Nursery Chains: People and Places

ABC NURSERIES

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

Tel/Fax: 01576 300765

Directors: Ann McEwan, Malcolm McEwan

Established: 1988

Owns 4 nurseries: Dumfries (70), Ecclefechan (35) (both in Dumfriesshire); Egremont (112), Whitehaven (53) (both in Cumbria)

Also owns a training company

Places: 270

Employees: 33

 

ACORN CHILDCARE

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

Tel: 01908 510309

Fax: 01908 510222

E-mail: zoe@acornchildcare.co.uk

Website: www.acornchildcare.co.uk

Managing director: Zoe Raven

Established: 1989

Owns 6 nurseries: Brafield-on-the-Green (36), Burton Latimer (65) (both in Northamptonshire); Castlethorpe (36, plus 16 out-of-school places), Newport Pagnell (29 plus 16 out-of-school places), Shenley Church End (40), West Bletchley (33, plus 24 out-of-school places) (all in Bucks). Also runs a training and assessment centre and mobile creches.

Places: 239

Employees: 115

Plans: Expanding in the Milton Keynes/Northants/Bucks area with nurseries and after-school clubs.

 

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: Bristol (100); Cardiff, Llanishen (65), Oakfield Street (26), Park Grove (75), Partridge Road (27), St Mellons (32), Whitchurch (84); Duffryn, Newport (45)

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

Places: 580

Employees: 238

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

 

ACTIVE CHILDCARE

Head office: Redwither Tower, Redwither Business Park, Wrexham LL13 9XR

Tel: 01978 661189

Fax: 01978 661717

Directors: Karen Graham, Peter Graham

Established: 1997

Owns/manages 2 nurseries: Glyndor University (41); Wrexham, Rossett (61)

Owns/manages 1 out-of-school club: Wrexham (40)

Places: 102

Employees: 38

Plans: Developing training and consultancy.

 

ALPHABET HOUSE NURSERIES

Head office: Alphabet House, Canberra Road, East Ham, London E6 2RW

Tel: 020 8519 2023

Fax: 0170 870 5062

E-mail: info@alphabethousenurseries.co.uk

Website: www.alphabethousenurseries.co.uk

Co-directors: Dele Balogun, Kemi Balogun

Established: 1994

Owns/manages 5 nurseries: Beckton (32), East Ham (47), Plashet (57), Stratford (72), Upton Park (62) (all in east London)

Places: 270

Employees: 70

Plans: To continue providing a high standard of care and education for children in our nurseries with an emphasis on training and staff professional development.

 

ANGELS AT PLAY NURSERIES

Head office: 1 Dockyard, Star Street, Ware, Herts SG12 7AN

Tel: 01920 486487

Fax: 01920 462778

Website: www.angelsatplay.co.uk

Directors: Angela Spencer, Paul Spencer

Established: 1993

Owns 3 nurseries: Hoddesdon (89), Ware 1 (50), Ware 2 (118) (all in Herts)

Places: 257

Employees: 97

Plans: To continue providing 'outstanding' care across all locations through development of the nascuropathy programme.

 

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 4 nurseries: Ashford, Kent, Albert Road (44), Albert Road Creche (12), Wall Road (46), Willesborough (24), plus a 5-place summer school for five- to six-year-olds. Albert and Wall Road both have an 8-place after-school club and an 8-place summer school for five- to eight-year-olds.

Places: 126

Employees: 32

 

ASQUITH NURSERIES

Placement centre: The Old Rectory, Horton Road, Horton, Slough SL3 9NU

Tel: 01753 760630

Fax: 01753 689593

E-mail: parents@asquithnurseries.co.uk

Website: www.asquithnurseries.co.uk

CEO and managing director: Andy Morris

Financial director: Nick Yarrow

Established: 1989

Owns 103 nurseries/creches: Basildon, Essex (100); Belfast (22); Birmingham (59); Bolton, Lancs (84); Brighton, E Sussex (59); Bristol (45); Bromley, Kent (88); Bromsgrove, Worcs (22); Bushey, Herts (46); Canterbury, Kent (143); Cardiff (61); Caterham, Surrey (72); Cheadle, Cheshire (64); Cheam, Surrey (22); Chigwell, Essex (59); Derby (81); Eastbourne, E Sussex (12); Edinburgh (68); Ellesmere Port, Cheshire (24); Epsom, Surrey (100), Epsom creche (18); Guildford, Surrey (61); Harpenden 1, Herts (57), Harpenden 2 (85); Haslemere, Surrey (94); Hatch End, Middlesex (87); Heathrow, Middlesex (104); Heston, Middlesex (66); Hinckley, Leics (104); Hounslow, Middlesex (97); Hull, E Yorks (85); Kenton, Middlesex (88); Kew, Surrey (66); Kingston-upon-Thames 1, Surrey (64), Kingston-upon-Thames 2 (72); Leeds, Moortown (75), Tingley (89); Lichfield, Staffs (134); Lincoln (24); Liverpool, Kirkby (75), Speke (19); London, Balham (65), Battersea (79), Crouch Hill (36), Ealing (35), Eltham (47), Enfield 1 (52), Enfield 2 (70), Enfield 3 (98), Finsbury Park (103), Fulham (18), Golders Green (58), Hendon 1 (73), Hendon 2 (53), Kensington (23), Kidbrooke (20), Lambeth (82), New Eltham (122), Peckham Rye (72), Putney (47), Raynes Park (47), Southgate (86), West Dulwich (86), West Hampstead (72); Luton, Beds (24); Maidenhead, Berks (24); Maidstone, Kent (90); Manchester, Trafford Park (24); Milford, Staffs (76); Milton Keynes, The Centre (126), Wavendon (71), Wolverton Mill (128); Nottingham 1 (91), Nottingham 2 (26); Orpington, Kent (68); Oxford (23); Portsmouth, Hants (70); Redhill, Surrey (103); Reigate, Surrey (101); Renfrew, Renfrewshire (47); Richmond, Surrey (62); Sidcup, Kent (48); Slough, Berks (63); Solihull 1, W Midlands (72), Solihull 2 (25); Southampton 1, Hants (70), Southampton 2 (70); Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside (76); Surbiton, Surrey (92); Swindon, Wilts (69); Teddington, Middlesex (97); Tonbridge, Kent (100); Tunbridge Wells 1, Kent (65), Tunbridge Wells 2 (65); Twickenham 1, Middlesex (26), Twickenham 2 (83); Warrington, Cheshire (109); Warsash, Hants (72); West Dorking, Surrey (74); Weybridge, Surrey (22); Wilmington, Kent (53); Windsor, Berks (72); Woking, Surrey (86)

Places: 6,902

Employees: 2,400

Plans: Expansion is set to continue, with more nurseries opening and being acquired over the next year.

 

BAMBINOS

Head office: Bambinos Childcare Centres, 31 Houndiscombe Road, Mutley, Plymouth, Devon PL4 6EU

Tel: 01752 226767

Fax: 01752 206566

Directors: William Lane, Alison Lane

Established: 1993

Owns 5 nurseries: Plymouth, City (95), Plympton (62), Plymstock (58), Tavistock (62), Woolwell (58)

Places: 335

Employees: 120

 

BERTRAM NURSERY GROUP

Head office: Block B, Unit 4, Kittleyards, Causewayside, Edinburgh EH9 1PJ

Tel: 0131 662 8500

Fax: 0131 662 8504

E-mail: info@bertramuk.com

Website: www.bertramnurserygroup.com

Managing director: Graeme Scott

Finance director: Tom Lyons

Chairperson: Heather Gilchrist

Operations manager: Susan McGhee

Business development manager: Lyndsay Grant

Established: 2006

Owns 30 nurseries: Aberdeenshire, Banchory (64), Cove Bay (65); Bishopbriggs, E Dunbartonshire (71); Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire (43); Bury (79), Castleton (80), Prestwich (85) (all in Lancashire); Cumbernauld, N Lanarkshire (84); Dunblane, Stirlingshire (81); Dunfermline (43); Edinburgh 1 (120), Edinburgh 2 (100); Falkirk (74); Glasgow, Ballieston (79), Garrowhill (61), Glasgow Airport (103), Kelvinside (46); Kirkintilloch, E Dunbartonshire (80); Haydock, Merseyside (50); Manchester, Altrincham (50), Astley (105), Gin Pit Village (59), Salford (79), Salford Hope Hospital (64), Sandilands (56), Shaw (83), Swinton (132); Penicuik, Mid Lothian (58); South Lanarkshire College (59); Stirling (88). Also operates a training division, offering SVQ Level 2, 3 and 4, NVQ Level 2 and 3, A1 assessors and ongoing CPD opportunities.

Places: 2,241

Employees: 680

Plans: To continue to grow quality nurseries through development and acquisitions. Two further centres operating in next six months.

 

BONBONS DAY NURSERIES

Head office: Midland Buildings, 19a Briggate, Shipley, W Yorkshire BD17 7BP

Tel: 01274 587677

Fax: 01274 582991

E-mail: sarah@channon.com

Website: www.bonbonsdaynurseries.com

Director: Sarah Channon

Established: 2001

Owns 3 nurseries: Bradford, W Yorks, Frizinghall (36), Shipley (75), Thornton (56)

Places: 167

Employees: 56

Plans: Our fourth nursery will be opening in Halifax, West Yorkshire before the end of 2009 and another project is already underway for opening in 2010.

 

BRAMLEYS NURSERIES

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

Tel: 01235 833255

Fax: 01235 864477

E-mail: info@bramleyschildcare.co.uk

Website: www.bramleyschildcare.co.uk

Directors: John Watson, Sue Watson

Established: 1990

Owns 6 nurseries: Banbury, Horton Hospital (53), Didcot (88), Oxford, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre (49), Wantage (102) (all in Oxon); Bedford, Bedford Hospital (58); Salisbury, Wilts (46)

Places: 396

Employees: 130

 

THE BRIDGES PRE-SCHOOL NURSERIES

Head office: 1 Prospect Place, Arnhall Business Park, Westhill, Aberdeenshire AB32 6SY

Tel: 01224 744741

Fax: 01224 744742

E-mail: MMogford@abd1.com

Directors: Marie Mogford, Graham Mogford, Lois Duncan

Established: 1985

Owns 3 nurseries: Aberdeen, Bridge of Don (116); Westhill 1 (118), Westhill 2 (39) (both in Aberdeenshire)

Out-of-school club: Westhill (18)

Places: 273

Employees: 70

Plans: Have planning consent to open an additional nursery with 100-places in Aberdeenshire.

 

BRIGHT HORIZONS

(acquired 32 Teddies Nurseries in May 2009)

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

Tel: 01933 415900

Fax: 01933 315199

Website: www.brighthorizons.co.uk

Managing director Europe: Stephen Kramer

Director of operations: Linda Oury

Established: 1988

Owns/manages 140 nurseries: Aberdeen, Robert Gordon University (99), Aberdeen Shell (35); Aberystwyth, Institute of Grasslands and Environmental Research (40); Abingdon, Oxon (67); Andover, Hants, Defence Logistics Organisation (40); Ashbourne, Co Meath (52); Barford, Warks (52); Bath 1 Wilts, MoD (37), Bath 2, MoD (60); Birkenhead, Merseyside (38); Blackburn, Lancs, HM Revenue and Customs (38); Bootle, Merseyside (70); Bournemouth, Dorset (86); Bristol, MoD (117); Cardiff, Inland Revenue (60); Cirencester, Glos (78); Crowthorne, Berks, Broadmoor Hospital (50); Didcot, Oxon, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (56); Drogheda, Co Meath (89); Dublin, Balgriffin (102), Beaumont (40), City West (118), Dublin College of Technology (124), East Point Business Park (113), Leopardstown (107), Nutgrove (33), Swords (47); Dudley, W Midlands (39); Edinburgh, Abbeyhill (59), Annandale (59), Bruntsfield (49), Cramond (101), Leith, Scottish Executive (36), Morton Mains Farm (75), Royal Bank of Scotland (70), Rutland (46); Falkirk, Dept for Work and Pensions (43); Feltham, Middlesex, The Defence Geographic Intelligence Agency (25); Glasgow, Inland Revenue (59), Kwikfit (63), Northgate (49); Grange, Co Meath, European Commission (30); Great Haseley, Oxon (60); Harrow, Middlesex (98); Hastings, E Sussex, Dept for Work and Pensions (46); Hemel Hempstead, Herts (54); Hinxton, Cambridge, The Wellcome Trust Genome Campus (75); Ipswich 1, Suffolk, Inland Revenue (27), Ipswich 2, Suffolk College (90); Irthlingborough, Northants (52); Kenilworth, Warks (68); Leeds 1 (39), Leeds 2, HM Revenue and Customs (35); Leicester, Inland Revenue (32); Liverpool, HM Customs and Excise (35); Livingston, West Lothian (136); London, Alperton, Sainsbury's (32), Barbican (54), Beaufort Park (102), Billet's Corner, Sainsbury's (45), Broadgate (50), Dulwich, Sainsbury's (24), Finchley (35), Fleet Street (45), Highgate (55), Hyde Park (46), Imperial Wharf (68), Islington (42), Mount Carmel (73), Pimlico (78), Regent's Park (75), Spitalfields (50), St John's Wood (92), Stockwell (64), SW1, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (36), SW1, MoD (35), Tabard Square (96); Newbury, Berks, Institute of Animal Health (39); Northampton, Mitie PFI (57); Northwood, Middlesex (124); Nottingham, Inland Revenue (50); Plymouth, Devon, Department for Work and Pensions (40), Land Registry (40); Rainham, Essex (82); Reading, Berks, Abbeymore (124), Thames Valley Park 1, Microsoft (52), Thames Valley Park 2 (120); Rothamsted, Herts, Rothamsted Research (39); Rugby, Warks (60); Runcorn, Cheshire, DCSF (50); Saffron Walden, Essex, Saffron Walden County High School (85); Salford, Manchester, HM Customs and Excise (36); Salisbury, Wilts, Health Protection Agency (59); Sandwich, Kent, Pfizer (148); Sharnbrook, Beds, Unilever R and D Colworth (75); Sheffield, S Yorks, DCSF (51); Southam, Warks (56); Stretford, Manchester (70); Sudbury, Suffolk, Great Cornard Upper School (50); Sunbury, Surrey, Johnson Control for BP Intl (46); Wallingford, Oxon (134); Warwick 1, Horticulture Research International (41), Warwick 2, Jaguar and Land Rover (51); Watford, Herts (63); Wetherby, W Yorks, The British Library (45); Weymouth, Dorset, Land Registry (52); Witney, Oxon (64); Wolverhampton, W Midlands, Customs and Excise (20)

