Features

Nursery Chains: Directory - People & places A to Z

For your guide to the who, what and where of nursery chains, our directory gives you all the information you need.

ABC Early Learning

Head office:Hunter House Lodge, Lochmaben, Dumfriesshire DG11 1RP

Tel:01387 811197

Email: eamc@btconnect.com

Directors:Ann McEwan, Malcolm McEwan

Established: 1988

Owns 3 nurseries:Ecclefechan, Dumfries (20); Egremont (112), Whitehaven (53) - Cumbria. Also owns a training company.

Places: 185

Employees:31

ACORN EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION

Head office:The Old Brewery, The Stocks, Cosgrove MK19 7JD

Tel: 01908 510309 Email: info@acornearlyyears.org.uk

Website: www.acornearlyyears.org.uk

Chief executive:Zoë Raven

Established: 1989

Owns/manages 12 nurseries: Brafield-on-the-Green (40), Burton Latimer (85), Stanwick(54) - Northants; Milton Keynes: Bletchley (46), Castlethorpe (36), Fishermead (64), Kents Hill (56), New Bradwell (33), Shenley Church End (46), Stony Stratford (40), Westcroft (82); Sharnbrook, Beds (62). Also runs Forest Schools, out-of-school clubs, training and a consultancy.

Places:644

Employees: 308

Plans: New nursery opening in Milton Keynes in 2020.

ACORNS NURSERIES

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

Tel: 02920 382009

Email:info@acornsnurseries.co.uk

Website: www.acornsnurseries.co.uk

Directors: Peter Reynolds, Cherie Wilson

Established: 1988

Owns 9 nurseries: Bristol (120); Cardiff: Llanishen (75), Oakfield Street (49), Park Grove (149), Park Nantgarw (72), Partridge Road (55), Whitchurch (84); Duffryn, Newport (48); USW, Treforest, Rhondda Cynon Taf (60)

Manages 3 nurseries: Bristol, Aviva (33); Cardiff, BBC Wales (60); Newport, Office for National Statistics (35). Also runs a holiday club.

Places: 840

Employees: 379

Plans: Further expansion.

ALL ABOUT CHILDREN

Acquired Angels at Play in 2019

Head office: N/a

Tel: 07920 041315

Email: russellford@hotmail.co.uk

Website: Each nursery has its own website, e.g. www.westfieldsdaynursery.co.uk

Directors: Russell Ford, Marcia Viccars

Established: 2010

Owns 37 nurseries: Arnold, Notts (61); Alfreton, Derbyshire (66); Ascot, Berks (114); Bishops Stortford, Herts (74); Bracknell, Berks (148); Bucks: Amersham 1 (35), Amersham 2 (50), Aylesbury (84), Beaconsfield (49), Haddenham (46), Halton (44), Rickmansworth 1 (55), Rickmansworth 2 (56), Wycombe (101); Cheltenham (69); Gloucester (90); Hoddesdon, Herts (89); London: Clapham Junction (69), Dulwich 1 (43), Dulwich 2 (61), Dulwich 3 (65), Dulwich 4 (52), Paddington (100), South Croydon (56), Wandsworth (90), West Norwood (120); Luton, Beds (114); Maidenhead, Kent (176); Shepperton, Surrey (90); Slough, Berks (142); Staines, Surrey (44); Sutton Coldfield, W Midlands (94); Ware 1, Herts (50), Ware 2 (114); West Bridgford 1, Notts (65), West Bridgford 2 (66), West Bridgford 3 (42)

Places: 2,884

Employees: Approx. 850

ALPHA NURSERIES GROUP

Alpha Nurseries and Alpha Community Nurseries

Head office: 59 Crabbe Street, Ipswich, Suffolk IP4 5HT

Tel: 01473 322600

Email: enquiries@alpha-nurseries.co.uk

Website: www.alpha-nurseries.co.uk

Managing director: David Finch

Operations director:Nick Leeder

Established: 2010

Owns 29 nurseries: Boston, Lincs (47); Braintree, Essex (24); Dereham, Norfolk (34); Diss 1, Norfolk (46), Diss 2 (32); Dover, Kent (45); Downham Market, Norfolk (48); Felixstowe, Suffolk (42); Grantham, Lincs (30); Ipswich 1, Suffolk (42), Ipswich 2 (47), Ipswich 3 (44), Ipswich 4 (32), Ipswich 5 (45), Ipswich 6 (41), Ipswich 7 (24); Kirton, Lincs (52); Leiston, Suffolk (49); Lowestoft, Suffolk (76); Ossett, W. Yorks (24); Rotherham, S. Yorks (39); Sandwich, Kent (38); Southwold, Suffolk (38); Stamford, Lincs (49); Stoke-on-Trent (60); Uttoxeter, Staffs (44); Wethersfield, Essex (14); Woodbridge 1, Suffolk (20), Woodbridge 2 (24)

Places: 1,150

Employees: 250

ALPHABET HOUSE DAY NURSERIES

Head office: Gunthorpe Road, Lowdham, Nottingham NG14 7EN

Tel/Fax: 0115 966 4556

Email: headoffice@alphabethouse.co.uk

Website: www.alphabethouse.co.uk

Directors: Marie Brentford, Anthony Brentford

Established: 1996

Owns 4 nurseries: Beeston (40), Lowdham (67), West Bridgford (85), White Post (100) - all in Notts

Places: 292

Employees: 92

ALPHABET HOUSE NURSERIES

Head office: 1 Didsbury Close, London E6 2SX

Tel: 020 8470 7824

Email: info@alphabethousenurseries.co.uk

Website: www.alphabethousenurseries.co.uk

Directors: Dele Balogun, Kemi Balogun

Area manager: Razna Akhtar

Established: 1994

Owns 8 nurseries: London: Beckton (32), Didsbury (47), Canberra (71), Greenwich (50), North Woolwich (24), Stratford (78), Upton Park (60), Waterside Park (52)

Places: 414

Employees: 80

ASHFORD PLAY NURSERY SCHOOLS

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

Tel: 01233 625301

Email: email@ashfordplaynursery.co.uk

Website: www.ashfordplaynursery.co.uk

Proprietor: Val Webb

Established: 1971

Owns 3 nurseries: Ashford, Kent: Albert Road (44), Albert Road Crèche (12), Wall Road (44). Albert and Wall Road both have an 8-place after-school club and summer school.

Places: 100

Employees: 24

ATTIMORE BARN

Head office: Attimore Barn Scout HQ, Ridgeway, WGC, Herts AL7 2AD

Tel: 07766 407317

Email: tina@attimorebarnpreschool.co.uk

Website: www.attimorebarnpreschool.co.uk

Directors: Tina Covill, Claire Mason

Established: 2010

Owns 4 nurseries: Welwyn Garden City 1, Herts (32), Welwyn Garden City 2 (24), Welwyn Garden City 3 (22), Welwyn Garden City 4 (20)

Places: 98

Employees: 22

BAMBINOS

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

Tel: 01752 226767

Email: office@bambinosdaynursery.co.uk

Website: www. bambinosdaynursery.co.uk

Directors: William Lane, Alison Lane, Jemma Honey

Established: 1993

Owns 4 nurseries: Plymouth: City (95), Plymstock (64), Tavistock (62), Woolwell (59)

Places: 280

Employees: 85

BANANA MOON

Head office: 1A Tournament Court, Edgehill Drive, Warwick CV34 6LG

Tel: 01926 338497

Email: info@bananamoonfranchise.com

Website: www.bananamoonfranchise.com

Directors: Mark Bates, Mike Bates

Established: 2010

Owns 45 nurseries: Aberdeen 1 (81), Aberdeen 2 (120); Altrincham, Cheshire (75); Baddesley Ensor, Warwickshire (34); Billericay, Essex (68); Birmingham 1 (94), Birmingham 2 (56), Bridgend, S Wales (78); Bristol (65); Catterick, N Yorks (72); Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire (51); Colchester, Essex (125); Coventry, W Midlands (36); Crawley, W Sussex (72); Gateshead, Tyne and Wear (110); Gloucester (47); Harbury, Warwickshire (56); Harlow, Essex (68); Hatton, Warwickshire (110); Hyde, Greater Manchester (72); Kempston, Bedfordshire (67); Kingsbury, Staffordshire (31); Leeds, Yorks (78);London: Battersea (55), Chiswick (64), Croydon (77), Hounslow (64), Kingston (125), Nunhead (36), Southwark (58), Wimbledon (74); Lower Sundon, Bedfordshire (34); Manchester 1 (47), Manchester 2 (71); Mirfield, Yorkshire (120); Nottingham (68); Reading 1 (73), Reading 2 (64); Sheffield, S Yorks (65); St Albans, Herts (79); Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire (85); Sutton Coldfield, W Midlands (64); Walsall, W Mids (42);West Bromwich, W Midlands (48); Wolverhampton, W Midlands (54)

Before- and after-school club: Norristhorpe, Yorkshire

Places: 3,133

Employees: 800

Plans: To open four more nurseries in late 2019/2020.

BERTRAM NURSERY GROUP

Acquired Enchanted Forest in 2019

Head office: Newfield House, 1 New Street, Musselburgh, Edinburgh EH21 6HY

Tel: 0131 285 1541

Email: enquiries@bertramuk.com

Website: www.bertramnurserygroup.com

Managing director: Cary Rankin

Operations director, England: Andre Fallows

Operations director, Scotland: Julie Campbell

Financial director: Stuart Sheehy

Established: 2007

Owns 42 nurseries: Aberdeenshire 1 (58), Aberdeenshire 2 (64), Aberdeenshire 3 (63); Bishopbriggs, E Dunbartonshire (71); Bury, Lancs (79); Castleton, Lancs (80); Prestwich, Lancs (89); Cumbernauld, N Lanarkshire (84); Dunblane, Stirlingshire (95); Dundee 1 (60), Dundee 2 (51), Dundee 3 (65), Dundee 4 (98); Edinburgh 1 (58), Edinburgh 2 (112) Edinburgh 3 (104), Edinburgh 4 (69), Edinburgh 5 (100); Falkirk (74); Glasgow: Ballieston (79), Erskine (63), Garrowhill (61), Glasgow Airport (91), Greenock (75), Inverkip (76), Kelvinside (48), Kirkintilloch (80), Robroyston (81), Thornliebank (103);Haydock, Merseyside (112);Liverpool Princes Dock (100); Manchester: Astley (100), Salford 1 (63), Salford 2 (79), Salford 3 (134), Shaw (83), Swinton (140), University of Manchester (86);Perth (80);South Lanarkshire College (75); Stirling, Stirlingshire (88); Telford, Shropshire (42)

Places: 3,413

Employees: 950

BIG LIFE GROUP

Head office: 1st Floor, 463 Stretford Road, Manchester M16 9AB

Tel: 0161 848 2420

Email: rhuksana.ahmed@biglifeschools.com

Website: www.biglifenurseries.com

Director: Rhuksana Ahmed

Established: 2004

Owns/manages 3 nurseries: Longsight (112), Slade Lane (62), Unity (78) - all in Manchester. Also runs 2 children's centres

Places:252

Employees: 69

BLUEBELL CHILDREN'S NURSERIES

Head office: Dittons Road, Stone Cross, Pevensey, East Sussex BN24 5ES

Tel: 01323 487081

Email: barn@bluebellnurseries.co.uk

Website: www.bluebellnurseries.co.uk

Operations manager: Clair Coope

Owns 3 nurseries: Stone Cross, Pevensey (62), Bluebell Hill, Eastbourne (62), Heathfield (40) - all in E Sussex

Places: 164

Employees: 58

BOWS AND ARROWS GROUP

Operates 6 nurseries: Buttons and Bows, Little Learners, The Children's Triangle Nursery, The Nature Den, Wellington and WigWams

Head office: WigWams Nursery, Whitton Church Lane, Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 6LW

Tel: 01473 240304

Email: info@bowsandarrowsgroup.co.uk

Website: www.bowsandarrowsgroup.co.uk

Joint chief executives: Anne Denny and Michelle Antczak

Established: 2004

Owns 6 nurseries: Ipswich, Suffolk: Aster Road (71), Bramford Lane (36), Chevallier Street (25), Hogarth Road (70), Paul's Road (32), Whitton Church Lane (71)

Places: 305

Employees: 95

Plans: To expand our existing provision in 2020.

BRIGHTER BEGINNINGS DAY NURSERIES

Head office: Newhall Lodge, Stocks Lane, Over Peover, Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 9HA

Tel: 07976 069818

Email: sharon@brighterbeginnings.co.uk

Website: www.brighterbeginnings.co.uk

Directors: Gill Race (managing director), David Race (co-founder), Sharon Street (general director), Tom Race (general director)

Established: 1991

Owns 9 nurseries: Manchester: Burnage (52), Rusholme (52), Charlestown (117), Fallowfield (52), New Moston (67), Newton Heath (83), Wetherby Street (72); Oldham: Chadderton (72), Fitton Hill (50)

3 out-of-school and holiday clubs: Rusholme (30), Charlestown (47), Newton Heath (30)

Places: 617

Employees: 240

BRIGHT HORIZONS FAMILY SOLUTIONS

Acquired Asquith Day Nurseries and Pre-Schools in 2016, and Yellow Dot Nurseries and Zoom Nurseries in 2018

