, Sir David Tripper, Lorene Simpson, Andrew Fitzmaurice. Managing director, Princess Christian Nurseries: Jacqueline Moss> Owns 34 nurseries operating under the Princess Christian and Petits Enfant brands:> Princess Christian Altrincham (94), Bedford (100), Aston Locks, Birmingham (59), St Michaels Mead, Bishop Stortford (62), Thornton Lodge, Bradford (49), Bradley Stoke, Bristol (100), Portishead, Bristol (91), Bromsgrove, Warwickshire (90), Carshalton, Surrey (90), Kingsway, Cheadle, Cheshire (54), Malden Road, Cheam (88), Gloucester (100), Guiseley, west Yorkshire (100), Keighley (45), Millbrook, Kettering (61); London: Fulham (62), Sudbury Hill (100); Princess Christian, Manchester (78), Abbotsford, Urmston, Manchester (64), Oldbrook, Milton Keynes (100), Wootton Fields, Northampton (106), Oakwood, Rotherham (74), Sale (70), Peatmoor Village Centre, Swindon (100), Weston Super Mare (100).> Petits Enfants (acquired September 2003) Cheam (64), Epsom ((68), Morden 1 (64), Morden 2 (54), Sutton (43), Thames Ditton (65) [all in Surrey], Fulham, London (38), Teddington 1 (76), Teddington 2 (63) [both in Middlesex]> Nord Anglia Education also has 19 nurseries attached to its independent schools (six are overseas): Ladymede, Aylesbury (20), Bingley, west Yorkshire (20), Cleveland, Bolton (20), St Colette's, Cambridge (20), Brabyns, Marple, Cheshire (20), Hull Grammar School, Kingston upon Hull (20), London, The Hampshire Schools (20); Manchester: Abbotsford (20), Moor Allerton, (20), Norman House (20); Kingswood College, Ormskirk, Lancashire (20), Sale (20), Gramercy Hall, Torbay (20)> Overseas: British International School, Berlin, British International School, Bratislava, British International School, Kyiv, British International School, Moscow, English International School, Prague, British School, Warsaw> Places: 2,832> Employees: Princess Christian: 700 full-time, 140 part-time. Nord Anglia nursery schools: 100 (28 part-time), Petits Enfants: 110 full-time, 35 part time> Plans: Negotiating on various sites around the UK, hoping to have 50 nurseries by 2010. Due to open a new nursery late 2004.> *Northumbrian Trust Day Nurseries> Head office: 254A Chillingham Road, Heaton, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE6 5LQ> Tel: 0191 2400222 Fax: 0191 2400333> E-mail: enquiries@northumbriantrustday nurseries.co.uk> Website: www.northumbriantrustday nurseries.co.uk> Directors: JP Gould, EG Gould, JJ Gould> Established: 1982> Owns 4 nurseries: Forest Hall, Newcastle Upon Tyne (79), Norton, Stockton on Tees (60), Spennymoor, Co Durham (43), York (29). Also owns Rainbow Training Centre, which offers NVQ Level 2 and 3 in Early Childhood Education.> Places: 211> Employees: 64> Plans: To open an out-of-school club at Forest Hall.> Nunthorpe Nurseries Group> Head office: 2 The Crescent, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough TS7 0JP> Tel/fax: 01642 325312> E-mail: nunthorpenurseries@callnet uk.com> Website: www.nunthorpenurseries-grp.co.uk> Directors: Paul Nelson, Ian Howlett> Established: 1989> Owns 10 nurseries: Billingham (50), Ingleby Barwick (60), Middlesbrough 1 (59), Middlesborough 2 (82), Nunthorpe 1 (62), Nunthorpe 2 (82), Ormesby (65), Redcar 1(40), Redcar 2 (58), Stockton (62)> Places: 620> Employees: 168> Plans: Ingleby Barwick 120-place nursery opening late spring 2004.