 

TEDDIES NURSERIES

Head office: 4 Whitton Road, Twickenham, Middlesex TW1 1BJ

Tel: 0800 980 3801

Fax: 020 8892 6711

Website: www.teddiesnurseries.co.uk

Established: 1991

Owns 32 nurseries: Basingstoke, Hants (90); Beckenham, Kent (52); Bexleyheath, Kent (92); Bracknell, Berks (50); Brentford, Middlesex (72); Bristol (50); Chesham Bois, Bucks (68); Coulsdon, Surrey (84); Crawley, W Sussex (42); Epsom, Surrey (70); Esher, Surrey (50); Farnham, Surrey (52); Godalming, Surrey (54); London, Balham (55), Chiswick Park (75), Greenwich (52), New Southgate (58), Raynes Park (62), Southfields (50), Streatham (54), West Dulwich (50), West Hampstead (91); Loughton, Essex (56); Maidstone, Kent (54); Sevenoaks, Kent (63); Southampton, Hants (81); Sutton, Surrey (55); Tonbridge, Kent (60); Tunbridge Wells, Kent (73); Twickenham 1, Middlesex (44), Twickenham 2 (50); Woking, Surrey (64)

Places: 8,691

Employees: 2,811, with bank staff 895

Plans: Continuing to explore growth opportunities throughout UK and Ireland.

 

BRIGHT KIDS

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

Tel: 01527 855409

Fax: 01527 855427

E-mail: brightkids@supanet.com

Website: www.bright-kids.co.uk

Chief executive: Tricia Wellings

Established: 1999

Owns 4 nurseries: Cleobury Mortimer, Shropshire (59); Crabbs Cross, Worcs (47); Northfield, Birmingham (64); Studley, Warks (50)

5 out-of-school clubs: Cleobury Mortimer (16), Crabbs Cross (24), Northfield (24), Studley (26), Studley Infants (40)

Places: 220

Employees: 60

Plans: Further expansion is planned during the next 12 months.

 

BRIGHT KIDS KINDERGARTEN

(formerly Ultimate Daycare)

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: London, Leyton (50), Leyton, Montessori (40), Stratford (58); Peterborough, Cambs (136)

Places: 344

Employees: 40

 

BRIGHT NEW MINDS

Head office: 52 Church Road, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 8PB

Tel: 020 8977 0202

Fax: 07092 388119

E-mail: info@brightnewminds.com

Website: www.brightnewminds.com

Directors: Ian Morgan, Nicola Smith

Established: 2006

Operates 6 nurseries: Bovey Tracey, Devon (43); Cheam (62), Epsom (68), Sutton (43) (all in Surrey); Reading, Berks (48); Teddington, Middlesex (63)

Places: 327

Employees: 110

 

BRIGHTSPARKS DAY NURSERIES

Head office: Meadow Hill, Purley, Surrey CR8 3HL

Tel: 020 8660 2340

Website: www.brightsparksdaynurseries.co.uk

Directors: Emma Jones, Helen Simpson

Established: 1999

Owns 5 nurseries: New Malden (40), Old Coulsdon (46), Purley (46), Purley Way (60), Selsdon (46) (all in Surrey)

Places: 238

Employees: 56

 

BRINGING UP BABY

Head office: Unit 1A, The Plough Brewery, 516 Wandsworth Road, London SW8 3JX

Tel: 020 7622 5552

Fax: 020 7622 5570

E-mail: office@bringingupbaby.co.uk

Website: www.bringingupbaby.co.uk

Established: 1989

Managing director: Anne de Zoysa

Executive directors: Sue Woodford, Jackie Gardiner, Marion Bones

Owns 5 nurseries: London, Brentford (42), Clapham (72), Hammersmith (70), Kentish Town (55), Wembley (32)

Places: 271

Employees: 76

 

BROOKLANDS CHILDCARE

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

Tel: 01942 760044

E-mail: h2brooklands@aol.com

Website: www.brooklandschildcare.co.uk

Owners: Ivan Rawlins, Linda Rawlins

Established: 1990

Owns 4 nurseries: Ashton-in-Makerfield (90), Garswood (86), Hindley 1 (89), Hindley 2 (83) (all in Lancashire)

Places: 348

Employees: 134

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

 

BROWN BEAR CHILDCARE

Head office: 18 Douglas Road, Hazel Grove, Stockport SK7 4JE

Tel: 0161 483 7369

Directors: Renee Dickens, Wendy Hartley

Established: 2002

Owns 3 nurseries: Stockport, Bredbury (37), Brinnington (28), Reddish (42)

Places: 107

Employees: 38

 

BUFFER BEAR NURSERIES

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

Tel: 0118 950 3200

Fax: 0118 956 0338

Website: www.bufferbear.co.uk

E-mail: info@bufferbear.co.uk

Managing director: Dr Kay Turner

Established: 1994

Owns/manages 24 nurseries: Bristol (72); Burnley General Hospital, Lancs (51); Burton, Staffs (58); Chichester, W Sussex (60); Dewsbury, W Yorks (49); Huddersfield Royal Infirmary NHS Trust (53); London, Croydon, New Addington (84), Croydon, Mayday Hospital NHS Trust (65), Enfield (50), Heathrow (39), Maida Vale (109), Maidenhead (84), Sutton (66), Waterloo (60), Wimbledon (57); Manchester, Wythenshawe (100); Newcastle (186); Oxford (62); Poole, Dorset (59); Reading, Berks (78); Southampton, Hants (100); Swindon, Wilts, Great Western Hospital NHS Trust (68); Tadworth, Surrey (56); Watford, Herts (55)

Places: 1,721

Employees: 600

Plans: To develop further our position as a leading provider of partnership nurseries and to continue our training and HR input to make Buffer Bear the employer of choice.

 

BUSH BABIES CHILDREN'S NURSERIES

Head office: 170 Lutterworth Road, Blaby, Leicestershire LE8 4DP

Tel: 0116 2774088

Fax: 0116 2786050

Director: Jane Brailsford

Company secretary: Jennifer Simpson

Established: 1992

Owns 6 nurseries: Blaby (49), Countesthorpe (54), Leicester (54), Oadby (52), Thurmaston (86), Wigston Magna (54) (all in Leicestershire)

Places: 349

Employees: 95

Plans: Planned controlled expansion programme both locally and nationally.

 

THE BUSY BEES GROUP

Head office: St Matthews, Shaftsbury Drive, Burntwood, Staffs WS7 9QP

Tel: 0870 380 6614

Fax: 0871 871 9342

Website: www.busybees.com

Group directors: Sarah Beene, Adam Cohn, Simon Irons, Stan Maron, Peter Maslen, Clare Phizacklea, Margaret Randles, John Woodward, Lynn Woodward and Elanna Yalow

Established: 1983

Owns and manages 132 nurseries and creches operating under the Busy Bees, Tibbi Tots, Leapfrog and TLC brands, Altrincham, Cheshire (92); Basingstoke, Hants (104); Bedford (100); Beverley, E Yorks (108); Bicester, Oxon (108); Birmingham, Aston (77), Edgbaston (116), Great Barr (91), Longbridge (60), Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (133); Bishops Stortford 1, Herts (55), Bishops Stortford 2 (70); Braintree, Essex (109); Bristol, Bradley Stoke (100), Emersons Green (105), Portishead (91), Stoke Gifford (108); Bromborough, Wirral (105); Bromsgrove, Warks (86); Brough, E Yorkshire (110); Burntwood, Staffs (111); Burton on Trent, Staffs (108); Cardiff (66); Carshalton, Surrey (98); Chandlers Ford, Hants (116); Cheadle, Cheshire (67); Cheam, Surrey (88); Chelmsford, Essex (99); Chippenham, Wilts (106); Chorley 1, Lancs (147), Chorley 2 (60); Colchester 1 (84), Colchester 2, University of Essex (120); Coventry, Walsgrave Hospital, Warks (117); Crawley, W Sussex (132); Daventry, Northants (97); Deeside, Flintshire (114); Derby, Heatherton (107), Oakwood (110); Evesham, Worcs (110); Farnborough, Hants (159); Formby, Merseyside (66); Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (71); Harlow (105); Harpenden 1, Herts (64), Harpenden 2 (55); Heathrow (100); Henley, Berks College of Agriculture (82); Hertford (44); High Wycombe, Bucks (80); Hull (40); Kent, Canterbury (79), Chatham (72), Chislehurst (98); Kettering, Northants (112); Lancaster (151); Leamington Spa (122); Leeds, Colton Mill (175), Guiseley (100); Leicester, Braunstone (130), Narborough (103); Letchworth, Herts (104); London, Chingford (108), Chiswick (78), City (90), Enfield (120), Finchley (75), Hammersmith (56), Mill Hill (78), Royal Victoria Docks (107), Wandsworth (91); Manchester, Fallowfield (84), Salford University (104); Milton Keynes, Milton Keynes General Hospital (96), Oldbrook (100); Morden, Surrey (56); Northampton (104); Northwich, Cheshire (107); Norwich, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (100); Nottingham, City Hospital (114), Clifton (55), Daybrook (120), Sneinton (50), University of Nottingham (96), Wollaton (108); Perivale, Middlesex (76); Peterborough (116); Portsmouth (126); Preston 1, Lancs (161), Preston 2 (136), Preston 3 (39), Preston 4 (30), Preston 5 (57), Preston 6 (60); Quedgeley, Gloucs (106); Reading (109); Reigate, Surrey (97); Rotherham (74); Rugby, Warks (84); Sale, Cheshire (66); Salisbury, Wilts (93); Shenley, Herts (110); Solihull 1, W Midlands (100), Solihull 2 (90); Southport, Lancs (111); St Albans 1, Herts (65), St Albans 2 (50), St Albans 3 (120), St Albans City Hospital (48); Stevenage (98); Sudbury Hill, Middlesex (100); Swindon, Broome (72), Peatmore (100), St Andrew's Ridge (106); Telford 1, Shropshire (108), Telford 2 (45); Thames Ditton, Surrey (69); Thurrock, Essex (114); Uxbridge, Hillingdon Hospital, Middlesex (96); Walsall, W Midlands (25); Warndon, Worcs (112); Warwick Hospital, Warks (40); Watford General Hospital, Herts (46); Welwyn, Herts (46); Welwyn Garden City, Herts (74); Weston Super Mare (100); Woking, Surrey (130); York (120)

4 creches: Glasgow (10); London, Finchley, David Lloyd Leisure (12); Peterborough, Cambs (39); Stevenage, Herts (9)

8 after-school schemes: Burntwood; Chorley; Farnborough; Lancaster; Leeds, Colton Mill; Preston; St David's, Flintshire; Southport

Places: 11,919

Employees: 4,769

 

BUSY NOUGHT TO FIVES

Head office: 10 Brimstage Road, Gayton, Wirral CH60 1XG

Tel: 0151 342 2714

Fax: 0151 348 4265

E-mail: info@busy05.co.uk

Website: www.busy05.co.uk

Directors: Emma Collins, Kevin Collins

Established: 1992

Owns 7 nurseries: Liverpool 1 (114), Liverpool 2 (64); Preston (65); South Wirral (99); Warrington 1 (129), Warrington 2 (119) (both Cheshire); Wirral (86)

Places: 676

Employees: 150

Plans: Planning permission granted for 48 extra places at Wirral nursery and advanced plans for second nursery in Liverpool city centre. Negotiating for second site for Preston nursery and actively seeking sites for expansion throughout UK.