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

Tel: 01933 415900

Email: generalenquiries@brighthorizons.com

Website: www.brighthorizons.co.uk

Managing director: James Tugendhat

General manager: Lydia Hopper

Established: 1988

Owns or manages 315 nurseries: Aberdeen 1 (53), Aberdeen 2 (58), Aberdeen 3 (35), Aberdeen 4 (62), Aberdeen 5 (67), Aberdeen 6 (41), Aberdeen 7 (99); Allington, Wilts (65); Astley, G. Manchester (75); Barrow-In-Furness, Cumbria (62); Berks: Bracknell (96), Chineham (108), Englefield (69), Maidenhead (93), Milton Keynes (100), Reading 1 (112), Reading 2 (50), Reading 3 (120), Slough (62), Sonning (169), Thatcham (88), Windsor (80), Wokingham (83); Birmingham, W. Midlands (61);Bramingham, Beds (134); Bristol 1 (56), Bristol 2 (68); Cambridgeshire: Cambridge 1 (57), Cambridge 2 (152), Cambridge 3 (76), Cambridge 4 (126), Cambridge 5 (88), Cambridge Science Park (148), Ely (120), Fulbourn (108); Cheltenham, Glos (50); Cheshire: Chester (60), Crewe (104), Prestbury (65), Timperley (88), Tytherington (90), Warrington (123), Wilmslow 1 (96), Wilmslow 2 (80);Chesham, Bucks (68);Crawley, W. Sussex (92); Edinburgh 1 (69), Edinburgh 2 (101), Edinburgh 3 (49), Edinburgh 4 (112), Edinburgh 5 (75), Edinburgh 6 (59), Edinburgh 7 (65), Edinburgh 8 (70); Essex: Brentwood (130), Chelmsford (80), Chigwell 1 (118), Chigwell 2 (71), Epping (92), Gaynes Park (66), Loughton (56), Saffron Walden (79), Woodford Green (60); Glasgow 1 (113), Glasgow 2 (100), Glasgow 3 (85), Glasgow 4 (82);Hants: Andover (40), Basingstoke (90), Farnborough (104), Fleet (120), Southampton 1 (81), Southampton 2 (78), Southampton 3 (62); Herts: Harpenden (110), Hemel Hempstead 1 (54), Hemel Hempstead 2 (92), Hertford (112), Watford 1 (92), Watford 2 (63); Hinckley, Leics (104); Hinxton, S. Cambs (91); Horsham, W. Sussex (89); Kent: Beckenham (52), Bexleyheath (92), Bickley (88), Bromley (74), Canterbury (123), Dartford (175), Kings Hill (129), Longfield (98), Maidstone 1 (56), Maidstone 2 (54), Maidstone 3 (96), Swanscombe (144), Sevenoaks (63), Tonbridge (62), Tunbridge Wells (79), Wilmington (70); Lancaster, Lancs (62); Leeds 1, Yorks (69), Leeds 2 (200); Lichfield, Staffs (119); Liverpool 1, Merseyside (78), Liverpool 2 (60); London: Alexandra (82), Balham (65), Bank Street (64), Barnes (79), Barnet 1 (38), Barnet 2 (48), Battersea (77), Beaufort Park (102), Blackheath (73), Brentford (72), Bridgewater Square (54), Broadgate (80), Brockley (101), Camden (96), Canada Square (100), Carshalton (65), Chingford (61), Chelsea (49), Chiswick(87), Chiswick Park (75), City (45), Clapham 1 (137), Clapham 2 (61), Columbus Courtyard (110), Coulsdon (84), Crouch End 1 (88), Crouch End 2 (79), Dulwich (33), East Barnet (86), East Greenwich (52), East India Dock 1 (84), East India Dock 2 (74), Eltham (71), Enfield 1 (69), Enfield 2 (52), Enfield 3 (75), Feltham (55), Finchley 1 (84), Finchley 2 (96), Finsbury Park (97), Fulham 1 (137), Fulham 2 (99), Greenwich 1 (61), Greenwich 2 (47), Harrow 1 (68), Harrow 2 (88), Hatch End (79), Hendon (73), Heron Quays (162), Highams Park (59), Highbury (70), Highgate (55), Holland Park (79), Hounslow (93), Hyde Park (46), King Charles Street - FCO (46), Kew (66), Kingston 1 (73), Kingston 2 (98), Kingston 3 (99), Lee Park (54), Lewisham 1 (63), Lewisham 2 (30), Lewisham 3 (73), Mount Carmel (84), Mount Vernon (124), Muswell Hill (97), New Beckenham (64), New Eltham (90), New Southgate (58), Northampton Grove (48), North Cheam (80), Northwick Park (140), Palmers Green (64), Peckham Rye (76), Putney (62), RAF Northolt (74), Raynes Park (62), Regents Park (75), Richmond 1 (71), Richmond 2 (84), Richmond 3 (89), Southfields (50), Southgate (99), Stoke Newington (92), Spitalfields (50), Streatham (52), St John's Wood (92), Surbiton (85), Sutton (55), Tabard Square (96), Teddington 1 (97), Teddington 2 (78), Tooting (156), Twickenham 1 (121), Twickenham 2 (24), Twickenham 3 (44), Twickenham 4 (71), Wandsworth Common (68), Wembley (120), West Dulwich (76), Westferry Circus (29), West Hampstead 1 (84), West Hampstead 2 (164), West Hill (105), Whitehall - MoD (38), Wimbledon (95); Manchester 1 (147), Manchester 2 (100), Manchester 3 (84), Manchester 4 (70), Manchester 5 (99); Northampton, Northants (58);Milford, Staffs (76);Oxon: Abingdon (114), Didcot 1 (112), Didcot 2 (92), Didcot 3 (112), Milton (130), Oxford 1 (114), Oxford 2 (100), Oxford 3 (89), Oxford 4 (54), Oxford 5 (84), Oxford 6 (60), Oxford 7 (47), Wallingford (134);Poole 1, Dorset (42), Poole 2 (86); Renfrew, Renfrewshire (52); Sheffield 1, S. Yorks (84), Sheffield 2 (76); Solihull, W. Mids (90); Stoke Gifford, S. Glocs (135); Suffolk: Bury St Edmunds (97), Great Cornard (62), Ipswich (90); Surrey: Banstead (107), Caterham 1 (98), Caterham 2 (72), Church Crookham (80), Dorking (89), Epsom (70), Esher 1 (50), Esher 2 (85), Farnham 1 (92), Farnham 2 (97), Frimley Green (80), Godalming (56), Guildford 1 (94), Guildford 2 (89), Haslemere (93), Hinchley Wood (78), Leatherhead (87), Redhill (93), Reigate 1 (96), Reigate 2 (103), Sunbury-on-Thames (50), Weybridge (86), Woking 1 (80), Woking 2 (64); Warks: Barford (45), Kenilworth 1 (67), Kenilworth 2 (48), Lighthorne (95), Rugby (64), Southam (56)

Asquith Day Nurseries and pre-schools: Basildon, Essex (83); Bolton, Lancs (75); Bristol (48); Cardiff (51); Cheshunt, Herts (77); Derby, Derbs (70); Epsom, Surrey (84); Harpenden, Herts (53); Hull, E. Yorks (77); Kirkby, Merseyside (67); London: Bromley (115), Chancellor Grove (76), Enfield (38), Golders Green (53), Hampton Wick (74), Raynes Park (45), Sidcup (54); Milton Keynes: Stony Stratford (93), Wavendon (65); Moortown, Yorks (56); Nottingham, Notts (87); Portsmouth, Hants (70); Potters Bar, Herts (130); Sawbridgeworth, Herts (56); Solihull, W. Midlands (64); Southampton, Hants (83);Surbiton, Surrey (76); Tingley, W. Yorks (78); Tunbridge Wells 1, Kent (40), Tunbridge Wells 2 (72);Warrington, Cheshire (108); Woking, Surrey (79)

Yellow Dot Nurseries: Ampfield (64), Andover (75), Chandlers Ford (64), Chilworth (64), Eastleigh (75), Fair Oak (67), Hedge End (64), North Baddesley (64), Otterbourne (90), Romsey (66), Winchester (75) - all in Hants

Places: 25,584

Employees: Circa 10,132

BRIGHT KIDS

Head office: Millennium House, High Street, Studley, Warks B80 7HL

Tel: 01527 452430

Email: tricia@bright-kids.co.uk

Website: www.bright-kids.co.uk

Chief executive: Tricia Wellings

Head of operations: Emma Beard

Established: 1999

Owns 5 nurseries: Coughton, Warks (50); Crabbs Cross, Worcs (55); Evesham, Worcs (52); Northfield, Birmingham (80); Studley, Warks (52)

5 out-of-school clubs: Coughton (16); Crabbs Cross (24); Matchborough, Worcs (24); Studley (26); Birmingham (32). Also runs a training academy.

Places: 289

Employees: 80

Plans: To acquire two more nurseries in next 18 months

BRIGHTSPARKS DAY NURSERIES

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

Tel: 020 8660 2340

Website: www.brightsparksdaynurseries.co.uk

Email: brightsparks1@icloud.com

Directors: Emma Jones, Helen Simpson

Established: 1999

Owns 6 nurseries: Eltham (58), New Malden (58), Old Coulsdon (58), Purley (58), Purley Way (58), Selsdon (58) - all Surrey

Places: 348

Employees: 95

BRISTOL CHILDCARE

Head office: The Elms Farm Office, Upper Tockington Road, Tockington, Bristol BS32 4LQ

Tel: 01454 614 273

Email: headoffice@bristolchildcare.co.uk

Website: www.bristolchildcare.co.uk

Director: Saffia Bullock

Established: 1971

Owns 3 nurseries: Clifton (65), Filton (57), Knowle (80) - all in Bristol

Places: 202

Employees: 53

BROOKLANDS CHILDCARE

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

Tel: 01942 760044

Email: hindley2@brooklandschildcare.co.uk

Website: www.brooklandschildcare.co.uk

Owners: Ivan Rawlins, Linda Rawlins

Established: 1990

Owns 5 nurseries: Ashton-in-Makerfield (121), Garswood (94), Hindley 1 (89), Hindley 2 (134), Leigh (46) - all in Lancs

Places: 484

Employees: 144

THE BUSY BEES GROUP

Operating under the Busy Bees, Careshare, Caring Daycare (acquired 2014), Kinder Nurseries (acquired 2014), Just Learning, Nunu and Tibbi Tots brands, as well as Bush Babies and Kids 1st (acquired 2015/16) and Treetops and Bramleys (acquired 2017). It acquired Mace Montessori and Daisy and Jake in 2018

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

Tel: 01543 678450

Email: info@busybees.com

Website: www.busybeeschildcare.co.uk

Directors: Simon Irons, Margaret Randles, Cheryl Creaser, Clare Phizacklea, Steve Eccleston, Matthew Muller, Jitin Topiwala, Keelie Leahy, Louise Copson

Established: 1983

Owns and manages 354 nurseries: Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire (110); Altrincham, G. Manchester (151); Apsley, Herts (88); Ashbourne, Derbs (120);Ashford 1, Kent (87), Ashford 2 (55), Ashford 3 (108); Ashington, Northumberland (108); Ayr, Ayrshire (81); Barlborough, Derbs (78); Basingstoke 1, Hants (65), Basingstoke 2 (100), Basingstoke 3 (100); Bedford 1, Beds (112), Bedford 2 (92), Bedford 3 (97); Belper 1, Derbs (58), Belper 2 (96);Beverley, E. Yorks (64); Bicester 1, Oxon (75), Bicester 2 (47); Biggleswade 1, Beds (95), Biggleswade 2 (74); Birlingham, Worcs (65);Birmingham 1, W. Mids (105), Birmingham 2 (92), Birmingham 3 (114), Birmingham 4, Queen Elizabeth Hospital (111), Birmingham 5 (84); Bishops Stortford 1, Herts (100), Bishops Stortford 2 (91); Blaydon-on-Tyne, Gateshead (68);Bolton, Lancs (117);Braintree 1, Essex (108), Braintree 2 (87); Bridgend, Mid Glamorgan (108); Brighton, E. Sussex (94); Bristol: Barrs Court (116), Bradley Stoke (77), Emersons Green (108), Portishead (80), Stoke Gifford (109); Bromborough, Wirral (116); Bromsgrove, Warks (91); Brough, E. Yorks (100); Burchetts Green, Berks (100); Burntwood, Staffs (64); Burton, Staffs (105); Bury St Edmonds, West Suffolk Hospital (67); Camberley, Surrey (81); Canterbury, Kent (66); Cardiff (100); Carshalton Beeches, Surrey (86); Chafford Hundred 1, Essex (93), Chafford Hundred 2 (51); Chandlers Ford, Hants (108); Chatham, Kent (85); Cheadle 1, Cheshire (116), Cheadle 2 (79); Cheam 1, Surrey (67), Cheam 2 (56), Cheam 3 (74), Cheam 4 (53); Chelmsford 1, Essex (108), Chelmsford 2 (96); Cheltenham 1, Glos (54), Cheltenham 2 (66);Chester, Cheshire (100);Chichester, Hants (89); Chippenham, Wilts (116); Chislehurst, Kent (133); Chorley, Lancs (160); Colchester 1, Essex (88), Colchester 2 (109); Corby, Northants (85); Coventry 1, Walsgrave Hospital, Warks (114), Coventry 2 (46), Coventry 3 (66); Crawley, W. Sussex (44); Darlington 1, Co. Durham (88), Darlington 2 (108); Daventry, Northants (106); Derby 1, Derbs (83), Derby 2 (124), Derby 3 (97), Derby 4 (82), Derby 5 (65); Dorking 1, Surrey (116), Dorking 2 (136); Droitwich Spa, W. Mids (105);Dudley, W. Midlands (90);Dundee 1 (58), Dundee 2 (72); Dunfermline 1, Fife (108), Dunfermline 2 (89);Durham, Co. Durham (108);Eastbourne, E. Sussex (100);East Keswick, W. Yorks (130);East Kilbride, S. Lanarkshire (86); East Malling, Kent (72); Edinburgh 1 (77), Edinburgh 2 (104), Edinburgh 3 (76), Edinburgh 4 (55), Edinburgh 5 (58), Edinburgh 6 (93), Edinburgh 7 (99); Egham, Surrey (110);Epsom, Surrey (70);Evesham, Worcs (107); Ewloe, Flintshire (115);Farnborough 1, Hants (96), Farnborough 2 (159); Formby, Merseyside (111);Fulham (62);Gateshead 1, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Tyne and Wear (108), Gateshead 2 (112);Gillingham 1, Kent (112), Gillingham 2 (58);Girton, Cambs (37); Glasgow 1 (77), Glasgow 2 (51), Glasgow 3 (91); Glenrothes, Fife (103);Gloucester, Glos (85);Godalming 1, Surrey (75), Godalming 2 (132); Gravesend, Essex (110); Great Yarmouth, Norfolk (51); Guildford 1, Surrey (89), Guildford 2 (58), Guildford 3 (46); Harlow, Essex (30); Harpenden 1, Herts (120), Harpenden 2 (64);Harrogate 1, Yorks (56), Harrogate 2 (105), Harrogate 3 (55), Harrogate 4 (146), Harrogate 5 (85);Haslemere, Surrey (52); Haywards Heath, W. Sussex (72); Hempstead, Kent (93); Hertford, Herts (63);Hexham, Northumberland (99);High Wycombe, Bucks(46); Holmes Chapel, Cheshire (105); Horsham, W. Sussex (130); Hove, E. Sussex (74); Huntingdon, Cambs (100); Ingleby Barwick, S. Yorks (86); Inverness (80); Ipswich 1, Suffolk (94), Ipswich 2 (105); Kettering 1, Northants (63), Kettering 2 (120); Lancaster (136); Leamington Spa, Warks (100); Leeds 1, Yorks (95), Leeds 2 (45), Leeds 3 (60), Leeds 4 (130), Leeds 5 (84), Leeds 6 (50), Leeds 7 (77); Leicester 1 (118), Leicester 2 (60), Leicester 3 (105), Leicester 4 (54), Leicester 5 (39), Leicester 6 (72), Leicester 7 (52), Leicester 8 (79), Leicester 9 (98), Leicester 10 (49); Letchworth, Herts (99); Lewes, E. Sussex (51); Lightwater, Surrey (44); Liverpool (55); Livingston 1, W. Lothian (92), Livingston 2 (103); London: Battersea (106), Bexley Heath (100), Charlton (129), Chingford (86), Chiswick 1 (114), Chiswick 2 (81), Croydon 1 (112), Croydon 2 (97), Docklands (110), Ealing 1 (50), Ealing 2 (35), Ealing 3 (45), Ealing 4 (112), Enfield (120), Finchley (78), Greenwich (175), Hammersmith 1 (98), Hammersmith 2 (88), Harlesden (89), Harrow 1 (50), Harrow 2 (135), Heathrow (90), Hillingdon (49), Ilford (96), Kenton (95), Kilburn (66), Leytonstone (100), Lewisham (84), Mill Hill (110), Mottingham (83), Putney (112), Shadwell (104), Teddington (90), Walthamstow (112), Wandsworth 1 (76), Wandsworth 2 (60), West Ealing (70), West Hampstead (69), Westminster (100), Whitechapel (170); Long Eaton, Derbyshire (113); Loughborough, Leics (40); Maidenhead 1, Berks (88), Maidenhead 2 (98); Maidstone 1, Kent (47), Maidstone 2 (112), Maidstone 3 (50); Manchester 1, G. Manchester (108), Manchester 2 (81);Mansfield, Notts (112); Market Harborough, Leics (118); Matlock, Derbs (54);Melrose, Scottish Borders (75); Meopham, Kent (108); Milton Keynes 1, Bucks (85), Milton Keynes 2 (90), Milton Keynes 3 (109); Morden, Surrey (56); Newbury, Berks (30); Newcastle, Tyne and Wear 1 (108), Newcastle 2 (108), Newcastle 3 (104), Newcastle 4 (108); Northampton 1 (87), Northampton 2 (111), Northampton 3 (130); North Shields, Tyne and Wear (108);

