Three of the Kinderstart nurseries are based in Milton Keynes and the fourth is in Northamptonshire.
As Nursery World went to press, Jean Cross, operations director for Asquith Nurseries, confirmed that the acquisition, which took place on 31 January, would increase the total number of childcare places offered by Asquith by 358. This takes the chain's total number of places up from 6,106 to 6,464.
Jean Cross said she is delighted that Kinderstart Day Nursery Group has joined forces with Asquith.
She said, 'They are high- quality childcare facilities which fit well with our company ethos, and each of these nurseries will undoubtedly benefit in the future from being part of our national childcare group, and the increased opportunities that we can offer both in terms of training and career development.'
Asquith said that it intends to 'build on the success of nurseries and develop the sites, particularly the Montessori nursery based at Wavenden in Milton Keynes'. It is keen to reassure parents and staff that it will continue to provide a first class service.
Sarah Johnson, Asquith's project development manager, said, 'Change can sometimes be a little unsettling, but we have an open-door policy at Asquith and any staff or parents who have questions we have not already considered can always contact me directly. We are also arranging social evenings at all four nurseries over the next few weeks giving everyone the opportunity to meet some of the key Asquith personnel.'
Dean Dunham, the former owner of Kinderstart Day Nursery, is a practising corporate solicitor and a partner in a law firm. Asquith said his decision to sell his chain of nurseries was a result of the demands placed on him by his profession.