 

BUTTERCUPS

Head office: 9 Florence Road, Ealing, London W5 3TU

Tel: 020 8840 4740

Fax: 020 8997 6236

Director: Carol Whitehouse

Established: 1980

Owns 6 nurseries: Chalfont St Peter, Bucks (48); London and the south-east, Acton (41), Brentford (52), Chiswick (31), Ealing (60), Isleworth (40)

Places: 272

Employees: 70

 

CARING DAYCARE

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

Tel: 01428 661960

Fax: 01428 653929

E-mail: peter@caringdaycare.co.uk

Director: Peter Churchley

Established: 1989

Owns 9 nurseries: Dorking 1 (52), Dorking 2 (44); Godalming (140), Guildford (86), Haslemere (88), Woking 1 (111), Woking 2 (65) (all in Surrey); Midhurst, (41), Petworth (51) (both in W Sussex)

Places: 678

Employees: 195

Plans: Actively seeking nurseries to develop or acquire in Surrey.

 

CARING KINDERGARTENS

Head office: 2 Ferro Fields, Brixworth, Northants NN6 9UA

Tel: 01604 882241

Fax: 01604 882233

E-mail: mail@caringkindergartens.co.uk

Website: www.caringkindergartens.co.uk

Proprietor: George Wright

Established: 1992

Owns 5 nurseries: Daventry, Northants (90); Moulton Park Industrial Estate, Northampton (70); Peterborough Business Park, Peterborough, Cambs (112); Stratford-upon-Avon, Warks (55); Wellingborough, Northants (120)

Places: 447

Employees: 117

Plans: Expansion in progress.

 

CAROUSEL NURSERIES

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

Tel: 01389 763763

Fax: 01389 730469

Directors: Anne Jenkins, Claire Rowan

Established: 1995

Owns 3 nurseries: Alexandria (69), Dumbarton (75), Helensburgh (56) (all in Dunbartonshire)

1 out-of-school club: Dumbarton (54)

Places: 200

Employees: 93

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

 

CASTERBRIDGE NURSERIES

Head office: Suite 2, Chiswick Place, 272 Gunnersbury Ave, London W4 5QB

Tel: 020 8996 3500

Fax: 020 8996 3501

Website: www.casterbridgecae.com

Directors: Paul Brosnan, Matthew Moore, Nick Orrin

Established: 2004

Owns 26 nurseries: Banstead, Surrey (107); Bracknell, Berks (96); Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk (97); Caterham (98); Chigwell, Essex (102); Esher, Surrey (88); Farnborough, Hants (105); Fleet, Hants (120); Frimley Green, Surrey (80); Guildford, Surrey (96); Highams Park, Essex (55); Kings Hill, Kent (104); Kingston-on-Thames, Surrey (133); London, Croydon (74), Lewisham (63), Tooting Bec (170), Wembley (124); Poole, Dorset (42); Richmond, Surrey (150); Shortlands, Kent (65); Sonning, Berkshire (187); Upminster, Essex (62); Verwood, Dorset (68); Weybridge, Surrey(86);

Windlesham, Surrey (105); Woodford Green, Essex (50)

Places: 2,527

Employees: 845

 

CASTLE CHILDCARE

Central office: The Old Post Office, Antlands Land East, Shipley Bridge, Horley RH6 9TE

Tel: 01293 772561

Managing director: Robert Shannon

E-mail: admin@daycare.co.uk

Website: www.castledaycare.co.uk

Established: 1995

Owns 3 nurseries: Guildford, Markenfield (70), South Hill (30); Shamley Green, Surrey (30)

Places: 130

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: info@catherinehousedaynursery.com

Website: www.catherinehousedaynursery.com

Directors: Rita Howe-Douglas, Matthew Poray

Established: 1987

Owns 6 nurseries: Birmingham, Moseley (60), Northfield (40); Brockley, London (70); Leamington Spa, Warks (58); Northampton (55); Walsall, W Midlands (50)

Places: 333

Employees: 120

 

CFBT EDUCATION TRUST

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

Director: Wendy Woodcock

Established: CfBT 1965

Owns 9 nurseries: Binfield, Berks (145); Chorley, Lancs (53); Horwich, Lancs (70); Lancaster, Lancs (106); Middlesbrough, Teesside (42); Slough 1, Berks (134), Slough 2 (96); Taplow, Berks (118); West Norwood, London (118)

7 nursery units attached to independent schools: Cape Town, South Africa; Dulwich, London (201); Kings Monkton, Cardiff (28); Langley, Berks (68); Maidenhead, Berks (120); Rochester, Kent (120); Walton-on-Thames, Surrey (90); Wokingham, Berks (48)

Places: 1,557

Employees: 415

 

CHERRY CHILDCARE

Head office: Frimley Road, Ash Vale, Surrey GU12 5NZ

Tel/Fax: 01252 518221

Chairman: Barry Rolfe

Managing director: Nigel Rolfe

Director: Trisha Fisher

E-mail: cherrynur@aol.com

Website: www.cherrychildcare.co.uk

Established: 1993

Owns 8 nurseries: Addlestone, Surrey (94); Ash Vale, Hants (98); Epsom, Surrey (78); High Wycombe, Bucks (120); Ottershaw, Surrey (77); Sandhurst, Berks (48); Stoneleigh, Surrey (94); Weybridge, Surrey (28)

Places: 637

Employees: 176

Plans: New 76-place nursery opening in January 2010.

 

CHERUBS DAY NURSERIES

Head office: Cherubs Childcare Centre, Welbeck Road, Mansfield Woodhouse, Mansfield, Notts NG19 9LA

Tel: 01623 420940

Fax: 01623 634269

Managing director: Susan Mills

Director: Robert Everist

Established: 1993

Owns 8 nurseries: Kimberley (90), Mansfield 1 (60), Mansfield 2 (55), Mansfield Woodhouse (147), Newark (44), Ravenshead (120) (all in Notts); Nottingham, Bulwell 1 (80), Bulwell 2 (82)

2 preparatory schools: Attenborough Prep School, Saville House Prep School

Places: 678

Employees: 240

Plans: In negotiations for other nurseries in the Nottingham/Mansfield areas.

 

CHERUB NURSERIES AND PRE-SCHOOLS

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

Tel: 01482 509598

Fax: 01482 576650

E-mail: admin-cw@cherubnurseries.com

Website: www.cherubnurseries.com

Proprietor: Beaconhouse Group

Established: 1976

Owns 3 nurseries: Beverley, E Yorks (73); Hull, Anlaby Road (125), Leads Road (67)

Places: 264

Employees: 53

 

THE CHESHIRE DAY NURSERY

Head office: Grammar School Road, Warrington WA4 1JN

Tel: 01925 230233

Fax: 01925 230408

E-mail: cheshiredaynursery@btconnect.com

Directors: Julie Mannering, Brenda Burling

Established: 2000

Owns 4 nurseries: Uttoxeter, Staffs (77, plus holiday and after-school club); Warrington 1, Cheshire (80), Warrington 2 (31); Wirral, Cheshire (125, plus holiday and after-school club)

Places: 313

Employees: 85

 

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 (chief executive), Angela Bramham (finance director), Lynda Gostelow (operations director)

Operates 38 nurseries: Aylesbury, Bucks, Stoke Mandeville Hospital (82); Barnet, Herts (52); Bath (95); Bedford (95); Birmingham (86); Buckingham (68); Cambridge, University of Cambridge 1 (88), University of Cambridge 2 (66); Chobham, Surrey (78); Coventry, Warks (66); Cranfield, Beds, Cranfield University (43); Finchampstead, Berks (67); Hemel Hempstead, Herts (59); Hitchin, Herts (74); Kettering, Northants (88); Leighton Buzzard, Beds (84); London, Chiswick (74), Winchmore Hill (80); Luton, Beds, Luton and Dunstable Hospital (94); Maidenhead, Berks (66); Milton Keynes, Bucks (57); Newbury, Berks (58); Newport Pagnell, Bucks (49); Northampton, Northampton General Hospital (101); Nottingham (80); Orpington, Kent (108); Oxford, Churchill Hospital (103), John Radcliffe Hospital (113); Purley, Surrey (58); Reading, Berks (86); Southall (103); Staines, Surrey (108); Swindon, Wilts (94); Twyford, Berks (84); Welwyn Garden City, Herts (74), Welwyn Garden City, QEII Hospital (95); Winchester, Hants (94), Winchester, University College (68)

Places: 3,038

Employees: 1,173

 

CHILDCARE & LEARNING (CRANBROOK)

Acquired Cranbrook Group Nursery Schools in January 2006

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

Tel: 01293 772561

Fax: 01293 772971

Director: Robert Shannon

Established: 1983

Owns 6 nurseries: Balcombe (41), Crawley (84) (both W Sussex); Charlwood 1 (32), Charlwood 2 (24hrs, 48), Horley 1 (58), Horley 2 (50) (all Surrey)

2 after-school clubs: Crawley, W Sussex (32); Horley, Surrey (36)

Places: 313

Employees: 97

 

THE CHILDCARE CORPORATION

Head office: St Pancras House, Jacobs Yard, Basingstoke, Hants RG21 7PE

Tel: 01256 383440

Fax: 01256 383411

E-mail: info@childcare.uk.com

Website: www.kiddicaru.com

Chairman: Alan Bentley

Finance director: Adrian Moore

Director of childcare: Sue Meekings

Operations director: Stuart Pendlebury

Established: 1998

Owns and manages 20 nurseries, operating under the brand Kiddi Caru: Basingstoke, Hants (121); Bedford (75); Burgess Hill, W Sussex (100); Chelmsford, Essex (94); Colchester, Essex (122); Exeter, Devon (129); Harlow, Essex (100); London, Earls Court (104), Streatham (28); Milton Keynes 1, Bucks (69), Milton Keynes 2 (89); Northampton (118); Peterborough, Cambs (114); Plympton, Devon (100); Taunton, Somerset (129); Torquay, Devon (96); Wellingborough, Northants (96); Whiteley, Hants (128); Wolverhampton, W Midlands (114); Writtle, Essex (99)

Places: 2,025

Employees: 800

 

CHILDCARE ENTERPRISE

Head office: Unit 25, Apex Business Village, Annitsford, Cramlington, Northumberland NE23 7BF

Tel: 0191 250 4590

Fax: 0191 250 1863

Chief executive: Julia Doxford

Established: 1994

Manages 12 nurseries: Chester, Blacon Children's Centre (75); Coventry, Land Registry (50); Durham, Land Registry (56); Ellesmere Port, Westminster and Rossmore Children's Centre (44); Leicester, Land Registry (40); Nottingham, Land Registry (60); Scarbrough, N Yorks (64); Wallsend, Howden Children's Centre (46), Wallsend Children's Centre (16) (both Tyne and Wear); Wilmslow, Oakenclough Children's Centre Nursery (63); York, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (44), Food and Environment Agency (47)

4 playschemes: Durham Kids' Club (132); Leicester Land Registry (25); London, Croydon, Home Office (48); Nottingham Land Registry (40)

3 creches: Scarborough, North Yorks (30); Wallsend, Howdon Children's Centre (15), Wallsend Children's Centre (16) (both Tyne and Wear)

Places: 666

Employees: 170

Plans: Expansion programme for the next three years.

 

CHILDCARE SCOTLAND

Head office: Burnside House, Kilwinning Road, Irvine KA12 8RU

Tel: 01294 277950

Fax: 01294 312765

Directors: Meg McLeod, Les Macleod, Yvonne McDowall

E-mail: info@childcarescotland.com

Website: www.childcarescotland.com

Established: 1989

Owns 9 nurseries: Aberdeen (108); Edinburgh (105); Falkirk (68); Glasgow, Caledonian University (59), Glasgow University (79), Strathclyde University (56); Irvine, Ayrshire (142); Kilmarnock, Ayrshire (119); Largs, Ayrshire (36)

Places: 772

Employees: 190

 

CHILD CENTRED NURSERIES

Head office: Highwood House, Maldon Road, Hatfield Peverel, Chelmsford CM3 2JP

Tel: 01245 382582

Fax: 01245 382581

E-mail: info@childcentrednurseries.co.uk

Website: www.childcentrednurseries.co.uk

Directors: Stephen Field, Melanie Field

Established: 1995

Owns 7 nurseries: Colchester 1 (88), Colchester 2 (48), Colchester 3 (46), Colchester 4 (32), Hatfield Peverel (60), Kelvedon (58), Witham (49) (all in Essex)

Places: 381

Employees: 129

Plans: To develop the existing nurseries and look at the potential for new-build and acquisition.

 

CHILD FIRST

Tel: 07831 635802

E-mail: tom.s@childfirst.co.uk

Website: www.childfirst.co.uk

Director: Tom Shea

Established: January 2007

Owns and manages 5 nurseries: Aylesbury, Bucks (75); Banbury, Oxon (75); Bicester, Oxon (116); Moulton, Northants (80); Solihull, W Midlands (106)

Places: 452

Employees: 104

Plans: To build the five nurseries into organic nurseries moving from acceptable to exceptional sharing that good practice with all of those who might wish to do the same.

 

CHILDREN'S CORNER CHILDCARE

Head office: Springbank School, Wesley Street, Farsley, Leeds LS28 5LE

Tel: 0113 257 7868

E-mail: la.dawson@btinternet.com

Directors: Lesley Dawson, Allan Dawson

Established: 1998

Owns 5 nurseries: Leeds, Farsley (46, plus 24 out-of-school), Granary Wharf (27), Headingley (20), Moorlands (27), Valley View (46, plus 24 out-of-school)

2 out-of-school playschemes: The Grammar School (40), Wigton Moor Primary School (39)

Places: 166

Employees: 75

Plans: Consolidation of existing position.