Northwich, Cheshire (107); Norwich: Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (71), Norwich 2 (110), Norwich 3 (112), Norwich 4 (52); Nottingham, Notts: City Hospital (84), Nottingham 2 (74), Nottingham 3 (64), University of Nottingham (114), Nottingham 5 (98); Oxford 1, Oxon (96), Oxford 2 (117), Oxford 3 (101), Oxford 4 (102); Perivale, Middlesex (76); Peterborough 1, Cambs (112), Peterborough 2 (68); Plymouth, Devon (54); Portsmouth, Hants (100); Preston 1, Lancs (112), Preston 2 (108), Preston 3 (60); Quedgeley, Glos (78); Rainham, Kent (90); Reading 1, Berks (46), Reading 2 (92), Reading 3 (104); Reigate, Surrey (107); Rotherham, S. Yorks (126); Rugby, Warks (92); Sale, G. Manchester (92); Salford, G. Manchester (170); Salisbury 1, Wilts (104), Salisbury 2 (92); Sandbach, Cheshire (62);Sandy, Beds (100); Sevenoaks, Kent (84); Shellingford, Oxon (100);Shenley, Herts (98); Shrewsbury, Shropshire (119); Sittingbourne, Kent (77); Solihull 1, W. Midlands (170), Solihull 2 (85); Southport, Lancs (55); Southwell, Notts (39); St Albans 1, Herts(78), St Albans 2 (65), St Albans 3 (132), St Albans City Hospital (96);St Neots, Cambs (65);Stockton-on-Tees, Co. Durham (52); Stevenage 1, Herts (76), Stevenage 2 (48);Stokenchurch, Bucks (80);Stotford, Beds (110);Stowmarket, Suffolk (112); Sudbury Hill, Middlesex (108); Sunderland 1, Tyne and Wear (67), Sunderland 2 (106), Sunderland 3 (129), Sunderland 4 (99), Sunderland 5 (90); Sutton Coldfield, W. Mids (68); Swindon 1, Wilts (100), Swindon 2 (98), Swindon 3 (105);Telford 1, Shropshire (93);Tewkesbury, Glos (79);Thames Ditton, Surrey (126); Thetford, Norfolk (73); Trowbridge, Wilts (82); Tunbridge Wells, Kent (68);Uttoxeter, Staffs (76);Wakefield, W. Yorks (100); Walsall, W. Midlands (84); Warton, Lancs (147); Warwick, Warks (102); Watford General Hospital, Herts (46); Wellingborough, Northants (140); Welwyn, Herts (55), Welwyn Garden City (100);West Byfleet, Surrey (92);Weston-super-Mare 1, Somerset (90), Weston-super-Mare 2 (50); Westwick, Cambs (137); Weymouth, Dorset (60); Wigan 1, Greater Manchester (73), Wigan 2 (94); Wirral 1, Merseyside (109), Wirral 2 (90), Wirral 3 (104), Wirral 4 (104), Wirral 5 (121), Wirral 6 (70), Wirral 7 (106), Wirral 8 (95), Wirral 9 (40); Woking 1, Surrey (108), Woking 2 (86), Woking 3 (88); Worcester, Worcs (106); Worksop, Notts (93);Worthing, W. Sussex (69); Wynyard, Co Durham (112); York 1, N. Yorks (104), York 2 (75)

2 children's centres: Godalming; Woking - both in Surrey

Places: 31,816

Employees: 9,000

BUSY NOUGHT TO FIVES

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

Tel: 0151 342 2714

Email: info@busy05.co.uk

Website: www.busy05.co.uk

Directors: Emma Collins, Kevin Collins

Established: 1992

Owns 6 nurseries: Liverpool 1 (84), Liverpool 2 (63); South Wirral (102); Warrington 1, Cheshire (129), Warrington2 (119); Wirral (84)

Places: 581

Employees: 150

Plans: Seeking sites for expansion throughout the UK.

BUTTERCUPS DAY NURSERIES

Head office: 24a Popes Lane, Ealing, London W5 4NT

Tel: 020 8840 4838

Email: team@buttercups-nursery.co.uk

Website: www.buttercups-nursery.co.uk

Director: Carol Whitehouse

Established: 1980

Owns 8 nurseries: Chalfont St Peter, Bucks (70); London: Acton (41), Brentford (44), Chiswick 1 (44), Chiswick 2 (32), Ealing (69), Isleworth (49), Teddington (31)

Places: 380

Employees: 110

CARING KINDERGARTENS

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

Tel: 01604 882241

Email: mail@caringkindergartens.co.uk

Website: www.caringkindergartens.co.uk

Proprietor: George Wright

Head of childcare: Karl Goodridge

Established: 1992

Owns 7 nurseries: Brooklands, Milton Keynes, Bucks (139); Daventry (90), Duston (133), Wellingborough (120)

- all in Northants; Moulton Park Industrial Estate, Northampton (72); Peterborough Business Park, Cambs (112); Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire (55)

Places: 721

Employees: 117

CATHERINE HOUSE DAY NURSERY SCHOOLS

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

Tel: 0121 449 1444

Fax: 0121 449 1440

Email: info@catherinehousedaynursery.com

Website: www.catherinehousedaynursery.com

Directors: Rita Howe-Douglas, Matthew Poray

Established: 1987

Owns 4 nurseries: Birmingham: Moseley (60), Northfield (40); Brockley, London (90); Walsall, W. Midlands (50)

Places: 240

Employees: 100

CHAPTER ONE CHILDCARE

Head office: Country Park Nursery, Dalkeith Country Park, Dalkeith, Midlothian EH22 2NA

Tel: 0845 1771008

Email: info@chapteronechildcare.com

Website: www.chapteronechildcare.com

Owners: Diane and Jon Gillam

Established: 2004

Owns 5 nurseries: Edinburgh: Kirk Brae (36), Shawfair (56), Treetops Outdoor Nursery (25); Dalkeith, Midlothian (75); Farnley, N. Yorks (70). Also owns 2 nurseries in Oman

Places: 262

Employees: 90

CHERRY CHILDCARE

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

Tel: 01252 546190

Managing director: Nigel Rolfe

Directors: Trisha Fisher, Rachael Wolfenden, Zoe Rolfe

Email: admin@cherrychildcare.co.uk

Website: www.cherrychildcare.co.uk

Established: 1993

Owns 11 nurseries: Addlestone, Surrey (106); Ash Vale, Hants (120); Epsom, Surrey (94); Hayling Island 1, Hants (34), Hayling Island 2 (50); High Wycombe, Bucks (62); Langstone, Hants (52); Pirbright, Surrey (73); Sandhurst, Berks (48); Stoneleigh, Surrey (96); Weybridge, Surrey (30)

Places: 765

Employees: 230

CHERRYTREES CHILDREN'S NURSERIES

Head office: 3 Abbey Road, Dunbar, East Lothian EH42 1JP

Tel: 01368 860555

Email: lkbennet@yahoo.com

Website: www.cherrytreenurseries.co.uk

Directors: Lisa Bennet, Stewart Bennet and David Robertson

Established: 2000

Owns 4 nurseries: Dunbar, E. Lothian (83); Edinburgh (139); Hawick (64), Melrose (83) -both in Scottish Borders

Places: 369

Employees: 101

CHERUB NURSERIES AND PRE-SCHOOLS

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

Tel: 01482 509598

Email: anlaby-manager@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: 265

Employees: 53

CHERUBS NURSERIES

Part of Childcare East Midlands

Head office: Welbeck Road, Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire NG19 9LA

Tel: 01623 420940

Managing director: Susan Mills

Director: Robert Everist

Operations manager: Sarah Savage

Established: 1993

Owns 13 nurseries: Mansfield 1 (63), Mansfield 2 (147), Mansfield 3 (120), Mansfield 4 (55), Mansfield 5 (60), Mansfield 6 (55), Mansfield 7 (55), Nottingham 1 (80), Nottingham 2 (80), Nottingham 3 (48), Nottingham 4 (114), South Normanton (55), Worksop (55) - all in Notts.

Places: 987

Employees: 250

Plans: To expand across the Midlands.

THE CHESHIRE DAY NURSERY GROUP

Head office: Winwick Hollins Drive, Winwick, Cheshire WA2 8RS

Tel: 01925 655498

Email: headoffice@cheshiredaynurserygroup.com

Website: www.thecheshiredaynursery.co.uk

Directors: Julie Mannering, Brenda Burling

Established: 1999

Owns 5 nurseries: Warrington 1 (31), Warrington 2 (116), Warrington 3 (80), Warrington 4 (78), Warrington 5 (137) - all in Cheshire

Places: 442

Employees: 120

CHESTNUT NURSERY SCHOOLS

Head office: 177 Earlham Grove, London E7 9AP

Tel: 020 8555 9800

Email: earlham@chestnut-nursery.co.uk

Website: www.chestnut-nursery.co.uk

Directors: David Saunders, Steven Davies, Karen Broughton

Established: 2002

Owns 20 nurseries: Cambridge, Cambs (99); London: Barking 1 (89), Barking 2 (57), Barking 3 (76), Barking 4 (80), Brixton (66), Dagenham 1 (52), Dagenham 2 (61), Dagenham 3 (69), Dagenham 4 (49), Forest Gate 1 (44), Forest Gate 2 (50), Forest Gate 3 (46), Redbridge (63); Norfolk 1 (41), Norfolk 2 (70); Norwich 1, Norfolk (71), Norwich 2 (114), Norwich 3 (48), Norwich 4 (53)

Places: 1,298

Employees: 391

Plans: Will be taking over two more settings in Redbridge and one more in Dagenham.

CHILD CENTRED NURSERIES

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

Tel: 01245 382582

Email: info@childcentrednurseries.co.uk

Website: www.childcentrednurseries.co.uk

Directors: Stephen Field, Melanie Field

Established: 1995

Owns 6 nurseries: Colchester 1, (88), Colchester 2 (48), Colchester 3 (46), Hatfield Peverel (60), Kelvedon (58), Witham (86) - all in Essex

Places: 386

Employees: 133

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

CHILD FIRST

Head office: Moulton Lodge, Moulton Way, Moulton, Northampton NN3 7RW

Tel: 07831 635802

Email: tom.s@childfirst.co.uk

Website: www.childfirst.co.uk

Director: Tom Shea

Established: 2007

Owns and manages 6 nurseries: Aylesbury 1, Bucks (95), Aylesbury 2 (100); Banbury 1, Oxon (75); Bicester, Oxon (116); Moulton, Northants (126); Welbeck Abbey, Nottinghamshire (90)

Places: 602

Employees: 187

CHILD'S PLAY

Head office: Unit 3, Metropolitan Business Park, Preston New Road, Blackpool, Lancashire FY3 9LT

Email: info@childsplayblackpool.co.uk

Website: www.childsplayblackpool.co.uk

Directors: David Sloane, Sarah Sloane

Established: 2001

Owns 6 nurseries: Blackpool North (80), Blackpool Marton 1 (60), Blackpool Marton 2 (60), Blackpool Central (60), Blackpool South 1 (60), Blackpool South 2 (120)

Places: 440

Employees: 130

CHILDBASE PARTNERSHIP

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

Tel: 01908 211699

Email: info@childbase.com

Website: www.childbasepartnership.com

Established: 1989

Chairman: Michael Thompson

Managing director: Emma Rooney

Operations director: Louise Hill

Finance director: Paul Thompson

Operates 43 nurseries: Aylesbury 1, Bucks (73), Aylesbury 2 - Stoke Mandeville Hospital (101); Bedford 1, Beds (95), Bedford 2 (108); Birmingham 1, W. Mids (89), Birmingham 2 (94); Buckingham, Bucks (79); Cambridge, Cambs: University of Cambridge 1 (120), University of Cambridge 2 (79); Coventry, Warks (70); Hemel Hempstead, Herts (102); Hitchin, Herts (83); Hertford, Herts (67); Kettering, Northants (116); Leamington Spa, Warks (117); Leighton Buzzard, Beds (99); London: Chiswick (88), High Barnet (77), Orpington (145), Purley (67), Southall (160), Winchmore Hill (86); Luton, Beds (104); Maidenhead, Berks (91); Marlow, Bucks (43); Milton Keynes, Bucks (83); Newport Pagnell, Bucks (64); Northampton - Northampton General Hospital (105); Nottingham (88); Oxford: Churchill Hospital (131), John Radcliffe Hospital (128); Reading 1, Berks (112), Reading 2 (116); Rugby, Warks (91); Sandhurst, Berks (89); St Albans, Herts (64); Staines, Surrey (133); Swindon, Wilts (121); Welwyn Garden City, Herts (75); Winchester 1, Hants (124), Winchester 2 - University College (68); Woking, Surrey (113); Wokingham, Berks (71)

Places: 4,129

Employees: 1,950

CHILDCARE AND LEARNING GROUP

Operating under the Cranbrook, Castle, Working Mums and South West London Nursery Co brands

Head office: The Old Post Office, Antlands Lane East, Horley, Surrey RH6 9TE

Tel: 01293 772561

Director: Robert Shannon

Established: 1982

Owns 16 nurseries: Crawley, West Sussex (84); Guildford, Surrey 1 (80), Guildford 2 (39); Haywards Heath, West Sussex (56); Horley 1, Surrey (50), Horley 2 (72), Horley 3 (52); London: Clapham 1 (86), Clapham 2 (66), East Sheen (77), Fulham 1 (84), Fulham 2 (74), Hammersmith (60), Mortlake (54), New Malden (70); Shamley Green, Surrey (39)

Places: 1,043

Employees: 284

Plans: Opening a new nursery in 2020 in New Malden

CHILDCARE SCOTLAND

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

Tel: 01294 277950

Directors: Meg McLeod and Yvonne McDowall

Email: childcarescothq@aol.com

Website: www.childcarescotlandnurseries.com

Established: 1989

Owns 9 nurseries: Aberdeen (108); Edinburgh (105); Falkirk (68); Glasgow: Caledonian University (59), Glasgow University (79), Strathclyde University (56); Irvine (142), Kilmarnock (119), Largs (48) - all in Ayrshire

Places: 784

Employees: 190

CHILDREN 1ST

Head office: Mayfield House, 1 Nottingham Road, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1HQ

Tel: 0800 6521052

Email: enquiry.children1st@breedonhouse.co.uk

Website: www.children1stdaynurseries.com

Founder and executive chair: Margaret Mason

Co-founder: Hugh Mason

Directors: Adrian Mason (managing), Cathy Griffin, Julia Mason (operations)

Established: 1988

Owns 24 nurseries: Birstall, Leics (105); Chesterfield 1, Derbyshire (73), Chesterfield 2 (143); Clowne, Derbyshire (111); Hathern, Leics (98); Grantham, Lincs (106); Leek 1, Staffordshire (96), Leek 2 (32); Leicester (99); Lincoln 1 (123), Lincoln 2 (104), Lincoln 3 (86); Nottingham 1 (142), Nottingham 2 (71), Nottingham 3 (90), Nottingham 4 (154), Nottingham 5 (138), Nottingham 6 (110); Newark, Notts (76); Sheffield, S Yorks (146); Loughborough, Leicestershire (116); Stoke-on-Trent 1, Staffs (136), Stoke-on-Trent 2 (95); Syston, Leics (116)

Places: 2,546

Employees: 677

CHILDREN 4 MOST

Head office: Cemetery Road, Audenshaw, Manchester M34 5AH

Tel: 0161 336 3221

Email: info@children4most.co.uk

Website: www.children4most.co.uk

Owners: Nicola Sullivan, Alison Davies

Established: 2000

Owns 3 nurseries: Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester (36); Audenshaw, Greater Manchester (95); Hyde, Cheshire (76)

Places: 207

Employees: 90

CHILDREN'S CORNER CHILDCARE

Head office: Unit 2 Sandsgate, Sunnybank Mills, Farsley Town Street, Leeds LS28

Tel: 0113 257 5625

Email: info@childrenscornerchildcare.co.uk

Website: www.childrenscornerchildcare.co.uk

Directors: Lesley Dawson, Allan Dawson, Matthew Dawson

Established: 1998

Owns 6 nurseries: Leeds, Yorks: Bardsey (22, plus 40 out-of-school), Farsley (46, plus 60 out-of-school), Granary Wharf (27), Headingley (50), Moorlands (27), Valley View (46, plus 70 out-of-school)

5 out-of-school play schemes: The Grammar School, Rose Court, Wigton Moor Primary School Chapel Allerton and and St Matthews. Also runs holiday clubs in Leeds.