> Nunu> Head office: Wilsthorpe Road, Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire NG10 3RX> Tel: 0115 946 3003 Fax: 0115 973 4982> Website: www.nunu.uk.com> Chief executive: Linda Knight> Established: 1999> Owns 7 nurseries: Cheadle, Cheshire (107), Holmes Chapel, Cheshire (105), Long Eaton, Nottinghamshire (81), Loughborough, Leicestershire (40), Sandbach, Cheshire (47), Thetford, Norfolk (61), Wigan, Lancashire (101)> Places: 542> Employees: 150> Nursery Days> Head office: The Old School, Upchurch, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 7AJ> Tel/fax: 01634 263896> Websites:> www.nurserydays-upchurch.co.uk> www.nurserydays-brightlingsea.co.uk> Directors: HM Porter, VM Parry and JE Parry> Established: 1996> Owns 2 nurseries: Brightlingsea, Colchester (37), Upchurch, Sittingbourne (57)> 3 after-school/holiday centres: Brightlingsea (24), Upchurch (32), Wix and Wrabness (32)> Places: 94> Employees: 40> Plans: New nursery opening in Sittingbourne in spring 2004. Plans to expand in Essex. New holiday club to open in Tendering, Colchester, January 2004.> Nyehome Nursery Schools> Head office: Barony Court, Barony Road, Nantwich, Cheshire CW5 5RD> Tel/fax: 01270 610846> E-mail: headoffice@nyehome. fsbusiness.co.uk> Website: www.nyehome.co.uk> Managing director: Nora Connolly> Established: 1966> Owns 5 nurseries: Crewe (50), Elworth, Sandbach (35), Nantwich (85), Clatterbridge, Wirral (60), Arrowe Park, Wirral (80)> Places: 310> Employees: 90> Plans: Two more nursery schools planned for the future.> Oranges and Lemons Nurseries> Head office: Belsize House, Belsize Road, Broughty Ferry, Dundee DD5 1NF> Tel: 01382 737935 Fax: 01382 737794> Website: www.orangeslemons.co.uk> General manager: Lynn Boyle> Established: 1998> Owns 6 nurseries: Aberdeen (56), Broughty Ferry (62), Clement Park Place (50), Dunsinane (81), Rosebank 1 (50), Rosebank 2 (50) [all in Dundee]> Places: 349> Employees: 98> Plans: New 50-place nursery at Dundee Tech Park to be completed by late summer 2004.> Oscar Bears Children's Nurseries> Head office: Parsonage House, 142 Blackburn Road, Accrington BB5 1RD> Tel: 01254 871832 Fax: 01254 389550> Directors: Mr and Mrs Stansfield> Established: 1991> Owns 4 nurseries: Accrington (105), Blackburn (48), Darwen (26), Whalley (26), plus a children's fun centre in Bolton (150)> Places: 205> Employees: 52> Pear Tree Nursery Group> Head office: 4/6 Halimote Road, Aldershot, Hants GU11 1NJ> Tel/fax: 01252 324642> E-mail: peartreegp@fsmail.net> Website: www.peartreegroup.co.uk> Proprietors: Susan and Mike Lambert (partners)> Established: 1988> Owns 3 nurseries: Aldershot (26), North Farnborough (20), South Farnborough (26)> Places: 72> Employees: 20> Plans: Consolidating existing settings and looking at further sites within 25 mile radius.> Pelican Day Nurseries> Head office: Highwood House, Maldon Road, Hatfield Peverel, Chelmsford, Essex CM3 2JP> Tel: 01245 382582 Fax: 01245 382581> Website: www.pelicandaynurseries.co.uk> Partners: Margaret Allen, Denis Allen> Established: 1992> Owns 3 nurseries: Hatfield Peverel (60), Kelvedon (58), Witham (49) [all in Essex]> Places: 167> Employees: 77> Pinfold Group> Head office: Pinfold Gate, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 1BE> Tel: 01509 269020> Website: www.childcare2u.co.uk> Directors: Colin Commons, Linda Commons, Robert George, Helen George> Established: 1991> Owns 5 nurseries: Kirby Muxloe (45), Leicester (35), Loughborough (72), Shepshed (45), Whitwick (71) [all in Leicestershire]. Also owns Childcare2U, an emergency service providing qualified nursery nurses for home care> Places: 268> Employees: 