 

CHILDREN'S PLACE

Head office: 1 Hind Street, Wyke, Bradford BD12 8JT

Tel: 01274 601575

Fax: 01274 679854

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

Website: www.childrens-place.co.uk

Directors: Karen Walker and Debbie Burke

Established: 1991

Owns and manages 7 nurseries: Bradford, Barkerend (61), Burnett Fields (50), Daisy Hill (56); Dewsbury (51); Halifax (59); Ravensthorpe (66); Scarborough (38) (all in Yorks)

Places: 381

Employees: 115

Plans: Expansion plans underway at Scarborough.

 

CHIPMUNKS DAY NURSERIES

Head office: 6 Herringston Road, Dorchester, Dorset DT1 2BS

Tel: 01305 260002

E-mail: wellsicmrs@aol.com

Owners: Ian Wells, Christine Wells

Established: 1991

Owns 2 nurseries: Dorchester (99, plus 23-place out-of-school club), Weymouth (98, plus 24-place out-of-school club) (both in Dorset)

Places: 197

Employees: 65

 

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, Surrey (44); Guildford, Surrey, Burpham (44), Merrow (47), Wood Street Village (46); Woking, Surrey (44)

Also operates: Children's centre at Cranleigh, Surrey (community services for families and young children)

Places: 225

Employees: 80

Plans: Looking for new sites.

CLEAR DAY NURSERIES

Acquired Greendale Nursery Complex in June 2007

Head office: Clear Day Nurseries, 157-173 Roden Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT12 5QA

Tel: 02890 419199

Fax: 02890 484273

E-mail: audrey@cleardaynurseries.com

Website: www.cleardaynurseries.com

Owner: Colin Johnston

Established: 2007

Owns 4 nurseries: Belfast, Dundonald (96); Craigavon, First Steps Junior Academy (48), Holly House (78); Newtownabbey, Antrim (140)

Places: 362

Employees: 140

 

COCOON NURSERIES

Head office: Penthouse Suite, Moritz House, Ballycullen, Dublin 24, Eire

Tel: 00 353 1419 9999

Fax: 00 353 1419 9998

Website: www.cocoonchildcare.ie

Managing director: Robert Buckley

Established: 2003

Manages 7 childcare centres: Artane, Co Dublin (58); Blessington, Co Wicklow (123); Kimmage, Co Dublin (78); Rathfarnham, Co Dublin (88); Tallaght, Co Dublin (70); Naas (114), Sallins (90) (both in Co Kildare)

Places: 621

Employees: 129

Plans: Looking for new sites.

 

COOMBE VALLEY

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

Tel: 01566 777036

Fax: 01566 777036

E-mail: office@coombevalley.com

Directors: Charles Ranson, Susan Ranson

Established: 1990

Owns 3 nurseries: Egloskerry (20), Launceston (29), Trebursye (44) (all in Cornwall)

Places: 93

Employees: 25

Plans: Opening a new nursery in Callington, Cornwall in January.

 

COUNTRYSIDE NURSERIES

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

Tel: 01628 476153

Fax: 01628 487019

E-mail: enquiries@countrysidenurseries.co.uk

Director: Angela Palmer-Moore

Established: 1991

Owns 7 nurseries: Ascot (38); Burnham, Bucks (35); Cookham Dean, Berks (24); Flackwell Heath 1, Bucks (33), Flackwell Heath 2, (25); Henley-on-Thames, Oxon (75); Sunninghill, Berks (45)

Places: 275

Employees: 90

 

CRECHE-N-CO

Head office: Cityview Business Centre, Office 12, 99 Long Street, Middleton, Manchester M24 6UN

Tel: 0161 643 4747

Fax: 0161 653 0786

E-mail: crechencoltd@aol.com

Directors: Lorraine Darlington, Marilyn Prescott

Established: 1989

Owns/manages 5 nurseries: Bury, Lancs, Fairfield General Hospital (68), Woodfields (60); Rochdale, Hopwood Hall College (60, plus 50-place holiday playscheme), Newbold, Sure Start Children's Centre Nursery (46), Sandbrook, Sure Start Children's Centre Nursery (60). Also provides childcare services for corporate events.

Places: 294

Employees: 72

 

CRYSTAL CHILDCARE

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

Tel: 020 8659 6417

Fax: 020 8659 6712

E-mail: info@crystalchildcare.co.uk

Website: www.crystalchildcare.co.uk

Directors: Lorraine Duffy, Paul Duffy

Established: 1988

Owns 3 nurseries: London, Anerley (59), Sydenham (30), Upper Norwood (20)

Places: 109

Employees: 40

 

*DAISY AND JAKE DAY NURSERY

Head office: 185 Spital Road, Spital Bromborough, Wirral CH46 0SF

Tel: 0151 343 1007

E-mail: info@daisyand jakedaynursery.co.uk

Website: www.daisyand jakedaynursery.co.uk

Managing director: Lisa Collins

Established: January 2005

Owns 3 nurseries: Irby (86), Moreton (105), Spital (85) (all in Wirral)

Places: 276

Employees: 85

 

*DAISY CHAIN CHILDCARE

Head office: 2a Tile Lane, Adel, Leeds LS16 8DY

Tel: 0113 2857000

E-mail: info@daisychainchildcare.com

Website: www.daisychainchildcare.com

Directors: Jo Gomersall, Helen Somers

Established: 2001

Owns 4 nurseries: Leeds, Adel (54), Rotherwell (50); Parkgate, Rotherham (42); Wakefield (52)

Places: 198

Employees: 85

 

DIANDJIMS

Head office: The Pavilion, Wanless Lane, Hexham NE46 1BU

Tel: 01434 600000

Fax: 01434 600000

Website: www.diandjims.co.uk

Directors: Di Richardson, Jim Richardson

Established: 1995

Owns 2 nurseries: Hexham (26, plus 50 out-of-school places), Prudhoe (50, plus 26 out-of-school and 12 creche places) (both in Northumberland)

Places: 76

Employees: 28

 

*DIZZY DUCKS

Head office: Lakeview House, 4 Woodbrook Crescent, Billericay, Essex CM12 0EQ

Tel: 01277 650538/633555

E-mail: sian.nisbett@dizzyducks.co.uk

Website: www.dizzyducks.co.uk

Director/owner: Sian Nisbett

Established: 2005

Owns 3 nurseries: Billericay 1 (30), Billericay 2 (67), Harlow (44) (all in Essex)

Places: 141

Employees: 60

Plans: Harlow nursery opening in January 2010.

 

EARLYWORLD NURSERIES

Head office: Darwin Court, Oxon Business Park, Welshpool Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY3 5AL

Tel: 01743 244600

Fax: 01743 341500

Websites: www.earlyworld.co.uk

Managing director: Paul Edwards

Established: 1995

Owns 3 nurseries: Shrewsbury (126), Telford 1 (115), Telford 2 (130) (all in Shropshire)

Owns 4 out-of-school-clubs: Chester, Chestershire (42); Shrewsbury (74), Telford (74), (both Shropshire); Wolverhampton, W Midlands (40)

Places: 371

Employees: 177

 

EARLY YEARS CHILDCARE

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

Tel: 01273 778775

Fax: 01273 724583

E-mail: info@earlyyearschildcare.co.uk

Website: www.earlyyearschildcare.co.uk

General manager: David Wiltshire

Established: 1989

Owns/manages 9 nurseries: Basingstoke, Hampshire (108); Brighton, E Sussex (69); Crawley, W Sussex (28); Greenwich, London (51); Haywards Heath, W Sussex (72); Horsham, W Sussex (136); Hove, E Sussex (74); Lewes, E Sussex (51); Worthing, W Sussex (60)

Also operates: 6 holiday schemes (218)

Places: 649

Employees: 338

EATON SQUARE SCHOOLS

Head office: 79 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1PP

Tel: 020 7931 9469

Fax: 020 7828 0164

Headmaster: Paul David

Established: 1981

Owns 6 nursery schools: London, Eccleston Street 1 (22), Eccleston Street 2 (33), Fulham Road (36), Knightsbridge (31), Pimlico (34); Twickenham Park, Middlesex (60)

Places: 216

Employees: 48

 

THE EDINBURGH NURSERY

Head office: 127 Broughton Road, Edinburgh EH7 4JH

Tel: 0131 557 5675

Website: www.edinburghnursery.com

Director: Karen Fairlamb

Established: 1986

Owns/manages 4 nurseries: Edinburgh, Beaverhall Road (34), Broughton Road (27), Broughton Street (9), East London Street (18)

Places: 88

Employees: 42

 

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: London, Raynes Park (54), Tooting Bec (36), Tooting Broadway (41), Wandsworth (63), Wimbledon (50)

Has 1 prep school: Tooting Bec (90)

Places: 244

Employees: 125

 

FENNIES UNDER 5s DAY NURSERIES

Head office: Christchurch Road, Pampisford Road, Purley CR8 2NL

Tel: 020 8763 8039

Website: www.fennies.com

E-mail: karin@fennies.com

Established: 1992

Director: Sarah Fenn

Owns 5 nurseries: Beckenham, Kent (36); Croydon (104), Purley (105), Sanderstead (32), South Croydon (72) (all Surrey)

Places: 349

Employees: 100

 

FIRST CLASS CHILD CARE

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

Directors: Alan Clifford, Andrew Clifford, Gail Clifford

Senior managers: Judith Gannon (Lancs), Clare Gibson (Yorks)

Established: 1984

Owns 8 nurseries: Accrington (63), Clayton (48), Clitheroe (38), Dill Hall (55) (all in Lancs); Halifax (92), Harrogate (80), Idle, Bradford (66), Yeadon, Leeds (65) (all in W Yorks)

Places: 507

Employees: 145

 

FLEDGLINGS

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

Tel: 0161 281 2821

Fax: 0161 281 2822

Directors: Christopher Gray, Michelle Smith, Jackie Kerr

Established: 1990

Owns 3 nurseries: Manchester, Irlam (159), Stretford (70), Worsley (120)

Places: 349

Employees: 103

 

FLYING START

Head office: Penweeth, 1 Trelawney Road, Camborne TR14 7LN

Tel/Fax: 01209 611811

Owner: Sharon Cowburn

Established: 1993

Owns 9 nurseries: Camborne 1 (30), Camborne 2 (24), Cornwall College (96), Duchy (16), Helston (48), Penryn (86), Redruth (48), Saltash (67) (all in Cornwall); Plymouth, Devon (52)

Places: 467

Employees: 100

 

FOR UNDER FIVES

Head office: 33 Abbey Road, Grimsby, Lincs DN32 0HQ

Tel: 01472 232300

Fax: 01472 232301

Website: www.forunderfives.co.uk

Directors: David Lang, Steven Lampard

General manager: Amanda Gilbert

Established: 1987

Owns 5 nurseries: Cottingham (50 + 8 out-of-school), Grimsby 1 (55 + 8 out-of-school), Grimsby 2 (77), Lincoln (69) (all in Lincs); Wath upon Dearne, S Yorks (120 + 16 out-of-school)

Manages 11 nurseries and children's centres: Boston, Lincs, Pilgrim Hospital (45); Goole, Scunthorpe and Goole NHS Trust (50); Grimsby, Franklin College (44), Heneage (45), Weston (47), Young Peoples (9); Lincoln, Lincoln and Louth NHS Trust (42), Lincoln Central (45), Welbourn Gardens (28); Selby, N Yorks, Selby College (55); Wakefield, W Yorks, West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service (53)

Places: 834

Employees: 293

Plans: Opening 48-place Children's Centre in Grimsby in December 2009. To seek further contracts with local authorities, NHS trusts and colleges, as well as providing our services locally.

 

FRAN'N'BRU

Head office: 50 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London E14 5NS

Tel: 020 7719 1933

Fax: 020 7719 1933

Principal/proprietor: Kate Williamson

Established: 1997

Owns 4 nurseries: London, Bank Street (53), Canada Square (100), Columbus Courtyard (100), Westferry Circus (26)

Places: 279

Employees: 65

 

GIRAFFE CHILDCARE AND EARLY LEARNING CENTRES

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

Tel: 00 353 1283 3500

Fax: 00 353 1277 1017

E-mail: info@giraffe.ie

Chairman: Tony Kilduff

Joint managing directors: Mary Ann McCormack, Simon Dowling

Director: Tony McCormack

Owns 19 nurseries: Greater Dublin area: Adamstown (96), Belermine (155), Blanchardstown, (100), Celbridge (96), Clonsilla (120), Grifeen (96), Harcourt Road (120), Icon (106), Irish Financial Services Centre (96), Liffey Valley (120), Loughlinstown (185), Lucan (110), Milltown (116), National College of Ireland (78), Navan (85), Northern Cross (120), Park West Business Park (120), Rathbourne (85), Rathfarnham (65). Also owns Giraffe Corporate Childcare Services and Childcare Consultancy.