Places: 218

Employees: 130

CHILDREN'S PLACE DAY NURSERIES

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

Tel: 01274 601575

Email: info@childrens-place.co.uk

Website: www.childrens-place.co.uk

Directors: Debbie Burke, David Burke

Established: 1991

Owns and manages 11 nurseries: Bradford:Barkerend (61), BurnettFields (50), Daisy Hill (56), Gateway (52), Heaton (32), Owlet (70), Summerfield (39); Dewsbury (51); Halifax (59); Huddersfield (53); Ravensthorpe (66) - all in W. Yorks

Places: 589

Employees: 200

CHRISTOPHER ROBIN DAY NURSERIES

Head office: Elmdon House,116 London Road, Guildford GU1 1TN

Tel: 01483 452554

Website: www.daynurseriessurrey.co.uk

Director: Penny Owen

Established: 1986

Owns 5 nurseries: Cranleigh, Surrey (44); Guildford, Surrey: Burpham (52), London Road (64), Wood Street Village (46); Woking, Surrey (60)

Places: 266

Employees: 90

CLEAR DAY NURSERIES

Head office: Block D, 17 Heron Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland BT3 9LE

Tel: 02890 419 199

Email: audrey@cleardaynurseries.com

Website: www.cleardaynurseries.com

Owner: Colin Johnston

Operations director:Audrey McCracken

Established: 2005

Owns 8 nurseries: Bangor, Co Down (105); Belfast:Dundonald (101), Newtownards Road (69), Ulsterville Avenue (77); Dollingstown, Co Armagh (78); Glengormley, Co Antrim (144); Pipers Quay, Lisburn (100); Portadown, Co Armagh (64)

Places: 738

Employees: 200

Plans:To open a nursery in Londonderry (78)

CLIFFE HOUSE DAY NURSERY*

Head office: Back Featherbank Terrace, Horsforth LS18 4SZ

Tel: 0113 3452850

Email: tori.cliffehouse@yahoo.com

Website: www.cliffehousedaynurseries.co.uk

Directors: Mr and Mrs A Stocks

Established: 2000

Owns 6 nurseries: Baildon (68), Bramhope (35), Burley-In-Wharfedale (70), Horsforth Featherbank (116), Horsforth Trinity (62), Shipley (90) - all in Yorks. Also runs a before- and after-school club

Places: 441

Employees: 180

COMPLETE CHILDCARE GROUP

Head office: i2 Offices, 450 Brook Drive, Green Park, Reading, Berkshire RG2 6UU

Tel: 0118 2076 600

Email: enquiries@completechildcare.co.uk

Website: www.completechildcare.co.uk

Director: Alec Hodson

Established: 1986

Owns 14 nurseries: Arborfield (91), Bracknell (124), Finchampstead 1 (56), Finchampstead 2 (50), Lower Earley 1 (80), Lower Earley 2 (28), Newbury (70), Reading 1 (57), Reading 2 (55), Wokingham 1 (30), Wokingham 2 (56), Wokingham 3 (51), Winnersh (83) - all in Berks; Banbury, Oxon (80)

Places: 911

Employees: 244

THE CO-OPERATIVE CHILDCARE

Head office: Co-operative House, Warwick Technology Park, Warwick CV34 6DA

Tel: 0800 954 0669

Email: info@ccc.coop

Website: www.littlepioneers.coop

Group manager: Sally Bonnar

Established: 2003

Owns 44 nurseries:Birmingham 1 (60), Birmingham 2 (120), Birmingham 3 (120); Bristol (98); Burton, Staffs (58); Cainscross, Stroud (61), Cam, Dursley (45) - both in Glos; Carterton, Oxon (86); Chichester, W Sussex (66); Dewsbury, W Yorks (49); Leamington Spa, Warks (140); Littlehampton, W Sussex (113); London: Bounds Green (83), Charlton (62), Croydon, Mayday Hospital NHS Trust (65), Croydon, New Addington (84), Hackney (44), Hounslow (90), Islington (96), Maida Vale (109), Waterloo (60), Woolwich (52); Madley Park, Oxon (70); Maidenhead, Berks (84); Wythenshawe, Manchester (100); Newcastle 1 (116), Newcastle 2 (108), Newcastle 3 (63); Oxford: Blackbird Leys (72), John Radcliffe Hospital (96), Oxford (62), Rose Hill (61); Reading, Berks (78); Southampton, Hants (100); Sutton, Surrey (66); Sussex University Nursery and Pre-School, E Sussex (71); Swindon, Wilts: Great Western Hospital (114), Walcot (61); Tadworth, Surrey (56); Walsall Wood, W Midlands (74); Watford 1, Herts (55), Watford 2 (60); Wolverhampton 1, W Midlands (108), Wolverhampton 2 (50)

Places: 3,486

Employees: 1,300

COUNTRYSIDE NURSERIES

Head office: Park House, Maidenhead Road, Cookham SL6 9DS

Tel: 01628 476153

Email: enquiries@countrysidenurseries.co.uk

Director: Angela Palmer-Moore

Established: 1991

Owns 7 nurseries: Burnham, Bucks (35); Cookham, Berks (39); Flackwell Heath 1, Bucks (33), Flackwell Heath 2 (25); Henley-on-Thames, Oxon (75); Sunninghill, Berks (42); Windsor, Berks (50)

Places: 299

Employees: 100

CRANLEY NURSERIES

Head office: 226 Braid Road, Edinburgh EH10 6NZ

Tel: 0131 445 2227

Email: enquiries@cranleynurseries.co.uk

Owner: Anna Maclean

Group director: Karen Murray

Established: 2000

Owns 3 nurseries: Edinburgh:Buckstone (71), Craiglockhart (57), Lanark Road (69)

Places: 197

Employees: 40

Plans: Buckstone setting to increase to 120 places by the end of 2019

CRÈCHE-N-CO

Head office: Office 32, Arrowmill, Rochdale OL11 2YW

Tel: 01706 641781 Email: crèchencoltd@aol.com

Director: Lorraine Darlington

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 (46), Sandbrook (60)

Places: 294

Employees: 72

CRYSTAL CHILDCARE

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

Tel: 020 8659 6417

Email: cdn@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 (26)

Places: 115

Employees: 40

CUDDLES DAY NURSERY

Head office: Learoyd Road, Canford Heath, Poole, Dorset BH17 8PJ

Tel: 01202 672671

Website: www.cuddlesnursery.co.uk

Managing director: Linda DulyEstablished: 1999

Operates 3 nurseries: Poole: Canford Heath (217), Parkstone (124), Poole Stadium (60). All three have breakfast, after-school and holiday clubs.

Places: 401

Employees: 120

CYBERTOTS

Head office: 38 Heathfield Road, London W3 8EJ

Tel: 020 8560 5821

Email: info@cybertots.co.uk

Website: www.cybertots.co.uk

Directors: Nina Ozols, Katya Ozols, Irena Mailer

Established: 1998

Owns 4 nurseries: London: Acton (27), Brentford (120), Hanwell (37), West Ealing (58)

Places: 242

Employees: 108

Cygnets Day Nurseries

Head office: Hartwood House, High Street, Bordon, Hampshire GU35 0AU

Tel: 01420 487000

Email: cygnetsnursery@btconnect.com

Website: www.cygnetsdaynurseries.co.uk

Managing director and operations director: Marion Cusworth

Director: Bronwen Clark

Established: 2004

Owns 3 nurseries:Bordon (75), Lindford (30) - all in Hants; Bournemouth, Dorset (54)

Places: 159

Employees: 46

Plans: Possibly opening a new nursery in Dorset.

DAISY CHAIN CHILDCARE

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

Tel: 0113 2857000

Email: info@daisychainchildcare.com

Website: www.daisychainchildcare.com

Directors: Jo Gomersall, Helen Somers

Established: 2001

Owns 4 nurseries: Leeds: Adel (54), Lofthouse (52), Middleton (68), Rothwell (50)

Places: 224

Employees: 61, and 12 bank staff

DAVIDSON ROBERTS

Head office: Unit 23, Greenewable Park, Offord Cluny, Cambridgeshire PE19 5ZA

Tel: 01767 688714

Email: info@davidson-roberts.co.uk

Website: www.davidson-roberts.co.uk

Director: Jane Roberts

Established: 2006

Owns 9 nurseries: Arlesey (51), Buckden (70), Hilton (21), Offord (24), Ramsey (90) - all in Cambs; Rushden, Northants (70); Sandy, Beds (77); Royston, Herts (106); Flitwick, Beds (85)

6 out-of-school clubs and holiday clubs: Offord, Ramsey, St Ives, St Neots, Royston, Rushden

Places: 594

Employees: 200

Plans: Looking at opportunities for acquisitions as they arise.

DOMALO

Head office: The Park Nursery, 103 Frederick St, Werneth, Oldham OL8 1RD

Tel: 0161 652 1871

Email: catherine.scott@domalo.co.uk

Website: www.domalochildcare.co.uk

Directors: JF and MC Scott

Established: 1994

Owns 4 nurseries: The New Village, Lees (45), The Park, Werneth (60), The Hillside, Sholver (62) - all in Oldham; Stepping Stones, Hazel Grove, Stockport (45). The three Oldham nurseries each have 20 places for before- and after-school clubs.

Places: 212

Employees: 50+

EARLY DAYS NURSERIES

Head office: 10 Walker Street, Edinburgh EH3 7LA

Tel: 0131 226 6184

Email: enquiries@earlydaysnurseries.org.uk

Website: www.earlydaysnursery.org.uk

Director: Maureen Crandles

Established: 1999

Owns 4 nurseries: Edinburgh 1 (65), Edinburgh 2 (80), Edinburgh 3 - Palmerston Place (110), Edinburgh 4 - (78)

Places: 333

EARLYWORLD CHILDCARE

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

Tel: 01743 244600

Website: 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, Cheshire (72); Eynsham, Oxon (72); Shrewsbury (74), Telford (74) - both in Shropshire

Places: 371

Employees: 157

EARLY YEARS ALLIANCE

Previously known as Pre-School Learning Alliance

Head office: 50 Featherstone Street, London EC1Y 8RT

Tel: 020 7697 2500

Email: info@eyalliance.org.uk

Website: www.eyalliance.org.uk

Chief executive: Neil Leitch

Established: 1961

Owns/manages 75 nurseries:

Arbury, Cambs (37); Ashby, N. Lincs (49); Aylesham, Kent (56);Batley, W. Yorks (24); Bestwood, Notts (20); Birmingham 1 (50), Birmingham 2 (42), Birmingham 3 (50); Brinsley, Notts (32); Bude, Cornwall (34);Bulwell, Notts (54);Cambridge 1 (52), Cambridge 2 (52); Chapel St Leonards, Lincs (38); Egloskerry, Cornwall (20); Essex 1 (50); Essex 2 (50); Fulbourn, Cambs (38); Gateshead 1, Tyne and Wear (32), Gateshead 2 (56);Haverhill, Suffolk (32); Hipperholme, W. Yorks (24); Huddersfield, W. Yorks (48); Huntingdon 1, Cambs (48), Huntingdon 2 (20); Ilfracombe, Devon (42); Langar, Notts (24); Langley Mill, Derbyshire (42); Langold, Notts (52); Leicester 1 (72), Leicester 2 (60); Linthwaite, W. Yorks (30); London:Bexley 1 (24), Bexley 2 (70), Bexley 3 (86), Bexley 4 (84), Greenwich (28), Kidbrooke (50), Lewisham 1 (32), Lewisham 2 (24), Lewisham 3 (27);Luton 1, Beds (70), Luton 2 (24), Luton 3 (70), Luton 4 (34);Mablethorpe, Lincs (46); Manchester (65); Newark-on-Trent, Notts (62); Newstead, Notts (42); Newthorpe, Notts (50); Nottingham 1, Notts (20); Peterborough 1 (32), Peterborough 2 (26), Peterborough 3 (26), Peterborough 4 (26), Peterborough 5 (60); Portsmouth 1, Hants (32), Portsmouth 2 (30); Runcorn 1, Cheshire (73), Runcorn 2 (56);Selston, Notts (26);St Neots 1, Cambs (24), St Neots 2 (49); Southend-on-Sea 1, Essex (84), Southend-on-Sea 2 (72); Stockton on Tees 1, County Durham (57), Stockton on Tees 2 (72); Sutton-in-Ashfield, Notts (49); Tamworth 1, Staffs (56), Tamworth 2 (44); Torquay, Devon(24); Tipton, W. Mids (36); Tiverton, Devon (49); Walsall, W. Mids (23); Worksop, Notts (50)

Places: 3,314

EATON SQUARE SCHOOLS

Head office: 79 Eccleston Square, London SW1V 1PP

Tel: 020 7931 9469

Email: nursery@eatonsquareschool.com

Website: www.eatonsquareschool.com

Headmaster: Sebastian Hepher

Established: 1981

Owns 3 nursery schools: London: Belgravia (40), Knightsbridge (32), Pimlico (32)

Places: 104

Employees: 40

ELMSCOT GROUP

Head office: 27 Warwick Road, Hale, Cheshire WA15 9NP

Tel: 0161 980 0003

Email: info@elmscot.co.uk

Website: www.elmscot.co.uk

Director: D Cross

Established: 2001

Owns6 nurseries: Altrincham (70), Chester (94), Hale 1 (65), Hale 2 (75), Nantwich (80), Timperley (57) - all in Cheshire. Also runs 7 out-of-school clubs.