106> Pixieland Day Nurseries> Head office: 162 Mannamead Rd, Mannamead, Plymouth, Devon PL3 5QL> Tel/fax: 01752 770550> Proprietor: Caroline Francis> Established: 1983> Owns/manages 5 nurseries: Devonport, HMS Drake at the MoD (32), Mannamead (79), St Jude's, Mount Gould Hospital (24), Stoke Village (84), Town Centre (25) [all in Plymouth]> Places: 244> Employees: 90> Portland Nurseries> Head office: Portland House, 55 New Hey Road, Lindley, Huddersfield HD3 4AL> Tel: 01484 538880 Fax: 01484 420 522> E-mail: info@portlandnurseries.co.uk> Website: www.portlandnurseries.co.uk> Co-ordinator: Samantha Richmond> Established: 1991> Owns 3 nurseries: Edgerton 1 (24), Edgerton 2 (51), Lindley (40 plus 24-place out-of-school club) [all in Huddersfield]> Places: 115> Employees: 45> Premier Crche Services> Head office: Gains Lodge East, Gains Park, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY3 5AN> Tel: 01743 366858 Fax: 01743 344872> Directors: Peter and Susan Cunningham> Established: 1985> Manages 11 shoppers' crches: Bon Accord Shopping Centre, Aberdeen (30), Cribbs Shopping Centre, Bristol (60), Gyle Shopping Centre, Edinburgh (35), Callender Square Shopping Centre, Falkirk (30), Buchanan Galleries Shopping Centre, Glasgow (20), The Trafford Centre, Manchester (60), Milton Keynes Shopping Centre (49), Meadowhall Shopping Centre, Sheffield (49), Great Western Designer Outlet Village, Swindon (48), Telford Town Centre (20), Chimes Shopping Centre, Uxbridge (40)> 7 IKEA ball rooms: Birmingham, Brent Park, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Nottingham, Thurrock> Places: 441> Employees: 260> Plans: To open 19 more crches over the next ten years.> Primary Steps> Head office: 1-3 Short Hill, Harrow on the HIll, Middlesex HA1 3BF> Tel: 020 8864 5147 Fax: 020 8864 5324> E-mail: info@primarysteps.com> Website: www.primarysteps.com> Chief executive: David Alexander> Established: 2000> Owns 11 nurseries and Bedford (49), Bushey (24), Chiswick (26), East Sheen (36), Finchley (34), Hemel Hempstead (20), Ilford 1 (30), Ilford 2 (22), Ilford 3 (54), Milton Keynes (48), Watford (36) [all in London and the south east]> 1 pre-preparatory school: Ilford (24)> Places: 379> Employees: 114> Plans: Following a successful listing on the Alternative Investment Market, our plan is to expand to 50 nurseries by 2005.> Primley Park Children's Nurseries> Head office: 48 Nursery Lane, Alwoodley, Leeds LS17 7HW> Tel: 0113 2667221 Fax: 0113 2888833> Directors: Sandra and Malcolm Hutchinson> Established: 1991> Owns 3 nurseries: Alwoodley (50), Moortown (50), Roundhay (75) [all in Leeds]> Places: 175> Employees: 72> Plans: Looking to purchase existing settings and explore opportunities with other agencies/providers.> Puffins of Exeter Childcare Centres> Head office: 13 Mont le Grand, Heavitree, Exeter, Devon EX1 2PD> Tel: 01392 496017 Fax: 01392 439903> Website: puffinschildcare.co.uk> Proprietors: Maureen Gard, Rosalind Taylor> Established: 1990> Owns 8 nurseries: Clystheath (60), Heavitree (40), Southernhay (78), Sowton (40), St Leonards (72), Winslade Park (46) [all in Exeter], Town Centre (81), Shiphay (47) [both in Torquay], and four after-school clubs. Training and assessment centre offers NVQ levels 2, 3 and 4, plus technical certificate for foundation modern apprenticeship and advanced modern apprenticeship courses> Places: 464> Employees: 150> Plans: Relocation and expansion of Sowton nursery to 60 places.