Property portfolio
Based in Hammersmith. Operates eight nurseries under two brands. Its purpose-built nurseries run under the Kiddi Caru brand while any nurseries it acquires operate under the Carey Days brand.
Settings are community nurseries. Some are closely involved with large employers, though they are not dedicated workplace nurseries. The total number of places will be around 900 when three new settings open in late summer.
History and ethos
Founded in 1999 by former commercial barrister Alan Bentley, who had been chairman and then a director of the Busy Bees chain. He aimed to create an organisation where the achievement of profit could sit comfortably with the provision of the best possible service delivery.
Each nursery is encouraged to do its own marketing and get involved in its local community. The company believes in easing the pressure on parents so it is launching a corporate discount voucher scheme. Employers joining the scheme qualify staff for discounts of up to 5 per cent on fees.
It has links with the international aid agency World Vision and each nursery sponsors a child from the Third World.
Staff
Staff are encouraged to gain extra skills and qualifications, such as baby massage, music and movement or language, which in turn reap extra pay. Child & Co
Property portfolio
Based in Oxfordshire and owns the freeholds/leaseholds on 11 nurseries across central/southern England.
Provides 698 places and is expanding provision at two existing sites. Some settings are workplace nurseries, but even then Child & Co reserves places for use by local residents. An interior designer advises on the decor so areas like the baby room have a homely feel.
History and ethos
Founded in 1991 by teacher Lesley Millar. She was doing an MBA and a fellow student, who was an NHS trust chief executive, wanted a workplace nursery.
The group worked with Ofsted on the development of its early years curriculum. All its directors are registered Ofsted inspectors. It has developed its own educational ethos. Parents are told what the children are doing and why, so they can extend learning at home if they wish.
Staff
There is a strong emphasis on staff training. The majority of senior appointments are made internally from home-grown talent.
The company has launched a partners' scheme to which 30 staff, ranging from managers to a nursery cook, have been nominated because they are seen as making a difference. At the end of the year they will be given a bonus in the form of a share in the profits.
Happy Child
Property portfolio
West London's leading day nursery provider with 17 day nurseries, offering just under 700 places, plus three more settings in the pipeline. It also owns three preparatory schools and the Aston Training Centre.
The portfolio includes purpose-built settings, conversions, freehold and leasehold properties. They are decorated in the company colours of blue and red.
History and ethos
Happy Child aims to provide quality childcare in a secure, stimulating and happy environment. Settings are kept small to medium-sized, which parents find attractive as they can build strong relationships with the staff.
Originally, learning was Montessori-based but there is now a more holistic approach encompassing all aspects of learning and development.
Founder Ashoob Cook, who has a degree in child psychology, was involved in childcare as a volunteer when she and her husband, Dr Julian Cook, a nuclear physicist, lived in the US. She was pregnant when they returned to the UK. After searching for a suitable nursery but finding it hard to match the quality of care, education, facilities and equipment available in the US she decided to open her own.
Staff
Great store is set on staff training and people are encouraged to build a career with the chain.
Kinder Groups
Property portfolio
Owns eight nurseries located in the grounds or associated with local state primary and secondary schools in mid-and west Kent plus three after-school/holiday centres.
Currently expanding provision on two existing sites to bring total to around 600 places. Provides wraparound care and runs a fleet of people carriers to fetch children from school.
History and ethos
Founded by former teachers Alan and Janet Bishop in 1990 when they realised they could improve on local settings.
Working on the principle that when moving house, more than 90 per cent of families only go ten miles, each Kinder Group nursery is only a 15-minute drive from another one so that when a family moves the child can transfer to the nearest Kinder Groups setting.
The nurseries are not run in a regimented and uniform fashion but nevertheless they conform to the same parameters. While the children are involved in a lot of free play, it is directed and considerable time is spent on planning activities.
Staff
No staff recruitment problems as many employees have ten years or more service. All eight nurseries are managed by staff who joined the company as nursery nurses and worked their way up.