Places: 441

THE EVELINE DAY AND NURSERY SCHOOLS

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

Tel: 020 8672 7549

Established: 1964

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

Owns 7 nurseries: London: Raynes Park (57), Tooting (57), Tooting Bec (36), Tooting Broadway (41), Wandsworth 1 (63), Wandsworth 2 (57), Wimbledon (50)

Owns 1 prep school: Tooting Bec (100)

Places: 361

Employees: 220

EVOLUTION CHILDCARE

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

Tel: 01925 732600

Website: www.evolution-childcare.co.uk

Proprietor: Sue Jones

Established: 1999

Owns 5 nurseries: Lower Whitley(100), Warrington 1 (100), Warrington 2 (100), Warrington 3 (50), Weaverham (100) - all in Cheshire

As part of franchise:Blackburn (100); Henley-on-Thames, Oxon (40); Wolverhampton, W. Mids (80). Also has franchises in UAE and China.

Places: 670

Employees: 200

FENNIES DAY NURSERIES

Head office: 1a Hook Road, Epsom, Surrey KT19 8TH

Tel: 020 8770 3222

Email: info@fennies.com

Website: www.fennies.com

Directors:Sarah Fenn, Steven Fenn (chief executive), Russell Pickford (financial)

Established: 1992

Owns 11 nurseries: Beckenham,(73), Bromley (94) - both in Kent;London: Croydon (112), Purley (113), Sanderstead (48), South Croydon (72), Wimbledon (84); Epsom (130), Horley (103), Woking (123) - all in Surrey; Oxford, Oxon (80)

Places: 1,032

Employees: 300+

FLEDGLINGS

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

Tel: 0161 281 2821

Fax: 0161 281 2822

Email: fledglings.hq@ntlbusiness.com

Website: www.fledglingsnurseries.co.uk

Directors: Christopher Gray, Michelle Smith, Jackie Kerr

Established: 1990

Owns 4 nurseries: Manchester: Bredbury (90), Irlam (120), Stretford (70), Worsley (120). Also runs an out-of-school club in Irlam.

Places: 400

Employees: 142

FLYING START

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

Tel: 01209 611811

Website: www.flyingstart.uk.com

Owner: Sharon Cowburn

Established: 1993

Owns 7 nurseries: Camborne (30), Duchy College, Callington (25), Helston (55), Redruth 1 (36), Redruth 2, Cornwall College (96), Saltash (64) - all in Cornwall; Plymouth, Devon (64)

Places: 370

Employees: 110

FOOTSTEPS DAY NURSERIES

Head office:The Dairy Barn, Mile Oak Farm, Plantation Lane, Tamworth, Staffordshire B78 3DQ

Tel:01827 285566

Email:info@footstepsnurseries.co.uk

Website:www.footstepsnurseries.co.uk

Managing director: Gavin Harvey

Operations director: Dawn Huckerby

Established:2002

Owns 9 nurseries:Cannock(117), Canwell (56), Lichfield (89), Stafford (81), Tamworth Dosthill (55), Tamworth Lich Road (86), Tamworth Fazeley (70), Walmley (85) - all in Staffs; Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warks (126)

Places:760

Employees:285

FOR UNDER FIVES

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

Tel: 01472 232300 Website: www.forunderfives.co.uk

Directors: David Lang, Steven Lampard

General manager: Amanda Gilbert

Established: 1987

Owns 5 nurseries: Cottingham, Hull (50, plus 8 out-of-school);Grimsby 1, Lincs - Diana Princess of Wales Hospital (55, plus 8 out-of-school), Grimsby 2 (77); Lincoln (64); Wath-upon-Dearne, S Yorks (120)

Manages 9 nurseries and children's centres: Boston, Lincs (59); Goole, Yorks (48); Grimsby, Lincs: Broadway Children's Centre Day Care (47), Central Children's Centre Day Care (88), Queensway Children's Centre Day Care (42); Lincoln: Central Children's Centre Day Care (45), County Hospital (42), Welbourne Gardens (40); Selby, N. Yorks (53)

Places: 830

Employees: 300

FUTUREPATH CHILDCARE

Head office: Warwick House, Beacon Bottom, Park Gate, Southampton SO31 7GQ

Tel: 01489 577778

Email: jacky@fpchildcare.co.uk

Website: www.fpchildcare.co.uk

Directors: Jacky and Peter Barnett

Established: 2011

Owns 5 nurseries: Fareham (80), Ower (55), Park Gate (60), Romsey (80), Whiteley (100) - all in Hants

Places: 375

Employees: 95

GRANBY NURSERIES

Head office: Granby House, Aldwarke Road, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S62 6BU

Tel: 01709 710709 Proprietors: Joanne Gray, Cameron Gray

Established: 1994

Owns 3 nurseries: Rotherham, S Yorks: Parkgate (96), Wickersley (41); Worksop, Notts (49)

Places: 186

Employees: 90

Growing Places

Head office: Growing Places @ Mill Hill, Mill Road, Waterlooville, Hants PO7 7DB

Website: www.growingplaces.org.uk

CEO: Jackie Warren

Established: 2001

Owns 6 nurseries: Cowplain (42), Fareham 1 (62), Fareham 2 (36), Havant (50), Waterlooville 1 (62), Waterlooville 2 (57) - all in Hants

6 out-of-school clubs:Emsworth, Fareham and Waterlooville (x4)

2 holiday clubs:Fareham and Waterlooville

Places: 309

Employees: 110

HAPPY DAYS NURSERIES

Head office: Chapel Town, Summercourt, Cornwall TR8 5YA

Tel: 01872 511020/0800 783 3431

Email: enquiries@happydaysnurseries.com

Website: www.happydaysnurseries.com

Managing director: Jackie Arthur

Founding director: Sarah Karkeek

Operations director: Kim Herbert

Development director: Kevin Higgs

C&E director: Sarah Dimsdale

Finance director: Ian Sanders

Established: 1993

Owns 21 nurseries: Bath (70); Bristol 1 (100), Bristol 2 (82), Bristol 3 (81); Bodmin (66), Falmouth (67), St Austell (67), St Blazey (54), St Minver (30), Summercourt (90), Treloggan (44), Treloweth (100), Truro 1 (42), Truro 2 (71), Truro 3 (67), Truro 4 (52) - all in Cornwall; Derriford (146), Exeter (78) - both in Devon; Poole, Dorset (81); Swindon, Wilts (100); Weston-super-Mare, Somerset (81)

Places: 1,569

Employees: 550

Plans: To continue expanding in the South West, supported by Livingbridge, a private equity company.

HAPPY DAYS CHILDCARE*

Head office: Unit 15, Blackpool Technology Management Centre, Faraday Way, Blackpool FY2 0JW

Tel: 01253 359161

Email: info@happydayschildcare.info

Website: www.happydayschildcare.info

Directors: David and Jackie Hoyle

Established: 1999

Owns 5 nurseries: Ansdell (40), Blackpool 1 (100), Blackpool 2 (92), Blackpool 3 (56), Poulton-Le-Fylde (85) - all Lancs

Places: 373

Staff: 102

HAPPY JAYS NURSERIES AND CHILDCARE CENTRES

Acquired by First for Childcare in May 2017

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

Tel: 01904 479261

Owner:Sue Denton

Established: 1996

Owns 6 nurseries: Batley (80), Boroughbridge (45), Harrogate (60), Scarborough 1 (95) Scarborough 2, Eastfield Children's Centre (30), York (92) - all in Yorks

Places: 402

Employees: 100+

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

HAPPY KIDS CHILDCARE

Head office: 20 Cowley Drive, Chapeltown, Sheffield S35 1SW

Email:info@happykids-childcare.co.uk

Website: www.happykids-childcare.co.uk

Directors: Steve Scott and Deborah Scott

Established: 2012

Owns 4 nurseries: Manchester: Delamere Park (20), Heybury Close (63); S Yorks: Clifton (39), East Dene (70)

Places: 192

Employees: 41

Plans: To open a new nursery in Sheffield in 2020

HONEYBUNS NURSERY GROUP

Head office: 17 Whitchurch Road, Wellington, Telford TF1 3DS

Tel: 01952 246 002

Email: office@honeybunsnurseries.com

Website: www.honeybunsnurseries.co.uk

Director: Alison Shipton

Established: 2006

Owns 3 nurseries: Cannock Norton Canes (46), Stafford (59) - both in Staffs; Telford, Shropshire (128). Also runs a holiday club at Stafford.

Places: 233

Employees: 88

HONEY POT NURSERIES

Head office: Chestnut Grove, Wavertree, Liverpool L158HS

Tel: 0151 305 2022

Email: julie@honeypotnursery.co.uk

Website: www.honeypotnursery.co.uk

Nursery owner: Julie Hurst

Area managers: Jenna Geggie and Melissa Kalli

Food and nutrition manager: Michael Geggie

Quality and training manager: Ashley Williams-Day

Established: 2007

Owns 4 nurseries: Liverpool: Aigburth (44), Childwall (44), Garston (65), Wavertree (91)

Places: 244

Employees: 100+

HOPSCOTCH CHILDREN'S NURSERIES

Head office: First Floor, 14 Bavant Road, Brighton BN1 6RD

Tel: 01273 385577

Fax: 01273 774154

Email: office@hopscotch.uk.com

Website: www.hopscotch.uk.com

Managing director: Philip Ford

Operations manager:

Claire Martin

Established: 1988

Owns 6 nurseries: Brighton (98), Hove 1 (92), Hove 2 (57), Hove 3 (44), Peacehaven (60), Seaford (92) - plus 1 out-of-school club - all in E. Sussex

Places: 443

Employees: 195

HOPSCOTCH DAY NURSERIES

Head office: 9 Fielder Drive,

Fareham, Hants PO14 1JE

Tel: 02392 559 840

Email: claire@hopscotchdaynurseries.co.uk

Website:www.hopscotchdaynurseries.co.uk

Director: Freya Derrick

Finance director:

Caroline Rawnsley

Head of early years:

Tara Sutton

Established: 2005

Owns 4 nurseries: Botley, Southampton (100), Gosport (88), Lee on the Solent, Gosport (83), Titchfield, Fareham (75) - all in Hants.

Places: 346

Employees: 208

HUMPTY DUMPTY CHILDCARE

Head office: Brimhay, Gidley's Meadow, Dartington, Devon TQ9 6JZ

Tel: 01803 866863

Email: enquiries@humptydumptychildcare.co.uk

Website: www.humptydumptychildcareltd.co.uk

Managing director: Steven Finnemore

Established: 1989

Owns 3 nurseries: Dartington (79), Dartmouth (42), Newton Abbot (52) - all in Devon. Also runs an out-of-school club in Dartington and holiday clubs in Dartington and Newton Abbott.

Places: 173

Employees: 46

HUNGRY CATERPILLAR DAY NURSERIES

Head office: 12, 17, 18 Park Place, Newdigate Road, Harefield UB9 6EJ

Tel: 01895 678682

Email: info@hungrycaterpillars.co.uk

Owners: Olivia Foley Hodgson, Tim Hodgson

Established: 1999

Owns 11 nurseries: Bucks: Chalfont St Peter (70), High Wycombe (90); London: Acton (32), Acton Park (29), Hanwell (54), Northolt 1 (62), Northolt 2 (45), Perivale (20), Stanmore (37), West Ealing (35), West Twyford (49)

Places: 523

Employees: 145

Plans: To open a new nursery in 2020.

HONEYBEAR NURSERY*

Head office: Northenden Road, Gatley, Cheadle SK8 4EN

Tel: 0161 4915121

Email: info@honeybearnursery.co.uk

Website: www.honeybearnursery.co.uk

Director: Bernadetta Devine

Established: 1989

Owns 3 nurseries: Gatley (55), Hale (55), Whalley Range (37) - all Greater Manchester

Places: 147

Employees: 50

ICP NURSERIES

Head office: 1a Elm Avenue, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 4LR

Website: https://icpnurseries.com

CEO: Tracey Storey

Established: 2016

Owns 33 nurseries: Ash, Surrey (45); Aylesbury 1, Bucks (90), Aylesbury 2 (100); Banbury, Oxfordshire (120); Banstead 1, Surrey (16), Banstead 2 (60); Beaconsfield, Bucks (60); Bicester, Oxon (130); Bishop's Stortford, Herts (86); Cambridge, Cambs (131); Colchester 1, Essex (68), Colchester 2 (37); Huntingdon, Cambs (86); London 1 (38), London 2 (51), London 3 (69), London 4 (122), London 5 (89), London 6 (115), London 7 (125), London 8 (82), London 9 (56), London 10 (62), London 11 (120); Marlow, Bucks (63); Northampton, Northants (130); Shere, Surrey (54); St Ives, Cambs (81); Tonbridge, Kent (76); Tunbridge Wells 1, Kent (51), Tunbridge Wells 2 (64); Windsor 1, Berks (82), Windsor 2 (85)

Places: 2,644

Employees: 400

JACK AND JILL DAY NURSERY AND PRE-SCHOOL

Head office: 14 Shrewsbury Road, Oxton, Wirral CH43 1UX

Tel: 0151 651 0501

Email: oxton@jackandjill-nursery.co.uk

Website: www.jackandjill-nursery.co.uk

Directors: Marjorie and David Jack

Area managers: Joanne Williams and Jodie Smith

Established: 1998

Owns 6 nurseries: Brimstage Pre-School (32), Brimstage Nursery (50), Oxton (82), Rock Ferry (90), Seacombe (50), Upton (56) - all in Merseyside

Places: 360

Employees: 115

Plans: To open a new nursery in the next six months.

JANCETT CHILDCARE AND JACE TRAINING

Email: admin@jancett.co.uk

Website: www.jancett.co.uk

Tel: 020 8669 1725 Founder directors: Chris Pritchard, John Pritchard

Managing director: Tracy Pritchard-Drummond

Established: 1969

Owns 4 nurseries: Carshalton (60), Wallington 1 (106), Wallington 2 (55), Wallington 3 (50) - all in Surrey. Also runs 19 out-of-school clubs. Provides traineeships, study programmes, apprenticeships and professional qualifications.