> Rainbow Nursery> Head office: St Marks Hall, Birling Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5LX> Tel: 01892 516677> Proprietors: Tina Hallett, Lorraine Evans and David Evans> Established: 1991> Owns 2 nurseries: Tunbridge Wells 1 (25), Tunbridge Wells 2 (20), and 1 holiday club in Tunbridge Wells (25) [all in Kent]> Places: 45> Employees: 11> Plans: Continue expansion into east Sussex.> Ravenstone House Pre-Preparatory Schools and Nurseries> Head office: School House, Tattenhoe Lane, Milton Keynes MK3 7EG> Tel: 01908 642111 Fax: 01908 366365> Chief executive officer: Hilary Pauley> Established: 1975> Owns 11 nurseries: Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire (118), Banbury, Oxfordshire (94), Bicester, Oxfordshire (166); London: Hyde Park (100), South Kensington 1 (100), South Kensington 2 (35); Broughton Manor, Milton Keynes (100), Tattenhoe Lane, Milton Keynes (250), Walton, Milton Keynes (100), Northampton (120), Redbourn, Hertfordshire (94)> Independent preparatory school:> Milton Keynes Preparatory School, a 500-place IAPS co-educational day school. The Ravenstone House group of nurseries is affiliated to Milton Keynes Preparatory School.> Places: 1,277> Employees: 250> Plans: Expansion to preparatory school age at a number of locations.> Saplings> Head office: 48 Sydenham Road, Croydon CR0 2EF> Tel: 020 8681 8484 Fax: 020 8681 3340> E-mail: services@saplings.co.uk> Website: www.saplings.co.uk> Directors: Stephen Walsh (managing director), Tracy Seed (childcare director)> Established: 1991> Owns 5 nurseries: Bromley (56), Croydon (56), Fulham (36), Lewisham (45), Parsons Green (38) [all in London and the south east]. Training company providing high quality early years training to NVQ Level 3.> Places: 231> Employees: 80> Plans: To set up more nurseries in the south of England. To offer high-level training for seniors and management.> Seymour House Day Nursery Schools> Head office: Seymour House, 140 Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1RN> Tel: 01245 494202 Fax: 01245 494002> Email: .enquiries@seymourhouse.co.uk> Website: www.seymourhouse.co.uk> Directors: John Player, Julie Player> Established: 1988> Owns 9 nurseries Basildon (55), Braintree (50); Chelmsford: Broomfield Road (50), Broomfield Hospital (50), Lawn Lane (104), Springfield Road (50); Colchester (51), Laindon (51), Wickford (104)> Places: 565> Employees: 168> Snapdragons Nursery> Head office: Prospect Farm, Bath Road, Atworth, Melksham, Wiltshire SN12 8JW> Tel: 01225 707009 Fax: 01225 705076> Website: www.snapdragonsnursery.com> Directors: Paul and Rosemary Collard> Established: 1998> Owns 4 nurseries: Atworth (31), Grosvenor, Bath (60), Weston, Bath (110), Melksham (27)> 1 out-of-school club: Weston, Bath (50)> Places: 228> Employees: 63> Plans: One site under negotiation.> Springfield Lodge Day Nurseries> Head office: Powder Mill Lane, Dartford, Kent DA1 1NT> Tel/fax: 01322 228154> Website: www,springfieldldn.co.uk> Directors: Linda Berriman and Sonia McCluskey> Nursery manager: Linda Berriman> Owns 3 nurseries and after-school and holiday clubs: Dartford (100), Dartford West (50), Gravesend (50), Swanscombe (67 plus 30 after-school places) [all in Kent]> Places: 267> Employees: 60> Plans: Expansion of Dartford site to be completed in 2004. Number of places to increase by 150 and by 35 in after-school areas.