Nursery Chains: More settings for Kids 1st
Melanie Defries
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
A family-run chain in the Tees Valley is opening two more purpose-built nurseries at a cost of 3m.
Each of the new settings for Kids 1st Day Nurseries, at Wynyard Park and West Park in Darlington, will offer full daycare for 108 children aged three months to five years and is expected to employ 25 full-time staff. They will bring the group's total provision to more than 700 places.
In the latest issue of Nursery Chains, Kids 1st had five nurseries in the nort-east of England and employed 76 staff.
Managing director Mark McArdle told Nursery World that the company had further plans for expansion.
He said, 'We started the business by opening two nurseries, having a year of consolidation and then adding another two. Assuming that these nurseries are successful, we will look at having another wave of expansion in a year or so.
Everything is going well so far and we will receive keys for the new buildings in a week.'
The McArdle family opened their first nursery in 2003 after spending 20 years running care homes for the elderly under the name Helen McArdle Care.
Two Kids 1st nurseries have been graded 'outstanding' by Ofsted.
Parents will be able to preview the new nurseries on open days planned for this month and December. Kids 1st said that some parents have already reserved places for the start of the January school-term.
The company has recruited Natalie Welsh (pictured), an NNEB qualified practitioner with six years experience, as manager of the West Park site.