Places: 271

Employees: 200

JUST CHILDCARE

Head office: Ridgway House, Progress Way, Denton M34 2GP

Tel: 0161 320 2750

Email: enquiries@justchildcare.co.uk

Website: www.justchildcare.co.uk

Chief executive: David Johnson

Development director: Jacqueline Johnson

Operations director: Liz Carroll

Established: 2004

Owns 60 nurseries: Accrington, Lancs (63); Atherton 1, Greater Manchester (68), Atherton 2 (100), Bolton (96);Adel, W. Yorks (55); Bidston, Merseyside (82); Birkenhead 1, Merseyside (82), Birkenhead 2 (90), Birkenhead 3 (62); Bristol 1 (70), Bristol 2 (99), Bristol 3 (51), Bristol 4 (51), Bristol 5 (80), Bristol 6 (38), Bristol 7 (60), Bristol 8 (79), Bristol 9 (61), Bristol 10 (115), Bristol 11 (45); Burnley 1, Lancs (73), Burnley 2 (48), Burnley 3 (71); Chorley, Lancs (57); Ellesmere Port, Cheshire (49);Doncaster 1, S. Yorks (93), Doncaster 2 (149);Filton 1, S. Glocs (108), Filton 2 (40); Glossop, Derbyshire (70); Halifax, W. Yorks (41); Harrogate 1, N. Yorks (86), Harrogate 2 (73), Harrogate 3 (76), Harrogate 4 (54); Higher Bebington, Merseyside (82); Idle 1, W. Yorks (74), Idle 2 (105); Leeds 1, W. Yorks (63), Leeds 2 (80), Leeds 3 (62), Leeds 4 (76); Leyland, Lancs (90); Little Stanney, Merseyside (63); Liverpool, Merseyside (96); Methley, W. Yorks (60); Oxton, Merseyside (70); Preston 1, Lancs (96), Preston 2 (98); Runcorn, Cheshire (56); Sale, Greater Manchester (86); Sandbach, Cheshire (140); Shipley, W Yorks (67); Southport, Merseyside (78);Tarporley, Chesshire (44);Whalley, Lancs (58);Widnes, Cheshire (76); Worsley, Greater Manchester (89); Yeadon, W. Yorks (66); Yorkshire (70)

Places: 4,480

Employees: 520

 

KALEIDOSCOPE DAY NURSERIES

Head office: Adwalton Court,

Hodgson Lane, Drighlington

BD11 1BJ

Tel: 0113 2852 572

Email: headoffice@knurseries.com

Website: www.knurseries.com

Directors: Jane Middlebrook, Steve Middlebrook

Established: 1990

Owns 3 nurseries: Leeds: Drighlington (78), Gildersome (48), Morley (88)

6 out-of-school clubs: Leeds: Drighlington (40), Gildersome (40), Hill Top (40), Lower Wortley (32), Morley (40), Park Grove (50)

Places: 214

Employees: 107

KANGAROO POUCH NURSERIES

Head office: Oakham Library, Tividale B69 1RD

Tel: 01384 850599

Email: anita@kangaroopouch.org.uk

Website: www.kangaroopouch.org.uk

CEO and founder: Anita Patel Sahota

Managing director: Joanne Morgan

Quality assurance director: Samantha Charters

Established: 2011

Owns 11 nurseries: West Midlands: Bloxwich (49), Brierley Hill (53), Charlemont (40), Great Bridge (69), Harden (53), Hateley Heath 1 (52), Hateley Heath 2 (83), Kates Hill (37), Rowley Regis (75), Tividale (62), Willenhall (60)

Places: 633

Employees: 115

Plans: To open new nurseries in 2020.

KID EASE

Head office: Bourne House, 23 Hinton Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH1 2EF

Tel: 01202 201420

Email: info@kidease.co.uk

Website: http://kidease.co.uk

Managing director: Ian Atkey

Established: 2001

Owns and operates 5 nurseries:Dover, Kent: Buckland (58), Triangles (102); Hawkinge, Kent (104); Swingfield, Kent (57); Norwich, Norfolk (61)

Places: 382

Employees: 113

KIDO NURSERY AND PRE-SCHOOL

Previously known as Safari Kids

Head office: Kido School UK, WeWork, Spitalfields, 199 Bishopsgate, London EC2M 3TY

Email: clerkenwell@kido.school

Website: www.kido.school

Established: 2017

Owns 6 nurseries: Camden (70), Chiswick (80), Clerkenwell (88), Golders Green (110), Wandsworth (56), Windsor (80) - all in London

Places: 484

Employees: 60+

Plans: Opening nurseries in Crouch End and Greenwich in 2020

KIDDI CARU DAY NURSERIES GROUP

Acquired by Les Petits Chaperons Rouges in 2017

Head office: Tuscany House, White Hart Lane, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 4AF

Tel: 01256 383440

Email: marketing@kiddicaru.com

Website: www.kiddicaru.com

CEO: Adrian Moore

Finance director: Colin Lawson

Director of operations: Fiona Blackwell

Established: 1998

Owns and manages 39 nurseries: Basingstoke, Hants (121); Bedford (75); Burgess Hill, W Sussex (100); Chelmsford, Essex (96); Colchester, Essex (122); Daventry, Northants (66); Exeter 1, Devon (129); Exeter 2 (121);Harlow, Essex (100); Hitchin, Herts (95); Kirby Muxloe (45), Loughborough (45), Market Harborough (115), Melton Mowbray (59), Narborough (49); Whitwick (71) - all Leics; Leicester 1 (29), Leicester 2 (80), Leicester 3 (57); Leighton Buzzard, Beds (63); London: Earls Court (104), Hounslow (105); Milton Keynes 1, Bucks (69), Milton Keynes 2 (89), Milton Keynes 3 (39); Northampton 1 (118), Northampton 2 (75), Northampton 3 (56); Peterborough 1, Cambs (114), Peterborough 2 (43); Plympton, Devon (100); Redhill, Surrey (100); Rushden, Northants (96); Somersham, Cambs (94); Taunton, Somerset (129); Torquay, Devon (96); Wellingborough, Northants (96); Whiteley, Hants (128); Writtle, Essex (118)

Places: 3,407

Employees: 1,200

KIDDYCARE

Head office: 71 Melton Road, Leicester LE4 6PN

Tel: 0116 2681471

Email: nadine@kiddycarenurseries.co.uk; kala@kiddycarenurseries.co.uk

Website: www.kiddycarenurseries.co.uk

Director: Kala Patel

Operations manager: Nadine Farrington

Established: 1985

Owns 5 nurseries: Angels pre-school (30), Kiddycare nursery (65), Little Willows (45), Parkview (45) - all in Leicester; Royal Mail Childsplay, Farringdon, London (30)

Places: 215

Employees: 70

KIDS ALLOWED

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

Tel: 0161 434 6555

Email: info@kidsallowed.com

Website: www.kidsallowed.com

Chief executive: Jennie Johnson

Managing director: James Crosswell

Established: 2005

Owns 8 nurseries: Altrincham, Greater Manchester (190); Cheadle Royal, Cheshire (192); Christie Fields, Greater Manchester (256); Knutsford, Cheshire (188); Macclesfield, Cheshire (174); Stockport, Greater Manchester (220); Trafford City, Greater Manchester (114); UHSM, Greater Manchester (78). Also runs a training academy.

3 out-of-school clubs: (132)

Places: 1,412

Employees: 500

KID INC*

Head office: Toll Bar Cottage, High Lane, Burscough, Ormskirk L40 7SN

Tel: 01942 386 240

Email: firstchapterdaynursery@gmail.comWebsite: https://www.firstchapterdaynursery.co.uk

Director: Mrs M Jones

Established: 2014

Owns 4 nurseries: Accrington (80), Blackpool (78), Burscough (100) - all Lancs; Westhoughton, Greater Manchester (50)

Places: 586

Employees: 65

Plans: Looking at expanding around the North West over the next three years

KIDS INC NURSERIES

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

Tel: 020 8598 2600

Website: www.kidsincnurseries.co.uk

Established: 2003

Owns 12 nurseries: Aylesbury, Bucks (68); Bluewater, Kent (106); Crowthorne, Berks (82); Enfield, Middlesex (101); Ilford 1 (55), Ilford 2 (100), Ilford 3 (112); Guildford, Surrey (129); Loughton, Essex (66); London: Chingford (73), East Sheen (36), South Woodford (62)

Places: 990

Employees: 320

Plans: Further acquisitions in London and the M25 area. New nursery opening in Gravesend, Kent in 2020.

KIDS PLANET DAY NURSERIES

Head office: 231 Higher Lane, Lymm, Cheshire WA13 0NA

Tel/Fax: 01925 753 448

Email: headoffice@kidsplanetdaynurseries.co.uk

Website: www.kidsplanetdaynurseries.co.uk

Directors: John Hoban, Clare Roberts, Lucy Kaczmarska, Andy Thorley, Pinesh Mehta, Mark McMenemy

Established: 2008

Owns 46 nurseries: Cheshire: Adswood (65), Beamont (39), Chester 1 (80), Chester 2 (100), Chester 3 (100), Congleton (80), Crewe 1 (67), Crewe 2 (28), Frodsham (95), Great Sankey (109), Hale (85), Haslington (145), Lymm (141), Middlewich (118), Stretton (63), Urmston (75), Warrington (94), Widnes (80); Brampton, Derbs (83); Chesterfield, Derbs (74); Greater Manchester: Davenport (60), Dukinfield (80), Higher Broughton (160), Prestwich (126), Sale (83), Salford 1 (130), Salford 2 (136), Salford 3 (80), Springhead (55), Swinton (125), Worsley (117); Little Lever, Lancs (74); Merseyside: Billinge (88), Hoylake (118), Litherland (110), Liverpool 1 (119), Liverpool 2 (88), Liverpool 3 (128), Liverpool 4 (168), Wallasey 1 (24), Wallasey 2 (96), Wavertree (87); Newbold, Derbs (74); North Wingfield, Derbs (81); Preston, Lancs (72); Sheepbridge, Derbs (108)

9 out-of-school clubs: Crewe, Cheshire (32); Crosby, Merseyside (56); Great Boughton, Cheshire (42); Haslington, Cheshire (48); Litherland, Merseyside (16); Little Lever, Lancs (60); Lymm, Cheshire (16); Middlewich, Cheshire (48); Sheepbridge, Derbs (24)

Places: 4,308

Employees: 1,325

Plans:To continue opening or acquiring new nurseries during 2020.

KIDS PLAY

Head office: 1A Roebuck Way, Knowlhill, Milton Keynes MK5 8HL

Tel: 01908 209211

Email: paulsharp@kidsplaychildcare.co.uk

Website: www.kidsplaychildcare.co.uk

Managing director: Paul Sharp

Childcare director: Sharon Elliott

Established: 1999

Owns 10 nurseries and pre-schools: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk (87); Durham, Co Durham (96); Leighton Buzzard, Beds (88); Lincoln, Lincs (96); London: Brent Cross (58); Milton Keynes, Bucks: Bletcheley (47), Knowlhill (181), Neath Hill (83), Wolverton (42); St Albans, Herts (181)

4 out-of-school clubs:Beaconsfield (32), Gullivers MK (48), Long Meadow (60), Willen (100) - all in Bucks

Places: 959

Employees: 354

Plans: To open five new nurseries by 2021.

Kidzcare

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

Tel: 0131 668 2797 Email:enquiries@kidzcare.org

Website: www.kidzcare.org

Owner: Anne Marie Dunn

Operations manager: Romana Davis

Established: 2001

Owns 4 nurseries: Edinburgh 1, Craigmillar (19), Edinburgh 2, Astley Ainslie Hospital (104), Edinburgh 3 (66), Edinburgh 4, Portobello (40).Also runs 6 after-school clubs, 5 breakfast clubs and 2 holiday clubs.

Places: 229

Employees: 175

Kidzrus

Head office: 19-21 Monton House, Monton, Manchester M30 9LE

Tel: 0161 503 0679

Email:info@kidzrusnursery.co.uk

Website: www.kidzrusnursery.co.uk

Directors: Nicola and Daryl Fleury

Established: 2010

Owns 5 nurseries: Irlam (36), Media City (108), Monton (57), Swinton (50), The Lodge (67) - all in Greater Manchester

Places: 318

THE KINDERGARTENS

Head office: 25 Mallinson Road, London SW11 1BW

Tel: 01622 833331 Email: registrar@thekindergartens.co.uk

Website:www.thekindergartens.com

Director: Carol Evelegh (principal)

Established: 1991

Owns 12 nurseries: London: Balham 1 (46), Balham 2 (50), Battersea (68), Clapham 1 (160), Clapham 2 (60), Clapham 3 (60), Fulham (30), Kensington 1 (100), Kensington 2 (28), Streatham (60), Streatham Hill (40), Wandsworth (80)

Places: 782

Employees: 110

KINDER HAVEN

Head office: 14a Waterloo Road, Pudsey LS28 7PW

Tel: 01132 577737

Email:danielle@kinderhaven.co.uk

Website: www.kinderhaven.co.uk

Managing directors: Danielle Dixon, Darren Dixon

Established: 2001

Owns 9 nurseries: Bradford: Halifax Road (117), Pasture Lane (85), Sticker Lane (98), Stone Hall Road (124), Wakefield Road (102), Westgate Hill (56), Wyke Towngate (80); Horsforth: Wood Lane (149); Waterloo Road, Pudsey (70) - all W. Yorks

Places: 881

Employees: 180

Plans: Exploring local areas for suitable premises.

KINDRED EDUCATION*

Acquired Dizzy Ducks in 2019

Head office:C/O Regus, 400 Pavilion Drive, Northampton, NN4 7PA

Chief executive: Ruth Pimentel

Chief financial officer: George Idicula

Head of operations: Annie Tierney

Established: 2015

Email: info@kindrednurseries.co.uk

Website: www.kindrednurseries.co.uk

Owns 12 nurseries:

Billericay 1, Essex (101), Billericay 2 (44); Bournemouth, Dorset (101); Harlow, Essex (44); London: Bromley 1 (120),

Bromley 2 (100), Bromley 3 (45),

Hainault (80), Hanwell (86),

Maida Vale (48), Teddington (54), Wanstead (65)

Places: 888

Employees: 328

Plans: To continue expansion in 2019-2020

KIRKTONHOLME EARLY LEARNING AND CHILDCARE

Head office: 57 Blair Road, Coatbridge ML5 1NG

Tel: 01236 425912

Email: sarah@kirktonholmenursery.com

Website: www.kirktonholmenursery.com

Area manager: Karen Flynn

Development manager: Sarah Kelly

Established: 1995

Owns 11 nurseries: Airdrie, N Lanarkshire (40); Ayr (75); Bearsden, E Dunbartonshire (102); Coatbridge 1, N Lanarkshire (64), Coatbridge 2 (67); East Kilbride, S Lanarkshire (188); Govan, Glasgow (95); Newton Mearns, E Renfrewshire (70); Shettleston, Glasgow (73), Tollcross, Glasgow (78); Wishaw, N Lanarkshire (63)

2 out-of-school clubs: East Kilbride 1 (66), E Kilbride 2 (16)

Places: 915

Employees: 223

Lilliput Montessori Day Nurseries

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

Tel: 01530 813913 Fax: 01530 817898

Email: samgraveling@aol.com

Directors: Samantha Graveling, Paul Graveling

Established: 1994

Owns 5 nurseries: Anstey (79), Coalville (66), Glenfield (27), Leicester Forest East (100), Whetstone (63) - all in Leics.

Also runs before- and after-school clubs.

Places: 335

Employees: 105

LINCOLNSHIRE CHILDCARE

Head office: The Old School, 107a-107b Dudley Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG31 9AB

Tel: 01476 591744Email: info@headstartnurseries.co.uk

Website: www.headstartnurseries.co.uk

Director: Diane Smith

Area manager: Rita McMath

Established: 1989

Owns 5 nurseries: Bourne (80), Grantham 1 (145), Grantham 2 (120), Market Deeping (109), Ruskington (70) - all in Lincs

4 out-of-school clubs: Bourne (32), Grantham 1 (124), Grantham 2 (40), Ruskington (40)

Places: 524

Employees: 109

little einstein's nurseries

Head office: Unit 5, Mitchelson Industrial Estate, Kircaldy KY1 3NF

Tel: 01592 722227

Email: accounts@littleeinsteinsnurseries.co.uk

Website: http://littleeinsteins nurseries.co.uk

Director: Colin Smart

Established: 2006

Owns 4 nurseries:Arbroath (61); Dundee (43); Glasgow (63); Perth (116). Plus 24 out-of-school places. Owns Thistle Training Company.