> Springboard> Head office: Three Gables, 2 Snowdon Road, Westbourne, Bournemouth BH4 9HL> Tel: 01202 757002> Directors: Kim Welsh, Nick Welsh> Established: 1998> Owns 4 nurseries: Busy Bees (40), Claremont Neighbourhood Nursery (40), Priory View (40), Three Gables (32) [all in Bournemouth]> Places: 152> Employees: 30> Plans: To roll-out a programme of Neighbourhood Nurseries across south/ south east, 2003-2004, developing satellite baby units in parent-convenient places. Opening 24-hour provision in March 2004.> Stepping Stones Child Care> Head office: 189 Earlham Grove, Forest Gate, London E7 9AB> Tel: 020 8555 1473> Director: Susan Perkins> Established: 1989> Owns 2 nurseries: Plaistow (40), Stratford (40) [both in east London]> After-school care: Stratford (10), also organises summer playschemes and year-round play schemes> Places: 80> Employees: 24> Plans: Looking at setting up other nurseries in areas around east London.> Stepping Stones Daycare> Head office: Stepping Stones Day Nursery, 145 Wragby Road, Lincoln LN2 4PL> Tel: 01522 870111> Proprietor: Lesley Berrington> Established: 1997> Owns 3 nurseries: Wragby Road (28), Lincoln College (28), Brayford Pool (44) [all in Lincoln]> 2 out-of-school clubs: Top Step Kids' Club (15), Top Step, Lincoln College (32) [both in Lincoln]> Places: 100> Employees: 35> Sunhill Daycare (Europe)> Head office: 6 Sun Hill, Royston, Herts SG8 9AT> Tel: 01763 247474 Fax: 01763 243033> Website: www.sunhilldaycare.com> E-mail: enquiries@sunhilldaycare.com> Directors: managing director, Geoff Chapman; admin manager, Lynne Danes; area manager, Matt Darby> Established: 1991> Owns 6 nurseries: Abington, Cambs (82), Berkhamsted (68), Hemel Hempstead (70), Royston 1 (26), Royston 2 (47), Luton (55)> Places: 348> Employees: 80> Plans: Two acquisitions under advanced negotiations and two new-build projects at planning stage.> Sunshine Day Nursery Schools> Head office: 1 Ditton Court Road, Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex SS0 7HG> Tel: 01702 436644 Fax: 01702 436655> E-mail: nurseries@sunshine.uk.com> Website: www.sunshine.uk.com> Directors: Stephen Jones, Linda Horncastle> Established: 1994> Owns 3 nurseries: Benfleet (38), Leigh-on-Sea (60), Southend-on-Sea (50) [all in Essex]. Also owns nursery retailer Sunshine Babyworld, which operates two retail superstores.> Places: 148> Employees: 73> Plans: An 86-place nursery in Southend-on-Sea opening January 2004.> *Swingboat Nurseries> Head office: 147-149 Hermitage Road, Whitwick, Leicestershire LE67 5EL> Tel: 01530 814 477 Fax: 01530 814 433> Website: www.swingboatnurseries.co.uk> Directors: Elaine and Graham Blunt, Jayne and Malcom Cockburn> Established: 1996> Owns 3 nurseries: Ashby de la Zouch (50), Whitwick (80) [both in Leicestershire], Woodville,> Derbyshire (90)> 3 out-of-school clubs: Ashby de la Zouch (48), Whitwick (36) [both in Leicestershire], Woodville, Derbyshire (36)> Places: 220> Employees: 90> Plans: Looking at several locations to develop further purpose-built facilities.> Tara Kindergartens> Head office: 4 Ridgemead Close, Southgate, London N14 6NW> Tel: 020 8886 8334 Fax: 020 8886 8334> Proprietor: Raj Nagendran> Established: 1992> Owns 5 nurseries: Edmonton (72), Enfield (50), Southgate (100) [all in London], Hatfield, Herts (60), Uxbridge, Middlesex (60)> Places: 342> Employees: 115> Plans: To expand at rate of one or two nurseries per year.