Places: 2,069

Employees: 380

 

GRANBY NURSERIES

Head office: Granby House, Aldwarke Road, Rotherham, S Yorks S62 6BU

Tel: 01709 710709

Fax: 01709 719180

Proprietors: Joanne Gray, Cameron Gray

Established: 1994

Owns 4 nurseries: Rotherham, S Yorks, Parkgate (97), Town Centre (79), Wickersley (41); Worksop, Notts (47)

Places: 264

Employees: 103

 

GRASSHOPPERS DAY NURSERIES

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

Tel: 01727 812731

Fax: 01727 833197

Directors: Kate Perrin, Nerissa Burton

Established: 1989

Owns 6 nurseries: Aylesbury, Bucks (52); Birmingham, Edgbaston (48), Erdington (53), Harborne (35); Hertford (60), St Albans (31) (both in Herts)

Places: 279

Employees: 125

 

HAPPY CHILD

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

Tel: 020 8579 8558

Fax: 020 8579 3109

E-mail: admin@happychild.co.uk

Website: www.happychild.co.uk

Managing director: Tracey Storey

Established: 1990

Owns 13 nurseries: London, Ealing Common (35), The Grove (50), The Grove Montessori (41), Harlesden (66), Kilburn (70), Northfields (35), Shepherds Bush (27), West Ealing Baby (18), West Ealing Day (35); Eltham, Montessori Day Nursery (58), Kenton 1 (55), Kenton 2 (50), Mottingham Baby (28), Wembley (40) (all in Middlesex)

4 preparatory schools: Ealing, Aston House School; Kingsbury, St Nicholas School; Wembley, Buxlow Prepatory School, St Christopher's School. Owns Aston Training Centre, now called Happy Child Training.

Places: 608

Employees: 390

Plans: To establish and/or acquire nurseries over the next few years in the London region.

 

HAPPY DAYS NURSERIES

Head office: Unit 5, St Columb Industrial Estate, St Columb Major TR9 6SQ

Tel: 01637 882160/0800 783 3431

E-mail: enquiries@happydaysnurseries.com

Website: www.happydaysnurseries.com

Partners: Robin Karkeek, Sarah Karkeek

Established: 1993

Owns 18 nurseries: Bodmin (66), Falmouth (80), Jacobstow (24), Liskeard (57), Newquay (50), St Austell (80), St Blazey 1 (54), St Blazey 2 (14), St Minver (30), Summercourt (24), Treloggan (26), Treloweth (80), Truro 1 (42), Truro 2 (71), Truro 3 (80), Truro Playbox (50), Wadebridge (54) (all in Cornwall); Derriford, Devon (133)

4 holiday clubs: Bishops Pirates (30), Treloweth Pirates (30), Trenance Infants Pirates (16) (all in Cornwall); and a training academy

Places: 1,015

Employees: 450

Plans: To continue expanding in the south-west and increasing the number of childcare places offered within the group.

 

HAPPY JAYS NURSERIES AND CHILDCARE CENTRES

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

Tel: 01904 479261

Directors: Jacqueline Gernon, Tony Gernon

Established: 1996

Owns 4 nurseries: Batley (80), Boroughbridge (45), Scarborough (95), York (92) (all in Yorks)

Places: 312

Employees: 95

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

 

HAPPY KIDZ

Head office: 1 James Reckitt Avenue, Hull, E Yorks HU8 7TH

Tel/Fax: 01482 788848

E-mail: info@happykidznursery.co.uk

Website: www.happykidznursery.co.uk

Director: Anita Anderson

Established: 1996

Owns 2 nurseries: Hull 1 (84), Hull 2 (42)

1 out-of-school club: Hull (26)

Places: 126

Employees: 28

 

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 nurseries and 1 pre-school: Swansea: Glanmor Road (58), Morriston - nursery (65), pre-school (45)

Places: 208

Employees: 50

THE HONEYTREE DAY NURSERY

Head office: Weston General Hospital Nursery, Grange Road, Uphill, Weston-super-Mare

Tel: 01934 414471

Directors: Philip Weston

Established: 1980

Owns 4 nurseries: Bristol (60), Langford (36), Portishead (46), Weston General Hospital (58) (all in Somerset)

Places: 200

Employees: 40

Plans: To purchase some additional nurseries.

HOPSCOTCH CHILDREN'S NURSERIES

Head office: 9 Aymer Road, Hove, E 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 5 nurseries: Brighton (58), Hove 1 (92), Hove 2 (51), Peacehaven (39), Seaford (92, plus 1 out-of-school club) (all in E Sussex)

Places: 332

Employees: 120

HRH NURSERIES

Head office: Sycamores, Manor Lane, Hemingford Abbots, Huntingdon PE28 9AJ

Tel: 01480 380042

Fax: 01480 468089

Directors: Glen Perrott, David Perrott

Established: 1991

Owns 3 nurseries: Hemingford Abbots (106), Hinchingbrooke (85), St Ives (100) (all in Cambs)

Places: 259

Employees: 61

 

HUNGRY CATERPILLAR DAY NURSERIES

Head office: 2 Princess Lane, Ruislip, Middlesex HA4 8LG

Tel: 01895 678682

Fax: 01895 625344

E-mail: oliviafoley@aol.com

Owners: Olivia Foley, Denis Foley

Established: 1999

Owns 4 nurseries: Acton (32), Northolt (41), Northwood (40), Yeading (50) (all in Middlesex)

2 creches: Northolt (12), Northwood (27)

1 before- and after-school club: Northwood College, Middlesex (40)

1 holiday club: New Denham, Middlesex (120)

Places: 202

Employees: 60

Plans: To open new nursery within next 18 months, 50-place plus.

IMAGINE CO-OPERATIVE CHILDCARE

Part of Midcounties Co-operative Society

Head office: Co-operative House, 234 Botley Road, Oxford OX2 OHP

Tel: 01865 256299

Fax: 01865 792057

E-mail: info@imagine.coop

Website: www.imagine.coop

Group manager: Haydn Lunn

Established: 2003

Owns 6 nurseries: Cainscross (61), Cam (48) (both in Glos); Oxford, Blackbird Leys (72), John Radcliffe Hospital (96), Rose Hill (61); Swindon, Wilts (61). Childcare voucher business launched in April 2005.

Places: 399

Employees: 145

 

JANCETT GROUP OF DAY NURSERIES

Head office: Jancett House, 16 Stanley Park Road, Wallington, Surrey SM6 OEU

Tel: 020 8669 1725

Fax: 020 8669 2659

Proprietors: Chris Pritchard, John Pritchard, Tracy Pritchard-Drummond

Established: 1969

Owns 6 nurseries: Carshalton (60), Merton (30), Wallington 1 (nursery) (70), Wallington 2 (baby unit) (31), Wallington 3 (60), Wallington 4 (50) (all in Surrey)

Other: We provide apprenticeships and advanced apprenticeships, NVQs (levels 2, 3, 4) in childcare, playwork, ITQ, customer service, and business and administration at our JACE training centres, as well as professional development qualifications.

Places: 301

Employees: 158

 

JUST LEARNING

includes Nunu (acquired by Just Learning in October 2009)

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

Tel: 01732 846333

Fax: 01732 846444.

Scottish office: 1 Lochside Place, Edinburgh EH12 9DP

Tel: 0131 339 1114

Fax: 0131 339 9969

E-mail: info@justlearning.co.uk, info@caresharenurseries.com

Websites: www.justlearning.co.uk www.caresharenurseries.com

Directors: Jonathan Bell (managing director), Hamilton Anstead (non-executive chairman), Michael Fallon (development director), Nigel Doe (finance director), Bob Hewson (non-executive director)

Established: 1995

Owns 75 nurseries: Ashford, Kent (108); Ayr Hospital, Ayrshire (81); Basingstoke, Hants (100); Bedford (112); Blaydon, Tyne and Wear (69); Bridgend, Glamorganshire (108); Bristol (116); Cardiff (100); Chafford Hundred, Essex (92); Colchester, Essex (139); Coventry, Warks (46); Darlington, Co Durham (88); Dundee, Angus (58); Dunfermline, Fife, Carnegie (89), Lauder (107); Eastbourne, E Sussex (100); East Kilbride, Glasgow (101); Edinburgh, Edinburgh Park (142), Newhaven (55), Port Hamilton (90), Royal Infirmary (78); Gillingham, Kent (112); Glasgow, Heritage (97), Netherton (59), West of Scotland Science Park (91); Glenrothes, Fife (101); Great Notley, Essex (100); Huntingdon, Cambs (100); Ingleby Barwick, Teesside (100); Inverness, Highlands (82); Ipswich 1, Suffolk (100), Ipswich 2 (112); Kinross, Kinrossshire (85); Liverpool 1 (55), Liverpool 2 (92); Livingston, Lothian, Alba (100), Burnside (76), Sunnyside (80); London, Bexleyheath (100), Croydon, (112), Higham Hill (140), King George Hospital (124), Westminster (74), Whipps Cross Hospital (100); Maidstone 1, Kent (112), Maidstone 2 (50), Maidstone 3 (30); Melrose, Borders (75); Newbury, Berks (104); Newcastle (112); Norwich, Norfolk, Norwich (72), Norwich Airport (112), Meridian Business Park (112); Southwell, Notts (37); Stevenage, Herts (112); Stockton-on-Tees, Teesside (57); Stowmarket, Suffolk (112); Sunderland, Wearside, Cleadon (115), Doxford (90), Fulwell (82), Ryhope (124); Trowbridge, Wilts (100); Wakefield, W Yorks (112); Wellingborough, Northants (100); Wigan, Lancs (79)

 

NUNU

Head office: Millhouse Business Centre, Station Road, Castle Donington, Derbyshire DE74 2NJ

Tel: 01332 813935

Fax: 01332 813938

Website: www.nunu.co.uk

Established: 1999

10 nurseries: Cheadle, Cheshire (116); Holmes Chapel, Cheshire (105); Long Eaton, Notts (107); Loughborough, Leics (40); Market Harborough, Leics (118); Northampton (111); Sandbach, Cheshire (62); Shrewsbury, Shropshire (119); Thetford, Norfolk (64); Wigan, Lancs (101)

Places: 7,013

Employees: 1,843

Plans: Other nurseries under development and acquisition.

 

*KALEIDOSCOPE DAY NURSERIES

Head office: Griffin House, Station Road, Morley LS27 8JW

Tel: 0113 2534 968

Fax: 0113 2524 924

E-mail: kalscopeho@aol.com

Website: www.knurseries.com

Directors: Jane Middlebrook, Steve Middlebrook

Established: 1990

Owns 5 nurseries: Leeds, Gildersome (48), Morley (82); York, Acomb (83), Acorn (36), City (30)

6 out-of-school schemes: Leeds (4), York (2)

Places: 279

Employees: 130

 

KIDS 1ST DAY NURSERIES

Head office: HMC House, Keel Row 12, The Watermark, Metro Riverside, Gateshead NE11 9SZ

Tel: 0191 461 8877

Fax: 0191 461 8866

Website: www.kidsfirst.net

E-mail: enquiries@kidsfirst.net

Managing director: Mark McArdle

Established: 2003

Owns/manages 7 nurseries: Ashington, Northumberland, Wansbeck General Hospital (112); Billingham, Tees Valley, Wynyard Business Park (108); Darlington (108); Durham, University Hospital (100); Hexham, Northumberland, Hexham General Hospital (100); Newcastle, Balliol Business Park (108); North Shields, Tyne and Wear, North Tyneside General Hospital (112)

Places: 748

Employees: 160

KIDS ACADEMY 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: Warrington 1 (61), Warrington 2 (117), Warrington 3 (60), Warrington 4 (100), Warrington 5 (50) (all in Cheshire)

Places: 388

Employees: 100

Plans: 50-place nursery due to open February 2010.

 

*KIDS ALLOWED

Head office: Joshua House, Christie Fields Office Park, Manchester M21 7QS

Tel: 0161 434 6555

Fax: 0161 445 6953

E-mail: jennie.johnson@kidsallowed.com

Website: www.kidsallowed.com

Chief executive: Jennie Johnson

Established: May 2003

Owns 3 nurseries: Cheadle Royal (161), Christie Fields (161), Knutsford (161)

5 out-of-school clubs: (272)

Places: 483

Employees: 190

 

KIDS INC NURSERIES

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

Tel: 020 8598 2600

Fax: 020 8598 2601

Website: www.kidsincnurseries.co.uk

Established: 2003

Managing director: Sav Kalsi

Financial director: Balvinder Kalsi

Nursery group manager: Angela Baker

Owns 9 nurseries: Bluewater, Kent (107); East Sheen (36); Gants Hill (30); Guildford, Surrey (129); Ilford, Essex (112); Loughton, Essex (60); Redbridge (2 sites) (100); South Woodford, London (51)

Places: 625

Employees: 200

Plans: Further acquisitions in London and around M25.