Places: 283

Employees: 90

little elms daycare

Head office: 29 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4PR

Tel: 020 8658 4282

Email: enquiries@littleelmsdaycare.co.uk

Website: www.littleelmsdaycare.co.uk

Directors: Matthew and Spencer Lancaster

Owns 10 nurseries: Beckenham 1, Kent (136), Beckenham 2 (60); London: Catford (45), Catford Green (61), Greenwich (60), Greenwich Peninsula (49), Lee (120), Orpington (95), Shirley (65), Sydenham (62)

Places: 753

Employees: 354

Plans: To open a new nursery in Catford Green in 2019.

Little Forest Folk

Head office: 2A Lambton Road, Wimbledon, London SW20 0LR

Tel: 07707 545913

Email: info@littleforestfolk.com

Website: www.littleforestfolk.com

Directors: Leanna and James Barrett

Established: 2015

Owns 6 nurseries: Barnes (20), Chiswick (20), Fulham (20), Twickenham (24), Wandsworth (20), Wimbledon (32) - all in London

Places: 136

Employees: 63

Plans: Future locations TBC.

Little garden day nurseries

Acquired by August Equity in 2019

Head office: 3 Purden Street, London SW8 3BW

Tel: 020 7622 5552

Email: office@lgnurseries.com

Website: www.lgnurseries.com

Chief executive: Andy Morris

Established: 1988

Owns 4 nurseries: London: Brentford (55), Clapham (72), Hammersmith (70), Kentish Town (65)

Places: 262

Employees: 90

Little Ones Childcare

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

Tel: 01392 469909

Email: info@littleoneschildcare.co.uk

Website: www.littleoneschildcare.co.uk

Managing director: Katie Porter

Established: 2000

Owns and manages 4 nurseries: Bovey Tracey (44), Budlake (29), Honiton (33), Whipton (36) - all in Devon

Places: 142

Employees: 50

LITTLE RIPLEY DAY NURSERIES

Head office: 42 Warwick Road, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham B73 5PQ

Tel: 01213 547878

Email: info@ripleymail.co.uk

Website: www.littleripley.co.uk

Directors: Ruth Appleby, Tom Oakey, Jenny Appleby, Sarah Oakey

Established: 1988

Owns and manages 13 nurseries: Birmingham 1 (51), Birmingham 2 (28), Birmingham 3 (50), Birmingham 4 (60), Birmingham 5 (52), Birmingham 6 (60), Birmingham 7 (52), Birmingham 8 (55), Birmingham 9 (90), Birmingham 10 (60), Birmingham 11 (53), Birmingham 12 (60), Birmingham 13 (70)

Places: 741

Employees: 250

London Early Years Foundation (LEYF)

Head office: 121 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4LX

Tel: 020 7821 3603

Email: info@leyf.org.uk

Website: www.leyf.org.uk

Chief executive: June O'Sullivan

Established: 1903

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

Manages 38 community, workplace and children's centre nurseries: London:Abbots Manor (25), Angel (28), Bessborough (51), Bird in Bush, Lewisham (55), Brixton (40), Burgess Park (32), Bushy Tails, Teddington (80), Camberwell Grove (77), Carlton Hill (72), Colville (46), Conservatoire, Blackheath (45), Earls Court (50), Eastbury (64), Fire Station, Hackney (45), Ford Road, Dagenham (57), Furze, Romford (47), Gumboots, Dulwich (86), Harry Road, Paddington (48), Henry Fawcett, Lambeth (47), Holcroft, Westminster (32), House of Commons, Westminster (40), Katharine Bruce, N. Kensington (54), Leys (56), Marks Gate, Romford (52), Marsham Street, Westminster (64), Marylebone (48), Micky Star, Westminster (62), New Cross (69), Noah's Ark, Tower Hamlets (56), Pembury (71), Playhouse, New Cross (51), Queensborough (38), Riverside, Dagenham (53), Soho (40), South Bermondsey (58), Stockwell (62), Wandsworth Bridge (46), Weir Link, Lambeth (47)

Places: 1,994

Employees: 700

Magic Roundabout Nurseries

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

Tel: 020 7498 1195

Email: hashim@mrnnursery.co.ukWebsite: www.mrnnursery.co.uk

Director: Farukh Najabat

Established: 1995

Owns 5 nurseries: Bristol (108); London: Docklands (39), Kennington (111), Stockwell (186), Walthamstow (120)

Places: 564

Employees: 134

The Marmalade Schools*

Head office: St Judes Hall, Heslop Road, London SW12 8EG

Tel: 020 8265 5224

Email: marmaladecaterpillar@gmail.com

Website:www.marmaladeschools.co.uk

Directors: Nick and Rozzy Hyslop

Established: 2004

Owns 4nurseries: Wandsworth 1 (80), Wandsworth 2 (75), Wandsworth 3 (80), Wandsworth 4 (70) - all London

Places: 300

Employees: 50

Plans: Looking for more settings

Mama Bear's Day Nursery

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

Tel: 0117 958 2030

Email: tony.driffield@mamabear.co.uk

Website: www.mamabear.co.uk

Directors: Bev Driffield, Tony Driffield, Nicola Thorne, Kerry Sturmey, Victoria Ashbolt

Established: 2002

Owns 23 nurseries: Bristol: Brislington (72), Bradley Stoke 1 (102), Bradley Stoke 2 (62), Clifton 1 (72), Clifton 2 (120), Crews Hole (68), Downend 1 (52), Downend 2 (64), Fishponds (59), Hanham Hall (79), Hengrove (61), Shirehampton (68), Soundwell (73), Speedwell (80), Totterdown (80), Whitchurch (32); Paignton 1, Devon (62), Paignton 2 (57); Plymouth 1 (115), Plymouth 2 (30); Taunton, Somerset (53); Torquay, Devon (30); Yeovil, Somerset (68)

Places: 1,559

Employees: 400

Plans: To open two nurseries in the South West in 2020.

Milton Keynes Preparatory Schools Group

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

Tel: 01908 642111 Email: info@mkps.co.uk

Website: www.mkps.co.uk

Contact: Mrs Hilary Pauley

Established: 1975

Owns 3 nurseries: Broughton Manor Preparatory School (150), Milton Keynes Preparatory School (150), Walton Pre-Preparatory School (160) - all in Bucks

Places: 460

Employees: 130

mon ami children's nurseries

Head office: Ormsby Lodge, 12 East Street, Alford, Lincs LN13 9EQ

Tel/fax: 01507 462228

Email: info@monaminurseries.co.uk

Website: www.monaminurseries.co.uk

Proprietors: Samantha Britton, Jarrod Britton

Senior manager: Kristina Johnson

Established: 2002

Owns 4 nurseries: Alford (86), Boston (90), Swineshead (63), Wragby (70) - all in Lincs

Places: 309

Employees: 46

MONKEY PUZZLE DAY NURSERIES

Head office: 4 Churchgates, Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 2UB

Tel: 01442 878887

Email: info@mpdn.co.uk

Website: www.mpdn.co.uk

CEO: Mark Crosby

Group operations director: Rebecca Crosby

Established: 1978

Owns/manages 63 nurseries: Altrincham, Manchester (55); Astwick, Beds (104); Aylesbury, Bucks (72); Bedford, Beds (96); Bexleyheath, Kent (140); Billericay, Essex (71); Borehamwood, Herts (97); Bromley, Kent (64); Cambridge 1, Cambs (65), Cambridge 2 (195); Chesham, Bucks (51); Cheshunt, Herts (72); Colchester, Essex (159); Edenbridge, Kent (72); Glasgow (79); Hartley Wintney, Hants (72); High Wycombe, Bucks (60); Irthlingborough, Northants (63); Kettering, Northants (72); London: Angel (70), Battersea (71), Catford (122), Chadwell Heath (82), Ealing (70), East Finchley (82), Eltham (60), Enfield (52), Golders Green (52), Highbury Park (71), Kingston (100), Mitcham (88), Muswell Hill (52), New Cross (67), Notting Hill (43), South Norwood (50), Stoke Newington (52), Streatham (72), Twickenham (48), Uxbridge (96), Welling (70), West Acton (54), West Norwood (60), West Kensington (84); Maidenhead, Berks (75); Otley, Yorks (75); Portsmouth, Hants (80); Shefford, Beds (51); Sidcup, Kent (100); Solihull, Birmingham (44); Southend, Essex (60); Southport 1, Merseyside (87), Southport 2 (59); Stafford, W. Mids (77); St Albans 1, Herts (47), St Albans 2 (87); Stratford-Upon-Avon, Warks (69); Surbiton, Surrey (60); Tatsfield, Surrey (56); Walderslade, Kent (72); Ware, Herts (60); Warwick (72); Watford, Herts (54); Wilmslow, Cheshire (44)

Places: 4,656

Employees: 1,712

Plans: To open new nurseries in the next six months.

MULBERRY BUSH NURSERY GROUP

Head office: 741 Walmersley Road, Bury, Lancs BL9 5JW

Tel: 0161 761 0169

Email: jo.kinloch@mulberrybush-nursery.co.uk

Website: www.mulberrybush-nursery.co.uk

Directors: Joanne Kinloch, Paul Robinson, Andrew Robinson

Established: 1990

Owns 5 nurseries: Bury, Greater Manchester: Dumers Lane (122), Tottington (98), Walmersley (80), Walshaw (104), Whitefield (56)

Places: 460

Employees: 200

NATURAL CHOICE NURSERIES

Acquired Desirable Childcare in 2017

Tel:01454 527627

Email:admin@ncnltd.co.uk

Website:http://ncnltd.co.uk

Owners:Nicky and Fred Edwards

Owns 4 nurseries:Alveston, South Glos (44); Charfield, South Glos (47); Cheltenham 1, Glos (68), Cheltenham 2 (38)

Places:197

Employees:60

NATURALLY LEARNING

Head office: The Old Church Hall, Church Road, Charlestown, St Austell PL25 3NS

Tel: 01726 339855Email: info@naturallylearning.co.uk

Website: www.naturallylearning.co.uk

Owner: Mandy Richardson

Established: 2012

Owns 5 nurseries: Charlestown (36), Falmouth (36), Poltair, St Austell (42), Truro 1 (50), Truro 2 (46) - all in Cornwall. Runs a holiday club in Cornwall.

Places: 210

Employees: 95

Plans: To open a new setting in Newquay.

NATURE TRAIL NURSERY

Head office: School Lane, Brinscall, Chorley, Lancashire PR6 8QP

Tel: 01254 830912

Email: ntnheadoffice@gmail.com

Directors: Amanda Hilton and Sharon Brindley

Established: 2010

Owns 6 nurseries: Brinscall (80), Chorley 1 (70), Chorley 2 (70), Euxton (30), Heskin (40), Whittle-le-Woods (60) - all in Lancs

Places: 350

Employees: 114

Plans: To open a new nursery in November.

NEWPARK CHILDCARE

Head office: Arlington Wharf, 45A Arlington Avenue, Islington, London N1 7BE

Tel/Fax: 020 7503 0961Website: www.newparkchildcare.co.uk

Directors: Barry Clutterbuck, Janice Clutterbuck, Tiffany Clutterbuck

Established: 1994

Owns 5 Montessori nursery schools: London: Barbican (26), Clerkenwell (64), Highbury (34), Shepherds Bush (82), Wandsworth (64)

Places: 270

Employees: 95

Plans: Ongoing expansion.

NORTHUMBRIAN TRUST DAY NURSERIES

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

Tel: 0191 265 6501

Email: enquiries@northumbriantrustdaynurseries.co.uk

Website: www.northumbriantrustdaynurseries.co.uk

Directors: JP Gould, EG Gould, JJ Gould

Established: 1994

Owns 3 nurseries: Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear (87, plus 2 out-of-school clubs); Spennymoor, Co Durham (43); Stockton-on-Tees, Co Durham (80, plus out-of-school club)

Places: 210

Employees: 64

Nunthorpe Nurseries Group

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

Tel/Fax: 01642 325312

Email: carmel@nunthorpenurseries.co.uk

Website: www.nunthorpenurseriesgroup.co.uk

Directors: Paul Nelson, Ian Howlett

Established: 1989

Owns 9 nurseries: Billingham (50), Brambles Farm (78), Ingleby Barwick (60), Middlesbrough 1 (76), Middlesbrough 2 (85), Middlesbrough 3 (51), Nunthorpe (76), Ormesby (75), Stockton-on-Tees (62) - all in Teesside. Out-of-school and holiday clubs at each setting

Places: 613

Employees: 145

THE OLD STATION NURSERY

Acquired by La Maison Bleue in 2019

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

Tel: 01367 243800

Email: enquiries@theoldstationnursery.co.uk

Website: www.theoldstationnursery.co.uk

Managing director:

Sarah Steel

Established: 2002

Owns 11 nurseries: Bampton (40), Faringdon (60), Filkins (28), Henley-on-Thames (64), Heyford (60), Oxford Science Park (64) - all in Oxon; Houlton, Warks (28); Innsworth 1, Glos (92), Innsworth 2 (42); Iver, Bucks (67); Uxbridge, London (62)

1 out-of-school clubWatlington (32)

Places: 607

Employees: 120

ONCE UPON A TIME DAY NURSERIES

Head office: Blair AtholHouse, 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 7 nurseries: Hillingdon: Eastcote (26), Hayes (50), Uxbridge (42), West Drayton (32); Hounslow: Feltham (63), Lower Feltham (35), Hanworth (26) - all in London

1 playgroup: Hayes, Hillingdon (26)

Places: 274

Employees: 125

PAINTPOTS PRE-SCHOOL AND NURSERY

Head office: Paintpots House, 1 Spring Crescent, Portswood, Southampton SO17 2FZ

Tel: 023 8032 2197

Email: info@paintpotsnursery.co.uk

Website: www.paintpotsnursery.co.uk

Owners:

David Wright, Anna Wright, Joseph Wright

Established: 1992

Owns 9 nurseries: Southampton: City Centre (48), Harefield (44), Freemantle (52), Portswood (64), Sholing (52), Shirley 1 (52), Shirley 2 (32), Swaythling (64), West End (52)

1 out-of-school club: Portswood School, Southampton (40)

Places: 460

Employees: 160

Plans: To expand to 12 nurseries.

PAPER MOON DAY NURSERIES

Head office: The Clock Tower, Compton Acres, Nottingham NG2 7RS

Tel: 01115 982 1122

Email: admin@papermoonnurseries.co.uk

Website: www.papermoondaynursery.co.uk

Director:

Dianne Mayfield

Established: 1990

Owns 7 nurseries: Lincolnshire: Boultham Park (34), Doddington Park (50); Nottinghamshire: Compton Acres (70), Faraday Road (40), Forest Town (108), Gamston (70), Sutton in Ashfield (134)

Places: 506

Employees: 150

PATHWAYS NURSERIES AND CHILDCARE CENTRES

Head office: 2 Huddesford Drive, Balsall Common, Coventry CV7 7RR

Tel: 01926 484030

Email: office@pathwaysnursery.co.uk

Website: www.pathwaysnursery.co.uk

Directors: Caroline Jones, Beth Casey, Daniel Jones

Established: 1989

Owns 5 nurseries: Barston, Solihull (27), Balsall Common (24), Chelmsley Wood (60), Holly Lane (26), Warwick (40) - all West Midlands. Also runs an out-of-school club in Warwick.