> Teddies Nurseries> Head office: 4 Whitton Road, Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 1BJ> Tel: 0800 980 3801 Fax: 020 8892 6711> Website: www.teddiesnurseries.co.uk> Owner: BUPA Childcare> Managing director: Carole Edmond> Established: 1991> Owns 41 nurseries: Banbury (56), Beckenham (50), Bedford (50), Bexleyheath (90), Brentford (48), Bristol (44), Cheltenham (41), Chesham (65), Crawley (42), Croydon (50), Epsom (70), Esher (50), Farnham (52), Forest Park (50), Gloucester (54), Godalming (50), Ipswich (50); London: Balham (48), Chiswick (50), Chiswick Park (59), Greenwich (50), Gypsy Hill (76), New Southgate (50), Southfields (50), Streatham (50), West Hampstead (70); Loughton, Essex, (50), Knutsford (68), Maidstone (51), Market Harborough (60), Newbury (55), Northwood (63), Peterborough (80), Sevenoaks (63), Southampton 1 (35), Southampton 2 (65), Sutton (50), Swindon (65), Tonbridge (60), Twickenham (44), Woking (50). Also runs holiday clubs through BUPA Children@ work (25-80 places per club)> Places: 2,278> Employees: 756> Plans: Will continue to open a number of new sites each year.> Thomas's London Day Schools> Head office: Monmouth Court, Southampton Road, Ringwood, Hampshire BH24 1HE> Tel: 01425 481500 Fax: 01425 481501> Principals: Tobyn Thomas, Ben Thomas, David and Joanna Thomas> Established: 1972> Owns 2 kindergartens: Battersea (40), Pimlico (50) [both in London]> 3 preparatory schools: Battersea (488), Clapham (545), Kensington (285) [all in London]> Places: 90> Employees: 300> TLC (Tender Loving Childcare)> Head office: 27 Sheep Street, Rugby, Warwickshire CV21 3BX> Tel: 01788 565156 Fax: 01788 542100> E-mail: barbarabaker@tlcchildcare.org> Chief executive: Barbara Baker Established: 1989> Owns 8 childcare facilities: Coventry, Walsgrave Hospital (120), Middlesex, The Hillingdon Hospital (58), Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes General Hospital (96), Nottingham, City Hospital (120), Nottingham, University of Nottingham (96), Rugby, Henry Hinde School (30), Warwick, Warwick Hospital (40), Watford, Watford General (46)> Places: 606> Employees: 150> Plans: To continue expansion within the NHS hospital trust sites and other workplace nurseries.> Toad Hall Nursery Group> Head office: 3rd Floor, Wembley Point, 1 Harrow Road, Wembley HA9 6DE> Tel: 020 8795 0650 Fax: 020 8903 3557> Website: www.toadhall-nursery.co.uk> Director: Sarah Owen> Established: 1998> Owns 17 nurseries: Chessington, Surrey (57), Ealing, London (50), Haslemere (79), Hitchin (75), Horley, Surrey (49), Langley (60), Marlborough (26), Ottershaw (42), Pinewood Film Studios, Bucks (41), Ripley, Surrey (40), Shepperton Film Studios, Middlesex (42), Swindon (159), Walton-on-Thames 1 (69), Walton-on-Thames 2 (48), Walton-on-Thames 3 (12), Watford (49), Woking (44)> 4 after-school clubs and playschemes: Littleton (36), Staines (50), Swindon (50), Walton on Thames (24)> Places: 942> Employees: 275> Plans: We are looking to continue to expand through further planned acquisitions.> Tops Day Nurseries> Head office: Leigh Road, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 2BX> Tel: 01202 882829 Fax: 01202 639335> E-mail: admin@topsdaynurseries.co.uk> Director: Cheryl Hadland> Established: 1990> Owns 8 nurseries: Bournemouth, Royal Bournemouth Hospital (88 plus 40 playclub), Colehill (24), 2 (linked) in Parkstone, Poole (56), Taunton, Taunton Hospital (88 plus 32 playclub), Wareham, Dorset (47), Wimborne (98), Winchester, Winchester Hospital (61)> Places: 462> Employees: 150> Plans: Further expansion planned in Hampshire, Somerset and Dorset with a target of 150 new places per year. Beacon Work Based Training Provider.