 

KIDSUNLIMITED

Head office: Summerfields Village Centre, Dean Row Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 2TA

Tel: 0845 365 2900

Fax: 0845 365 2196

Website: www.kidsunlimited.co.uk

E-mail: enquiries@kidsunlimited.co.uk

Established: 1983

Directors: Lee Pearson, Jeremy Clark, Rob McNamara, Graham Smith

Owns 53 nurseries: Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, Furness General Hospital (62); Basingstoke, Hants (149); Beckenham, Kent (59); Burnaston, Derbyshire, Toyota Motor Plant (59); Cambridge, Addenbrookes Hospital (88), Cambridge Science Park (165), Ely (120), Fulbourn, (128), Long Road (152), Wolfson Court (80); Chester, Countess of Chester Hospital (60); Crewe, Cheshire (132); Epping, Essex (93); Guildford, Surrey (60); Hamilton, Lanarkshire (100); Harwell, Oxon (92); Leeds, Stourton, FirstDirect (237); Littlehampton, Body Shop (103); Liverpool, Broadgreen (81), Eldonians (60); London, Bickley, Bromley (88), Camden (86), Chelsea (49), Islington (61), Ladbroke Grove (72), Regent's Place (78), Wandsworth (69); Lancaster (62); Leeds (69); Luton, Beds (144); Manchester, Didsbury (146), Hulme St Mary's (84), Macintosh City Centre (154), Manchester Airport (60); North Cheam, Surrey (80); Oxford, Milton Park (146), Oxford Business Park (166), Oxford Waterways (100); Oxford University, Bradmore (52), Jack Straw (62), Mansion House (51); Peterborough, Cambs (54); Sheffield 1, S Yorks (46), Sheffield 2 (84); Swindon, Wilts, WH Smiths (45); Teddington 1, Middlesex (86), Teddington NPL (80); Tytherington, Cheshire (92); Warrington, Cheshire (100); Watford, Herts (92); Wilmslow, Cheshire, Clairmont (96), Handforth Total Fitness (57), Summerfield (143)

Places: 4,934

Employees: 1,600

Plans: Expansion plans are set to continue with more nurseries opening and being acquired over the next year, including Highbury in summer 2010.

 

KIDZCARE

Formerly Astley Grange Nurseries

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

Tel: 0131 668 2797

Fax: 0131 668 2738

E-mail: info@kidzcare.org

Website: www.kidzcare.org

Directors: Fraser Quin, Anne Marie Dunn

Established: 2001

Owns 3 nurseries: Edinburgh, Craigmillar (25), Edinburgh 1, Astley Ainslie Hospital (99), Edinburgh 2 (59)

Also runs: 6 after-school clubs and 2 breakfast clubs

Places: 183

Employees: 51

 

*KINDERCARE

Head office: Hornbeam Business Park, Hookstone Road, Harrogate HG2 8QT

Tel: 01423 815990

Fax: 01423 816284

E-mail: enquiries@kindercareltd.co.uk

Website: www.kindercareltd.co.uk

Director: Mrs J Standeven

Established: 1993

Owns 8 nurseries: Harrogate 1 (146), Harrogate 2 (86), Harrogate 3 (60), Harrogate 4 (44); Leeds 1 (130), Leeds 2 (50), Leeds 3 (40); Ripon (126) (all Yorks)

Places: 682

Employees: 200

 

*KINDERKARE

Head office: Sunnyside, Barbourne Terrace, Worcester WR1 3JR

Tel: 01905 23973

E-mail: info@kinderkare.co.uk

Website: www.kinderkare.co.uk

Director: James Jenner

Established: 2003

Owns 4 nurseries: Exeter (120); Worcester, Hawthorn Cottage (50), London Road Nursery (50), Sunnyside (80)

Places: 300

Employees: 80

 

THE KINDERGARTENS

Head office: Great Tilden Oast, Tilden Lane, Marden, Kent TN12 9AY

Tel: 01622 833331

Fax: 01622 833313

Website: www.thekindergartens.com

Director: Carol Evelegh (principal)

Established: 1991

Owns 7 nurseries: South-west London: Balham 1 (46), Balham 2 (40), Balham 3 (30), Battersea (60), Clapham 1 (160) Clapham 2 (92), Kensington (80), Streatham (60)

Places: 568

Employees: 80

Plans: Two new developments planned for 2010.

 

KINDER GROUPS

Head office: Kinder House, Solomon Road, Rainham, Kent ME8 8EB

Tel: 01634 230222

Fax: 01634 364340

E-mail: info@kindernurseries.co.uk

Website: www.kindernurseries.co.uk

Directors: Stewart Hagerty

Established: 1990

Owns 8 nurseries and 10 out-of-school centres: East Malling (84), Gillingham (100), Gravesend (104), Maidstone (47), Meopham (103), Rainham (104), Sittingbourne (63), Tonbridge (64) (all in Kent)

1 independent school: Meredale Independent School, Rainham (140)

Places: 669

Employees: 158

 

KINGSCLERE NURSERIES AND COMPLETE CHILDCARE

(Complete Childcare acquired Kingsclere Nurseries in February 2009)

Head office: Bramley Wood Day Nursery, Crowthorne Road North, Bracknell, Berks RG12 7AR

Tel/Fax: 01344 489328

E-mail: enquiries@complete childcare.co.uk

Websites: www.kingsclere-nurseries.co.uk, www.completechildcare.co.uk

Directors: Alec Hodson, Phil Hennessy, Jonathan Boss

Established: 1986

Owns 10 nurseries: Arborfield (91), Bracknell (78), Finchampstead (33), Newbury (70), Reading 1 (43), Reading 2 (60), Wokingham 1 (24), Wokingham 2 (42), Winnersh (83) (all in Berks); Banbury (80)

Places: 604

Employees: 140

Plans: To extend our existing number of registrations and expand our geographical coverage further into Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

 

THE LAURELS GROUP OF NURSERIES

Head office: 1514 Melton Road, Queniborough, Leicester LE7 3FN

Tel: 0116 269 3858

Fax: 0116 269 8214

E-mail: jm1452@aol.com

Website: www.the-laurels.net

Directors: Jayne Morris (operations), Jon Morris (managing), Elaine Parker (childcare)

Established: 1997

Owns 5 nurseries: Market Harborough (60), Melton Mowbray (59), Oadby (22), Queniborough (80), Stoneygate (49) (all in Leics)

Places: 270

Employees: 90

Plans: To continue expansion in Leicestershire.

LILLIPUT CHILDREN'S CENTRES

Head office: Hersham Green, Burwood Road, Walton-on-Thames KT12 4AA

Tel: 01932 252202

Fax: 01932 228989

E-mail: walton@lilliput.org.uk

Website: www.lilliput.org.uk

Partners: Tony Cunningham, Phyleen Cunningham

Established: 1992

Owns 3 nurseries: Bagshot (44), Redhill, nr Gatwick (104), Walton-on-Thames (147) (all in Surrey)

Places: 295

Employees: 80

Plans: Actively looking at suitable nursery sites within the M25.

 

LILLIPUT MONTESSORI DAY NURSERIES

Head office: Railway House, Hotel Street, Coalville, Leics LE67 3EQ

Tel: 01530 813913

Fax: 01530 817898

E-mail: samgraveling@aol.com

Directors: Samantha Graveling, Paul Graveling

Established: 1994

Owns 5 nurseries: Anstey (79), Coalville (66), Glenfield (27), Leicester Forest East (87), Whetstone (63) (all in Leics)

Places: 322

Employees: 72

 

LITTLE ACORNS GROUP

(formerly Dan Leisure Group)

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

Tel: 01925 232202

Fax: 01925 235380

E-mail: enquiries@littleacornsgroup.com

Website: www.littleacornsgroup.com

Managing director: Neil Ritchie

Established: 1992

Operates 14 nurseries: Bangor, Gwynedd (20); Boston, Lincs (59); Dunfermline, Fife (62); Ellesmere Port, Cheshire (68); Gomersal, W Yorks (43); Manchester (64); Mirfield, W Yorks (68); Neston, Cheshire (67); Northampton (42); Rothwell, Leeds (45); Warrington 1, Cheshire (94), Warrington 2 (34), Warrington 3 (24); Washington, Tyne and Wear (98); plus creches, playgroups and toddler groups throughout the UK

Places: 788

Employees: 300

Plans: Two further nurseries are planned for 2010.

LITTLE EINSTEIN'S KINDERGARTEN

Head office: Everest Care Homes, Nithsdale Lodge Care Home, 620 Shields Road, Glasgow G41 2RD

Tel: 0141 423 5842

Website: www.littleeinstein.co.uk

Director: Deepak Poddar

Established: 2006

Owns 6 nurseries: Arbroath (61); Dundee 1 (49), Dundee 2 (26); Glasgow 1 (60), Glasgow 2 (47), Glasgow 3 (60); Perth (180). Also owns Thistle Training Company

Places: 483

Employees: 160

Plans: To become the leading childcare provider in Scotland.

LITTLE ONES CHILDCARE

Head office: Pinbrook Industrial Estate, Chancel Lane, Pinhoe, Exeter EX4 8JS

Tel: 01392 469909

E-mail: info@littleoneschildcare.co.uk

Website: www.littleoneschildcare.co.uk

Managing director: Katie Porter

Established: 2000

Owns and manages 5 nurseries: Budlake (29), Honiton (33), Westexe (38), Whipton (36), Wonford (33) (all in Devon)

Places: 169

Employees: 65

 

LITTLE PEOPLE NURSERIES

Head office: 250a Lillie Road, Fulham, London SW6 7PX

Tel/Fax: 020 7386 0006

Partners: Anne Gleasure, Jane Gleasure, David Gleasure, Bob Gleasure

Established: 1976

Owns 3 nurseries: London, Fulham (80), Shepherds Bush (35), Willow Vale (32)

Places: 147

Employees: 40

 

LONDON EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION (LEYF)

(Formerly WCS)

Head office: 121 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4LX

Tel: 020 7834 8679

Fax: 020 7233 8393

Website: www.leyf.org.uk

Chief executive: June O'Sullivan

Established: 1903

Legal structure/status: Registered charity, company limited by guarantee and social enterprise

Manages 19 community nurseries (all in London): Barking and Dagenham, Eastbury (53), Ford Road (50), Furze (52), Leys (50), Chadwell Heath, Wellgate Children's Centre (52); Camden, Fitzrovia (25); Westminster, Abbots Manor (25), Angel (30), Bessborough (35), Carlton Hill (53), Marsham Street (60), Holcroft (24), Katharine Bruce (59), Lisson Green (39), Luton Street (35), Mickey Star (36), Queensborough (30), Queens Park (42), Warwick (48)

Places: 798

Employees: 228

 

LONGACRE CHILDCARE

Head office: Broughton Cottage, London Road, Dunton Green, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 2TD

Tel: 01732 462339

E-mail: longacrechildcare@tiscali.co.uk

Website: www.longacrechildcare.co.uk

Proprietor: Sally Parson

Established: 1995

Owns 3 nurseries: Sevenoaks, Kent, Dunton Green (27), Otford (19); Tunbridge Wells, Kent (22), plus after-school and holiday clubs in each

Places: 68

Employees: 32

 

MAGIC NURSERIES

Head office: Swan Centre, Fishers Lane, London W4 1RX

Tel: 020 7060 0158

E-mail: tom@magicnurseries.com

Managing director: Tom Reed

Established: 2002

Owns 10 nurseries: Hitchin, Herts (95); Kirby Muxloe, Leics (45); Loughborough, Leics (72); Northampton (75); Oundle, Northants (43); Redbourn, Herts (94); Rushden, Northants (96); Shepshed, Leics (45); St Ives, Cambs (94); Whitwick, Leics (71)

Places: 730

Employees: 220

Plans: To continue rapid expansion by acquiring high quality individual nurseries and small groups.

MAGIC ROUNDABOUT NURSERIES

Head office: MRN House, Binfield Road, London SW4 6TB

Tel: 020 7498 1195

Fax: 020 7498 1196

Website: www.mrnnursery.co.uk

Director: Farukh Najabat

Established: 1995

Owns 5 nurseries: Bristol (92); London, Docklands (39), Kennington (104, plus 22 after-school places), Stockwell (186, plus 32 after-school places), Walthamstow (126, plus 32 after-school places)

Places: 547

Employees: 140

 

MAMA BEAR'S DAY NURSERY

Head office: 1st Floor, 60-62 High Street, Hanham, Bristol, BS15 3DR

Tel: 0117 958 2033

Fax: 0117 958 2038

E-mail: tonydriffield@mamabear.co.uk

Website: www.mamabear.co.uk

Directors: Bev Driffield, Tony Driffield

Established: 2002

Owns 8 nurseries: Bristol, Brislington (64), Clifton (72), Downend 1 (52), Downend 2 (60), Fishponds (45), Hengrove (37), Shirehampton (68), Soundwell (44); plus out-of-school club at Shirehampton

Places: 442

Employees: 200

Plans: To continue to serve the needs of working families in the Bristol area.