> Torridon Education Group> Head office: 23a King Street, Lossiemouth, Moray IV31 6PZ> Tel: 01343 813342> Managing director: Sharon Hayward> Established: 1994> Owns 2 nurseries: Elgin Bishopmill Pre-School Centre, (60) and Torridon Pre-School Nursery (60) and an accredited training centre offering SVQs in childcare and education.> Places: 120> Employees: 15> Treetops Private Day Nurseries (Dunmar Nurseries)> Head office: 'Number Sixty Nine', Ashbourne Road, Derby DE22 3FS> Tel: 01332 600601 Fax: 01332 600602> E-mail: info@dunmar.co.uk> Website: www.treetopsnurseries.co.uk> Managing director: Paul Foster> Childcare director: Sheena Gibson> Established: 1990> Owns 13 nurseries: Ashbourne, Derbyshire (50), Belper, Derbyshire (90), King's Heath, Birmingham (50), Chester (61), Dudley (75), Duffield, Derbyshire (58), Headingley, Leeds (50), Hyde, Manchester(116), Matlock, Derbyshire (82), Oakwood, Derby 1 (75), Oakwood 2 (28), Pudsey, Leeds (76), Wythall, south Birmingham (56)> 7 out-of-school clubs: Ashbourne, Derbyshire (20), Belper, Derbyshire (8), Chester (24), Hyde, Manchester ( 12), Matlock, Derbyshire (40), Oakwood, Derby (30), Pudsey, Leeds (16)> Places: 867> Employees: 238> Plans: Expansion set to continue into 2004 as the company looks to acquire further sites.> Turtles Children's Nurseries> Head office: Wolverhampton Road, Penkridge, Staffordshire ST19 5DR> Tel/fax: 01785 716111> Directors: Karen and Greg Laycock> Established: 1996> Owns 3 nurseries: Penkridge 1 (36), Penkridge 2 (48), Stafford (64)> 5 before- and after-school clubs and 2 48-place holiday playschemes> Places: 148> Employees: 50> Ultimate Day Care Nursery> Head office: 9 Brydges Road, Stratford, London E15 1NA> Tel/fax: 020 8519 2100> Website: www.ultimatedaycarenursery. co.uk> E-mail: ultimatedaycarenursery@ hotmail.com> Director: Bel Oomerjee> Established: 1996> Owns 4 nurseries: Chigwell, Essex (30), Leyton (50), Leytonstone (30), Stratford (58) [all in London]> Places: 168> Employees: 60> Plans: To double the number of nurseries> in the next two years.> Unicorn Childcare> Head office: Cavendish House,> Coggeshall, Essex CO6 1NH> Tel: 01376 563777 Fax: 01376 563 367> E-mail: unicorn@cavendish-house.> co.uk> Website: www.cavendish-house.co.uk> Director: Peter Farmer> Established: 1995> Owns 1 nursery: Bury St Edmunds (47)> 3 nursery franchises: Heathrow Airport (50), Leicester (50), London, Canary Wharf (75)> Places: 47> Employees: 10> Plans: To buy ten more nurseries over the next 18 months.> White Horse Child Care/The Trees Day Care Nurseries> Head office: Stanley House, 65 Victoria> Road, Swindon, Wiltshire SN1 3BB> Tel: 01793 488988 Fax: 01793 488428> Directors: Richard Lay, Lester Lay, Lloyd> Lay, Peter Lay> Established: 1989> Owns 4 nurseries: Devizes (68),> Portswood, Southampton (85), Shirley,> Southampton (83), Swindon (66)> Places: 302> Employees: 84> Plans: To purchase sites suitable for nurseries for at least 48 children.> Wind in the Willows> Head office: Earle Street, Newton-le-> Willows, Merseyside WA12 9XD> Tel: 01925 223445 Fax: 01925 223465> Directors: Ginny and Neil Taylor> Established: 1993> Owns 4 nurseries: Cross Lane (20) plus after-school club (16), Earle Street (46),> Haydock (29) [all in Merseyside],> Neighbourhood Nursery, Dudley, West> Midlands (53) plus 8 after-school places> Places: 148> Employees: 37> Plans: To open a further eight Neighbourhood Nurseries over the next 12 months. Due to open second Neighbourhood Nursery Initiative (offering 70-80 places) in Middlesbrough early next year.>