MILTON KEYNES PREPARATORY SCHOOLS GROUP

Formerly Ravenstone House Pre-Preparatory Schools and Nurseries

Head office: Milton Keynes Preparatory School, Tattenhoe Lane, Milton Keynes MK3 7EG

Tel: 01908 642111

Fax: 01908 366365

Headteacher: Hilary Pauley

Established: 1975

Owns 3 nurseries: Broughton Manor (160), Milton Keynes Preparatory School (250), Walton (100) (all attached to independent preparatory schools in Milton Keynes)

Places: 510

Employees: 100

 

NEWPARK CHILDCARE

Head office: 67 Highbury New Park, London N5 2EU

Tel: 07966 962077

Fax: 020 7503 0961

Website: www.newparkchildcare.co.uk

Directors: Barry Clutterbuck, Janice Clutterbuck, Tiffany Clutterbuck

Established: 1994

Owns 3 nurseries: London, Barbican (24), Highbury (32), Shepherds Bush (82)

2 Montessori schools: London, Highbury, Shepherds Bush

Places: 138

Employees: 26

Plans: Ongoing expansion programme.

 

NORTHUMBRIAN TRUST DAY NURSERIES

Head office: 301 Chillingham Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE6 5SB

Tel: 0191 265 6501

Fax: 0191 2465 6353

E-mail: enquiries@northumbriantrustdaynurseries.co.uk

Website: www.northumbriantrustdaynurseries.co.uk

Directors: JP Gould, EG Gould, JJ Gould

Established: 1994

Owns 4 nurseries: Crescent (30); Forest Hall (87, plus out-of-school club); Spennymoor, Co Durham (43); York (29). Also owns Rainbow Training Centre, which offers NVQ levels 2, 3 and 4.

Places: 189

Employees: 64

 

NUNTHORPE NURSERIES GROUP

Head office: 2 The Crescent, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough TS7 0JP

Tel/Fax: 01642 325312

E-mail: nunthorpenurseries@callnetuk.com

Website: www.nunthorpenurseries-grp.co.uk

Directors: Paul Nelson, Ian Howlett

Established: 1989

Owns 10 nurseries: Billingham (50), Brambles Farm (78), Ingleby Barwick (60), Middlesbrough 1 (76), Middlesbrough 2 (85), Middlesbrough 3 (51), Nunthorpe 1 (61), Nunthorpe 2 (76), Ormesby 1 (51), Stockton-on-Tees (62) (all in Teesside)

Places: 650

Employees: 145

 

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 4 nurseries: Nantwich (85, plus 24-place after-school), Sandbach (35) (both in Cheshire); Wirral, Cheshire, Arrowe Park (80), Clatterbridge (60)

Places: 260

Employees: 80

 

THE OLD STATION NURSERY

Head office: 7 Park Road, Faringdon, Oxon SN7 7BP

Tel: 01367 243800

Fax: 01367 243800

E-mail: enquiries@theoldstationnursery.co.uk

Website: www.theoldstationnursery.co.uk

Managing director: Sarah Steel

Established: 2002

Owns 12 nurseries: RAF Benson, Oxon (106); RAF Cottesmore, Rutland (98); Faringdon, Oxon (60); Filkins, Oxon (30); Gainsborough College, Lincs (19); Lincoln: Lincoln College (25), The Marina (44), RAF Waddington (111), Waterside (30), Wragby Road (42); RAF Linton-on-Ouse, N Yorks (80); Newark College, Notts (30)

Owns 4 out-of-school clubs: Buckland, Oxon (24); Cottesmore (24); Watlington (24); Wragby Road, Lincoln (12)

Places: 675

Employees: 250

ONCE UPON A TIME DAY NURSERIES

Head office: Blair Athol House, Ashfield Avenue, Feltham, Middlesex TW13 5BB

Tel: 020 8751 5810

Fax: 020 8844 0800

Website: www.onceuponatimedaynurseries.co.uk

Proprietor: Lorna Hackland-Crowther

Established: 1989

Owns 6 nurseries: Eastcote (26), Feltham (51), Hayes (26), Lower Feltham (35) Uxbridge 1 (42), Uxbridge 2 (26)

Owns 4 out-of-school clubs: Eastcote (40), Uxbridge 1 (48), Uxbridge 2 (30), West Drayton (40)

Owns 3 holiday clubs: Uxbridge 1 (48), Uxbridge 2 (30), West Drayton (40)

Places: 206

Employees: 80

Plans: To continue to invest in our settings and staff development, and to expand our portfolio.

 

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

Area manager: Nikki Black

Manager: Dianne Robertson

Established: 1998

Owns 6 nurseries: Dundee, Broughty Ferry (60), Clement Park Place (50), Dunsinane (50), Rosebank 1 (50), Rosebank 2 (50), Technology Park (100)

Places: 360

Employees: 145

 

PICCOLO NURSERIES

Head office: 209 Bradford Road, Shipley, W Yorks BD18 3AA

Tel/Fax: 01274 582755

Proprietors: Lisa Hardy, Pete Spencer

Established: 1989

Owns 3 nurseries: Saltaire (71), Shipley (30), Bradford (39) (all in Yorks), plus out-of-school clubs at Saltaire

Places: 140

Employees: 35

 

PINOCCHIO'S CHILDREN'S NURSERIES

Head office: Stuart House. Eskmills, Station Road, Musselburgh. East Lothian EH21 7PQ

Tel: 0131 273 5247

Website: www.pinocchiosnursery.co.uk

Directors: Stratos and Lewissa Koulis

Owns 5 nurseries: Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University (55); Eskbank (70), Gilmerton (48), Lasswade (64), Penicuick (55) (all in Midlothian)

Places: 292

Employees: 120

 

PIXIELAND DAY NURSERIES

Head office: 10 Springfield Drive, Milehouse Road, Plymouth PL3 4DU

Tel: 01752 511007

Fax: 01752 515254

Proprietor: Caroline Francis

Established: 1983

Owns/manages 5 nurseries: Devonport, MoD (32); Plymouth, Mannamead (79), Milehouse (92), Town Centre (26); Saltash (130) (all in Devon)

Places: 359

Employees: 92

PLACES FOR CHILDREN

Head office: Matrix House, North 4th Street, Central Milton Keynes MK9 1NJ

Tel: 01908 207321

Fax: 01908 694547

Managing director: Carol Jenkins

Established: 2003

Owns 12 nurseries: Hounslow, Middlesex (90); London, Barking (76), Charlton (40), Dagenham 1 (30), Dagenham 2 (54), Eltham (52), Hackney (50), Islington (76), Woolwich (52); Newcastle 1 (100), Newcastle 2, Newbiggin Hall (49); Watford (60)

Places: 729

Employees: 186

Plans: New-build nurseries alongside Places for People development sites in England and Scotland.

*PLUS THREE NURSERIES

Head office: Hope House, 21c Balliol Way, Olsmoor, Sandhurst, Berks GU47 0QN

Tel: 01344 482671/07970 030769

E-mail: plusthreenursery@aol.com

Website: www.plusthreenurseries.com

Director: Sue Butler

Senior nursery manager: Jenny Belcher

Established: 1985

Owns 3 nurseries: Bracknell, Berks, Farley Wood (45), Martins Heron (45), Newell Green (60)

Places: 150

Employees: 30

 

POSITIVE STEPS CHILDREN'S DAY NURSERY

Head office: Lower Church Street, Stokenchurch, Bucks HP14 3TG

Tel: 01494 484762

Fax: 01494 484265

Website: www.positivestepsnurseries.co.uk

Directors: Paul Clarke, Michelle Richardson

Established: 2000

Owns 5 nurseries: Apsley, Herts (90); Maidenhead 1, Berks (90), Maidenhead 2 (64); Shellingford, Oxon (54); Stokenchurch, Bucks (58)

Places: 356

Employees: 100

 

PREMIER CRECHE SERVICES

Head office: Gains Lodge East, Gains Park, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY3 5AN

Tel: 01743 366858

Fax: 01743 344872

Directors: Peter and Susan Cunningham, Glenda Green and Christine Peacock

Established: 1985

Manages 9 shoppers' creches: Aberdeen, Bon Accord Shopping Centre (30); Bristol, Cribbs Shopping Centre (60); Edinburgh, Gyle Shopping Centre (35); Falkirk, Callender Square Shopping Centre (30); Glasgow Fort (40); Manchester, The Trafford Centre (60); Milton Keynes, Bucks, Milton Keynes Shopping Centre (30); Sheffield, The Source (20); Swindon, Wilts, Great Western Designer Outlet Village (24)

14 IKEA ball rooms: Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancs; Belfast; Birmingham; Bristol; Cardiff; Coventry; Edinburgh; Glasgow; London, Wembley, Edmonton; Milton Keynes; Nottingham; Lakeside, Essex; Warrington, Cheshire

Places: 329

Employees: 380

 

PRE-SCHOOL LEARNING ALLIANCE

Head office: The Fitzpatrick Building, 188 York Way, London N7 9AD

Tel: 020 7697 2527

Fax: 020 7700 0319

E-mail: jane.armstrong@ pre-school.org.uk

Website: www.pre-school.org.uk

Chief executive: Steve Alexander

Established: 1961

Owns 35 neighbourhood nurseries and children's centres: Aylesham, Kent (46); Barnsley, Elsecar (50), Mapplewell (46); Birmingham, Acocks Green (50), Bartley Green (50), Quinton (50); Basildon, Essex, Laindon (50), Northlands Park (50); Bexley, Kent, North End (70), Erith (70), Thamesmead (84); Billingham, Cleveland (50); Bolton, Halliwell (50), Tongue (50); Bradford (50); Croydon, Surrey (62); Droitwich, Worcs (48); Ilfracombe, Devon (35); London, Deptford (40), Greenwich (50); Manchester (50); Marazion, Cornwall (26); Newstead Village, Notts (30); Reydon, Suffolk (38); Runcorn, Cheshire, Brookvale (60), Grangeway (54); Scunthorpe, Lincs (49); Shoeburyness, Essex (72); Skegness, Lincs (50); Southampton, Hants (40); Southend-on-Sea, Essex (61); Tipton, W Midlands (36); Stockton on Tees, Cleveland (75); Tiverton, Devon (40); Williton, Somerset (54)

Places: 1,786

Employees: 642

PRIMLEY PARK CHILDREN'S NURSERIES

Head office: 48 Nursery Lane, Alwoodley, Leeds LS17 7HW

Tel: 0113 266 7221

Fax: 0113 288 8833

E-mail: sahutchinson@fsmail.net

Directors: Sandra Hutchinson, Malcolm Hutchinson

Established: 1991

Owns 4 nurseries: Leeds, Alwoodley (50), Alwoodley Children's Centre (41) (32 out-of-school places), Moortown (50), Roundhay (75)

Places: 216

Employees: 82

 

PUFFINS OF EXETER CHILDCARE CENTRES

Head office: 13 Mont le Grand, Heavitree, Exeter, Devon EX1 2PD

Tel: 01392 496017

Fax: 01392 439903

Website: www.puffinschildcare.co.uk

Managing directors: Maureen Gard, Rosalind Taylor, Gemma Rolstone (operations director)

Established: 1990

Owns 7 nurseries: Exeter, Clystheath (60), Heavitree (40), St Leonards (72), Southernhay (70), Sowton (60), Winslade Park (46); Torquay, Shiphay (48). Training and assessment centre offers NVQ levels 2, 3 and 4, plus technical certificate for foundation modern apprenticeship and advanced modern apprenticeship courses.

2 after-school clubs: Exeter, Clyst St Mary (16), Pinhoe Road Baptist Church Holiday Club (32)

Places: 396

Employees: 169

 

RAINBOW NURSERY

Head office: St Marks Hall, Birling Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 5LX

Tel: 01892 516677

Proprietors: Lorraine Evans, David Evans, Amanda Semark, James Semark

Established: 1991

Owns 2 nurseries: Tunbridge Wells 1 (26), Tunbridge Wells 2 (30) (both in Kent)

Places: 56

Employees: 14

Plans: To open a third nursery.

 

RASCALS DAY NURSERIES

Head office: 121a Circular Road, Belfast BT4 2GE

Tel: 028 9076 1333

Fax: 028 9076 9333

Managing directors: Lynne D'Arcy, Roger D'Arcy

Established: 1988

Owns 7 nurseries: Belfast, Belfast East 1 (156), Belfast East 2 (50), Belfast South 1 (50), Belfast South 2 (28), Belfast North 1 (50), Belfast North 2 (100); Londonderry (50)

Places: 484

Employees: 208

Plans: Actively seeking acquisitions and organic growth.

ROSEDENE PRE-SCHOOL NURSERIES

Head office: Guisborough Day Nursery, 66a Hutton Lane, Guisborough TS14 6QP

Tel: 01287 633007

E-mail: enquiries@rosedene-nurseries.co.uk

Website: www.rosedene-nurseries.co.uk

Directors: Clare McCullagh, John McCullagh

Established: 1993

Owns 5 nurseries: Guisborough (54), Hemlington (50), Ormesby (41), Saltburn by the Sea (45), Yarm (52) (all in Cleveland)

Places: 242

Employees: 80

ROSY APPLE CHILDCARE LTD

Head office: 23 Herschell Street, Preston, Lancashire PR1 3QU

Tel: 01772 200718

Website: www.rosyapplechildcare.com

E-mail: sharon@rosyapplechildcare.com

Established: 2003

Managing director: Sharon Alexander

Owns 5 nurseries: Blackburn (75); Lancs County Council Workplace (42); Preston 1 Avenham (62), Preston 2 Ribbleton (59), Preston 3 Ribbleton Children's Centre (59)

Places: 297

Employees: 72

Plans: To develop nursery buildings and increase registered occupancy at two nurseries to satisfy growing demand for places.

*RHYMETIME NURSERY

Head office: Connolly Lodge, Berrywood Close, St Crispins, Northampton NN5 4BW

Tel: 01604 586440

E-mail: michelle.avenue@btinternet.com

Established: 2000

Owns 5 nurseries: Corby (70), Kettering (64), Northampton (96), Rushden (94), Woodleys Farm Day Nursery (40) (all in Northamptonshire)

Places: 364

Employees: 65

 

SEQUAL CHILDCARE

Head office: St Swithun's House, 21 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth BH1 3NS

Tel: 0845 370 0215

Fax: 0845 370 0219

E-mail: info@sequalchildcare.co.uk

Website: www.sequalchildcare.co.uk

Directors: Stephen Fraser

Established: 2008

Owns 2 nurseries: Bournemouth, Boscombe (48), Southbourne (20)

Places: 68

Employees: 22

Plans: Plans for future nurseries throughout the southern region in the next financial year.

 

SEYMOUR HOUSE DAY NURSERY SCHOOLS

Head office: Seymour House, 140 Broomfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex CM1 1RN

Tel: 01245 213213

E-mail: admin@seymourhouse.co.uk

Website: www.seymourhouse.co.uk

Directors: John Player, Julie Player

Established: 1988

Owns 8 nurseries: Basildon (55); Chelmsford, Broomfield Hospital (50), Broomfield Road (50), Lawn Lane (112), Springfield Road (50); Colchester (51); Laindon (51); Wickford (113) (all in Essex)

Places: 532

Employees: 168

 

*SIXPENNY CHILDCARE

Head office: Kennet Barns, Church Lane, Mildenhall, nr Marlbrough, Wiltshire SN8 2LU

Tel: 01672 515763

E-mail: kate@sixpenny-childcare.co.uk

Website: www.steppingstonesschool.co.uk

Proprietor: Kate Easter

Established: 2001

Owns 5 nurseries: Aldbourne (39), Devizes (33), Froxfield (54), Marlbrough (68), Swindon (20) (all in Wiltshire)

Places: 214

Employees: 80

Plans: Further expansion in Wiltshire and neighbouring counties.

SMALLWORLD PRE-SCHOOLS

Head office: Leftwich Primary School, Old Hall Road, Leftwich, Northwich CW8 3DH

Tel: 01606 45422

Fax: 0870 706 4899

E-mail: maria_baker@btconnect.com or walton2000uk@yahoo.co.uk

Website: www.smallworldpreschools.co.uk

Established: 1994

Directors: Maria Baker, Sharon Walton

Owns 6 nurseries: Distington (23), Workington (52) (both in Cumbria); Leftwich, Cheshire (44, plus 16 before- and after-school places); Sandiway, Cheshire (52, plus 48 before- and after-school places); Winsford (36, plus 16 before- and after-school places)

Places: 251

Employees: 30

 

SNAPDRAGONS NURSERIES

Head office: Prospect Farm, Bath Road, Atworth, Melksham, Wilts SN12 8JW

Tel: 01225 707009

Fax: 01225 705076

Website: www.snapdragonsnursery.com

Directors: Paul Collard, Rosemary Collard

Established: 1998

Owns 5 nurseries: Atworth (31), Corsham (100), Melksham (27), (all in Wilts); Bath, Somerset, Grosvenor (60), Weston (134)

2 out-of-school clubs: Corsham (48), Weston (50)

Places: 352

Employees: 98

 

SNEAKERS CHILDCARE

Head office: 15 Lodge Pool Drive, Lodge Park, Redditch, Worcs B98 7LH

Tel: 01527 523279

Director: Karyn Maddison

Established: 1995

Owns 3 nurseries: Redditch 1, Worcs (34), Redditch 2 (24) (both part of Sure Start children's centres); Studley, Warks (30)

8 before- and after-school clubs and 1 holiday club (2 are part of Sure Start children's centres, all in Worcs)

Places: 88

Employees: 55

SPRINGFIELD LODGE DAY NURSERIES

Head office: Powder Mill Lane, Dartford, Kent DA1 1NT

Tel: 01322 228154

Fax: 01322 319116

Website: www.springfieldldn.co.uk

Directors: Linda Berriman, Sonia McCluskey

Nursery managing director: Linda Berriman

Owns 4 nurseries and after-school and holiday clubs: Dartford (132), Dartford Holiday (50-70), Swanscombe (104), Swanscombe Holiday (30) (all in Kent)

Places: 336

Employees: 75

SUNHILL DAYCARE (EUROPE)

Head office: PO Box 157, Royston, Herts SG8 9WY

Tel: 01763 247474

Fax: 01763 243033

Website: www.sunhilldaycare.com

E-mail: enquiries@sunhilldaycare.com

Directors: managing director, Geoff Chapman; operations manager, Claire Jones; financial controller, Lynne Danes; facilities manager, Steve Moss; quality assurance, Rachel Hursey; HR Janine Parker

Established: 1991

Owns 8 nurseries and 1 out-of-school club: Abington (82), St Neots 1 (47), St Neots 2 (25) (all in Cambs); Aylesbury, Bucks (94); Basildon (87), Berkhamsted (87), Hemel Hempstead (77), Royston (30) (all in Herts); Luton, Beds (75)

Places: 604

Employees: 150

Plans: Two new projects pending planning approval. Further acquisitions under consideration in the south-east.

 

SWINGBOAT NURSERIES

Head office: 147-149 Hermitage Road, Whitwick, Leics LE67 5EL

Tel: 01530 814477

E-mail: info@hermitagedaynursery.co.uk

Website: www.swingboatnurseries.co.uk

Directors: Elaine Blunt, Graham Blunt

Established: 1996

Owns 1 nursery: Woodville, Derbyshire (110)

4 out-of-school clubs: Ashby-de-la- Zouch (48), Griffydam (48), Whitwick (49) (all in Leics); Woodville, Derbyshire (48)

Places: 240 (nursery), 193 (out-of-school)

Employees: 132

Plans: Looking a future purchase and development.

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 4 nurseries: Enfield (50), Uxbridge (60) (both Middlesex); London, Edmonton (72), Southgate (100)

Places: 282

Employees: 90

THOMAS'S LONDON DAY SCHOOLS

Head office: Monmouth Court, Southampton Road, Ringwood, Hants BH24 1HE

Tel: 01425 481500

Fax: 01425 481501

Website: www.thomas-s.co.uk

Principals: Tobyn Thomas, Ben Thomas, David Thomas, Joanna Thomas

Established: 1972

Owns 2 kindergartens: London, Battersea (46), Pimlico (50)

4 preparatory schools: London, Battersea (505), Clapham (580), Fulham (364), Kensington (359)

Places: 96

Employees: 420

 

TINY TOEZ

Head office: 224/226 Milton Road, Sneyd Green, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST1 6HT

Tel: 01782 265000

Fax: 01782 269933

E-mail: eastvalley@tinytoez.com

Website: www.tinytoez.co.uk

Directors: Ranjana Mair, Kamal Mair

Established: 2004

Owns 6 nurseries: Cannock, Staffordshire (48); Nottingham (55); Stoke-on-Trent 1 (56), Stoke-on-Trent 2 (58), Stoke-on-Trent 3 (57); Stourport, Worcestershire (41); Tipton, West Midlands (66)

Places: 381

Employees: 93

Plans: To provide a caring and safe learning environment where individual attention maximises and enriches the development and potential of children in their first journey through life.

 

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 16 nurseries: Chessington, Surrey (69); Ealing (50); Haslemere, Surrey (79); Hitchin, Herts (75); Horley, Surrey (53); Iver, Bucks, Pinewood Film Studios (41); Langley, Berks (60); Ottershaw, Surrey (42); Ripley, Surrey (40); Shepperton Film Studios, Middlesex (42); Swindon, Wilts (176); Walton-on-Thames 1, Surrey (81), Walton-on-Thames 2 (48), Walton-on-Thames 3 (12); Watford, Herts (90); Woking, Surrey (112)

2 after-school clubs and playschemes: Swindon (50), Walton-on-Thames (24)

Places: 1,070

Employees: 275

 

TOPS DAY NURSERIES

Head office: Unit 11, Bournemouth Central Business Park, Southcote Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH1 3SJ

Tel: 01202 551553

Fax: 01202 551303

E-mail: admin@topsdaynurseries.co.uk

Director: Cheryl Hadland

Established: 1990

Owns 11 nurseries: Boscombe (108); Bournemouth, Royal Bournemouth Hospital (100, plus 24 playclub); Newport, Isle of Wight, IoW College (61); Poole (105, plus 24 playclub); Parkstone (56); Portsmouth, Queen Alexandra Hospital (87, plus 12 playclub); Taunton, Bridgwater Road (35), Musgrove Park Hospital (118, plus 32 playclub); Wareham (47); Wimborne (71, plus 27 playclub); Winchester, Royal Hampshire County Hospital (61). Also recognised as a Beacon training centre.

Places: 849

Employees: 350

Also owns two care home in Dorset.

 

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) (both in Moray) and an accredited training centre offering SVQs in childcare and education.

Places: 120

Employees: 15

 

TREETOPS NURSERIES

Head office: 1 St James' Court, Friar Gate, Derby DE1 1BT

Tel: 01332 223553

Fax: 01332 223593

E-mail: info@treetopsnurseries.co.uk

Website: www.treetopsnurseries.co.uk

Managing director: David Hancock

Established: 1990

Owns 22 nurseries: Ashbourne (50), Barlborough (83), Belper (74), Derby (64), Duffield (58), Matlock (82), Oakwood (65), (all in Derbyshire); Bolton (78); Bromborough, Merseyside (68); Carlton House, Wirral (50); Deeping St James, Lincs (50); Chester, Cheshire (63); Dudley, W Midlands (75); Fulham (122); Headingley, Leeds (50); Hyde, Cheshire (116); King's Heath, Birmingham (50); Pudsey, Leeds (76); Neston, Merseyside (65); St Neot's, Cambs (93); Toton, Nottingham (65); Worksop, Notts (85)

5 out-of-school clubs: Belper (16), Chester (24), Hyde (12), Matlock (40), Oakwood (30)

Places: 1,582

Employees: 400

 

TURTLES CHILDREN'S NURSERIES

Head office: Wolverhampton Road, Penkridge, Staffs ST19 5DR

Tel/Fax: 01785 716111

Directors: Karen Laycock, Greg Laycock

Established: 1996

Owns 3 nurseries: Penkridge 1 (36), Penkridge 2 (48), Stafford (64) (all in Staffs)

2 before-and after-school clubs and 1 holiday 48-place playscheme

Places: 148

Employees: 50

 

WHITE HORSE CHILD CARE/THE TREES DAY CARE NURSERIES

Head office: Stanley House, 65 Victoria Road, Swindon, Wilts SN1 3BB

Tel: 01793 488988 Fax: 01793 488428

Directors: Richard Lay, Lester Lay, Lloyd Lay, Peter Lay

Established: 1989

Owns 4 nurseries: Devizes, Wilts (68); Southampton, Portswood (85), Shirley, (83); Swindon, Wilts (88)

Places: 324

Employees: 84

Plans: To purchase properties suitable for nurseries for at least 48 children.

WIND IN THE WILLOWS CHILD CARE

Head office: 45 Cross Lane, Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside WA12 9PT

Tel: 01925 221445

Fax: 01925 220220

Directors: Ginny Taylor, Neil Taylor

Established: 1993

Owns 4 nurseries: Canal Street (54), Earle Street (49), Pewfall (29) Sefton (54) (all in Merseyside)

2 after-school clubs: Cross Lane (16), Newton-le-Willows (40) (both in Merseyside)

Places: 186

Employees: 56

 

*WYNGARTH DAY NURSERY

Head office: Wyngarth, 26 Kings Road, Westend, Colwyn Bay, Colwyn LL29 7YH

Tel: 01492 533151

E-mail: neale.v@tesco.net

Website: www.wyngarthdaynursery.com

Director: Victoria Neale

Established: 2006

Owns 4 nurseries: Betws y Coed (65); Colwyn (35); Glanwydden (18); Llandudno Junction (35)

Places: 121

Employees: 20

 

WHAT THE DIRECTORY COVERS

- This list includes details of all the private and independent chains of nurseries, kindergartens, playgroups and creches known to Nursery World. Under the term 'chain' we have included groups with only two nurseries up and running if they have specific and imminent plans for expansion, or also offer some other form of childcare provision.

While we have tried to be comprehensive, we may have omitted some chains not known to us. If your chain is not included, please contact us at the address on page 3 of Nursery World and we can include you in the next issue of Nursery Chains, due out in October 2010.

- Individual nurseries have not usually been named. Figures after each nursery's location denote the number of places they are registered for. The number of employees includes full-time and part-time staff unless otherwise stated. Nurseries are listed alphabetically by location.

- 'Places' denotes the total number of registered nursery places. This does not include nursery classes in schools, out-of-school care or holiday places, but does include creche provision and places in any nurseries that are owned and managed by each group. We have only included plans where they are specific. The information in each entry reflects the state of play as at the end of October 2009.

* Denotes entries that are new for this issue of Nursery Chains.