Places: 177

Employees: 49

PEAR TREE NURSERIES

Head office: 7 Craigengall Farm Crofts, Westfield, EH48 3DZ

Tel: 01786 822391

Email: info@peartreenurseries.co.uk

Websites: www.peartreenurseries.co.uk, www.arnhallnursery.co.uk

Directors: Nicola Pryde, Stephanie Dodds

Established: 1990

Owns 3 nurseries: Dunblane, Stirling (107); Haddington 1, East Lothian (56), Haddington 2 (94)

Places: 257

Employees: 95

PINOCCHIO'S CHILDREN'S NURSERIES

Head office: School Green, Lasswade, Midlothian EH18 1NB

Tel: 0131 654 2914

Email: lewissa@pinocchiosnursery.co.uk

Website: www.pinocchiosnursery.co.uk

Directors: Stratos Koulis, Lewissa Koulis

Quality assurance manager: Katrina Weir

Established: 1997

Owns 5 nurseries: Edinburgh 1 (48), Edinburgh 2 (55); Eskbank (76), Lasswade (67), Penicuick (53) - all in Midlothian.

Places: 299

Employees: 100

PIXIELAND DAY NURSERIES

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

Tel: 01752 511007 Email: info@pixielanddaynurseries.co.uk

Website: www.pixielanddaynurseries.co.uk

Proprietor:

Caroline Francis

Established: 1984

Owns/manages 4 nurseries: Devonport, MoD (36); Plymouth: Mannamead (79), Milehouse (92) - all in Devon; Saltash, Cornwall (130)

Places: 337

Employees: 100

POPPY & JACK'S

Head office: Apex House, Bracewell Avenue, Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire FY6 8JF

Tel: 01253 978011

Website: www.poppyandjacks.co.uk

Chief executive:

Sarah Bellamy

Established: 2011

Owns 9 nurseries: Astley Bridge, Greater Manchester (51); Blackburn, Lancs (80); Cleveleys, Lancs (80); Crewe, Cheshire (96); Fulwood, Lancs (63); Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancs (60); Stockport, Greater Manchester (83); Warrington 1, Cheshire (81), Warrington 2 (58)

Places: 652

Employees: 175

Plans: To open 2 nurseries

Portico DAY NURSERIES

Head office: Apartment 6, Claremont House,

Ruff Lane, Ormskirk, Lancs

L39 4UP

Tel: 01695 581545

Email: portico.nicole@me.com

Website: www.porticonurserygroup.co.uk

Directors: Nicole Politis, Craig Jackson

Established: 2002

Owns 7 nurseries: Aughton, Lancashire (40); Eccleston Park, Merseyside (32); Moss Bank, Merseyside (44); Ormskirk, Lancashire (30); Skelmersdale, Lancashire (52); St Helens, Merseyside (118); Thatto Heath, Merseyside (32). Also runs 2 after-school clubs in Ormskirk and St Helens.

Placs: 348

Employees: 104

PORTLAND NURSERIES

Head office: Oakwood House, 2 Hungerford Road, Edgerton, Huddersfield HD3 3AL

Tel: 01484 533322Email: info@portlandnurseries.co.uk

Website: www.portlandnurseries.co.uk

Directors: Anastasia Murphy, Michael Murphy

Established: 1991

Owns 4 nurseries: Huddersfield: Harlequin Nursery, Edgerton 1 (30), Holly Bank Nursery, Edgerton 2 (56), Oakwood House Nursery & Forest School, Edgerton 3 (84), Portland House, Lindley (90)

1 after-school club:Lindley (24)

Places: 260

Employees: 102

PUFFINS OF EXETER CHILDCARE CENTRES

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

Tel: 01392 496017 Email: enquiries@puffinsofexeter.com

Website: www.puffinsofexeter.co.uk

Managing directors: Maureen Gard, Rosalind Taylor, Gemma Rolstone, Gillian Fawcett

Established: 1990

Owns 6 nurseries: Exeter: Clystheath (60), Heavitree (40), St Leonards (56), Southernhay (70), Sowton (40); Torquay, Shiphay (48). Plus apprenticeship courses.

1 after-school club: Exeter: Clyst St Mary (20); holiday club at Manston Terrace (30)

Places: 314

Employees: 120

RAINBOW NURSERY

Head office: 14 Moss Way, Hillend Industrial Estate, Dalgety, Fife KY11 9JS

Tel: 01383 821970

Email: rainbownursery2@btconnect.com

Website: www.rainbowchildcarefife.co.uk

Directors: Craig Skinner, Ian Skinner

Established: Acquired in 2010

Owns 3 nurseries: Dalgety Bay (89), Glenrothes (117), St Andrews (64) - all in Fife

Places: 270

Employees: 66

RASCALS DAY NURSERIES

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

Tel: 028 9076 1333 Fax: 028 9076 9333

Email: reception@rascalsdaynurseries.com

Website: www.rascalsdaynurseries.com

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

Established: 1988

Owns 7 nurseries: Belfast: Belfast East 1 (119), Belfast East 2 (50), Belfast North 1 (50), Belfast North 2 (100), Belfast South 1 (58), Belfast South 2 (140); Londonderry (50)

Places: 567

Employees: 217

RED BALLOON*

Head office: 274 Portsmouth Road, Cobham, Surrey KT11 1HU

Tel: 01932 866505

Email: cobham@red-balloon.co.uk

Website: www.red-balloon.co.uk

Owners and co-founders: Abby Auty and Caroline Ganjou

Established: 2004

Owns 3 nurseries: Cobham (62), Ockham (68), Weybridge (60) - all in Surrey

Places: 190

Employees: 125

RHYMETIME NURSERY

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

Tel: 01604 586440

Email: michelle@nurseryheadoffice.com

Managing director: Michelle Harris

Established: 2000

Owns 7 nurseries: Corby (70), Kettering (64), Northampton (96), Rushden (94), Woodleys Farm Day Nursery (40), Woodleys Park Day Nursery (72), Woodleys Village (40) - all in Northants

Places: 476

Employees: 70

ROSEDENE NURSERIES

Head office: Hemlington Initiative Centre, Cass House Road, Hemlington TS8 9QW

Tel: 01642 596768

Email: enquiries@rosedenenurseries.co.uk

Website: www.rosedenenurseries.co.uk

Directors: Clare McCullagh, John McCullagh

Established: 1993

Owns 11 nurseries: Easterside, Middlesbrough (36), Egglescliffe, Stockton-on-Tees (40); Guisborough, Redcar and Cleveland (50); Hardwick, Stockton-on-Tees (56); Hemlington Children Centre, Middlesbrough (54), Kader, Middlesbrogh (36); Northallerton, North Yorkshire (55), Ormesby, Middlesbrough (41); Saltburn, Saltburn-by-the-Sea (59); St Paul's Billingham, Stockton-on-Tees (48), Sunrise, Stockton-on-Tees (56)

1 out-of-school club: Northallerton (24)

Places: 531

Employees: 150

rosy apple childcare

Trades as Little Achievers Nurseries

Head office: Unit 6, Lockside Office Park, Lockside Road, Riversway, Preston PR2 2YS

Tel: 01772 733777

Email: sharon@rosyapplechildcare.com

Website: www.rosyapplechildcare.com

Founder/owner: Sharon Alexander

Established: 2003

Owns 4 nurseries: Preston 1 (89), Preston 2 (72), Ramsgreave (75), Skelmersdale (71) - all in Lancs

Places: 307

Employees: 60-plus

SCHOOLHOUSE DAYCARE

Head office: 45 De La Beche Road, Sketty, Swansea SA2 9EA

Tel: 01792 202900

Email: mail@schoolhouse-daycare.co.uk

Website: www.schoolhouse-daycare.co.uk

Established: 1998

Directors:Amanda Bennett, Kevin Bennett

Owns 7 nurseries: Bridgend (50); Carmarthen: Glangwili (50), Tycroes (18); Neath Port Talbot (42); Swansea: City (46), Morriston (121), Sketty (118)Places: 445

Employees:130

SECRET GARDEN NURSERY*

Head office: Lennox House, 7 Beaufort Buildings, Spa Road, Gloucester GL1 1XB

Tel: 07904 747457

Email: sales@williampaige.co.uk

Website: www.secretgardennursery.org.uk

Director: Charles Perkins

Established: 2014

Owns 3 nurseries: Eastgate (100), Tredworth (100), Tuffley (100) - all in Glos

Places: 300

Employees: 65

Plans: We are looking to open further sites in 2020

SERENDIPITYS CHILDCARE SERVICES*

Head office: 30-32 Nottingham Road, Bingham, Nottingham

NG13 8AT

Tel: 01949 836730

Email: enquiries@serendipitys.co.uk

Directors: Kelly and Matt Alls

Established: 1998

Owns 5 nurseries: Balderton (38), Bingham (68), Cotgrave (74), Newark (49) - all in Notts; Grantham, Lincs (40)

Places: 269

Employees: 100

Plans: Bingham is being renovated to include a purpose-designed pre-school with outdoor classroom and Forest School.

Seymour House Day Nursery Schools

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

Tel: 01245 213213

Email: admin@seymourhouse.co.uk

Website: www.seymourhouse.co.uk

Directors: John Player, Julie Player, Jonathan Player, Christopher Willetts

Established: 1988

Owns 10 nurseries: Basildon (34); Chelmsford: Broomfield Hospital (50), Broomfield Road (50), Lawn Lane (50), Springfield Road (50); Colchester (51); Laindon, Essex (51); St Albans, Herts (66); Wickford, Essex (73); Witham, Essex (66)

Places: 541

Employees: 260

Plans: Seeking expansion in the South East.

Shine Childcare

Head office: Sycamore Lodge, 7A Woodhouse Cliff, Woodhouse, Leeds LS6 2HF

Tel: 0113 2784 362

Email: admin@shinechildcare.co.uk

Website: www.shinechildcare.co.uk

Managing director international: Graham Abbott

Managing director UK: Amika Abbott

Curriculum director: Jeanne Barczewska

Established: 2004

Owns 4 nurseries: Halifax, W. Yorks (112); Huddersfield, W. Yorks (142); Leeds, Yorks (163); Oldham, Greater Manchester (150)

Places: 567

Employees: 131

Plans: Looking for opportunities to expand.

Shooting Stars nurseries

Head office: The Coach House,

Old Burcot Lane, Burcot, Bromsgrove B60 1PH

Email: natalie@myshootingstars.com

Website: www.myshootingstars.com

Director:

Jon Higgins

Area managers: Natalie McNamara and Tracy Hedges

Established: 2009

Owns 7 nurseries: Bromsgrove, Worcs (81); Gloucester, Glocs (76); Hinckley, Leics (78); Kings Norton, W. Mids (93); Stourbridge, W. Mids (59); Wolverhampton, W. Mids (86); Worcester, Worcs (91)

Places: 564

Employees: 180

SNAPDRAGONS NURSERIES

Head office: Prospect Farm, 43 Bath Road, Atworth, Melksham, Wilts SN12 8JW

Tel: 01225 707009

Email: atworth@snapdragonsnursery.com

Website: www.snapdragonsnursery.com

Directors: Paul Collard (managing director), Rosemary Collard (managing director), James Collard (director of technology), Jennifer Biddel (finance director)

Established: 1998

Owns 9 nurseries: Atworth (39), Broadwood (74), Corsham (100) - all in Wilts; Bath and North East Somerset: Grosvenor (70), Keynsham (122), Weston (164); Bristol: Horfield (120), Redland (200), Shirehampton (128)

3 out-of-school clubs: Broadwood (16), Corsham (48), Weston (30)

Places: 1,017

Employees: 300

Plans: New nursery in South Glocs to open in 2020.

SOUTH HILLS NURSERY

Head office: Home Farm Road, Wilton, Wiltshire SP2 8PJ

Tel: 01722 744971

Email: admin@southhillsschool.com

Website: www.southhillsschool.com

Directors: John Proctor, Alicia Proctor, Andrew Proctor

Established: 1994

Owns 10 nurseries: Burcombe (24), Calne (42), Corsham (60), Froxfield (40), Great Cheverell (34), Salisbury 1 (70), Salisbury 2 (60), Semley (24), St Peter's (30), Wilton (150) - all in Wilts

Places: 418

Employees: 100+

SPL EDUCATION AND EXETER NURSERIES

Nursery Team office: 36 Alphington Road, Exeter

EX2 8HN

Tel: 01392 272621

Finance office: 143 Exeter Road, Exmouth, EX8 5AU

Email: denise.cronin@splnurseries.co.uk

Director: Jon Middleton

Established: 2006

Owns 4 nurseries: Exeter 1 (60), Exeter 2 (80), Exeter 3 (63); Exmouth (56) - all in Devon

Places: 259

Employees: 100

SPRING BY ACTION FOR CHILDREN

From October 2017, the nurseries started operating under the brand Spring

Head office: 3 The Boulevard, Ascot Road, Watford WD18 8AG

Tel: 01923 361500

Website:www.actionforchildren.org.uk, www.springnurseries.co.uk

Chief executive: Julie Bentley

Managing director of operations: Carol Iddon

Director of nurseries: Yolanda Hampshire

Established: 1869

Owns/manages 47 nurseries:

Bedlington 1, Northumberland (24), Bedlington 2 (24); Braintree, Essex 1 (49), Braintree 2 (37), Braintree 3 (54); Derby 1, Derbyshire (57), Derby 2 (66), Derby 3 (44); Exeter 1, Devon (52), Exeter 2 (46); Folkestone, Kent (48); Gateshead 1, Tyne and Wear (54), Gateshead 2 (54), Gateshead 3 (52), Gateshead 4 (36), Gateshead 5 (76); Kinloss, Morayshire (100); Knowsley 1, Merseyside (69), Knowsley 2 (37); London: Chelsea 1 (57), Chelsea 2 (41), Chelsea 3 (47), Chelsea 4 (42), Erith (34); Medmenham, Bucks (46); Norfolk 1 (64), Norfolk 2 (43);RAF Benson, Oxon (104); RAF Boscombe Down, Wilts (66); RAF Boulmer, Northumberland (47); RAF Cosford, Wolves (100); RAF Halton, Bucks (54); RAF High Wycombe, Bucks (46); RAF Honington, Suffolk (91);RAF Linton-on-Ouse, Yorks (80); RAF Scampton, Lincs (91); RAF Shawbury, Shropshire (52); RAF Valley, Anglesey (68); RAFWaddington, Lincs (105); RAF Wittering, Cambs (99); RAF Wyton, Cambs (78); Sandwich, Kent (80);Stockton-on-Tees 1, Co Durham (24), Stockton-on-Tees 2 (24), Stockton-on-Tees 3 (33); Wallsend, Tyne-and-Wear (63); Winchester, Hants (47)

Places: 2,705

Employees: 4,656

STEPPING STONES NURSERIES

Previously known as Little Acorns Group

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

Tel: 01925 232202

Email: enquiries@steppingstonesgroup.com

Website: www.steppingstonesgroup.com

Managing director:

Neil Ritchie

Established: 1992

Operates 9 nurseries: Gomersal, W. Yorks (48); Manchester (65), Worsley (47); Mirfield, W. Yorks (62); Rothwell, Leeds (43); Warrington 1, Cheshire (98), Warrington 2 (48), Warrington 3 (40); Washington, Tyne and Wear (98)

Places: 549

Employees: 170

Plans: Looking to open two new settings in the next 12 months.

ST GEORGE'S NURSERY SCHOOLS

Head office: 2 Grace Road, Leicester LE2 8AD

Tel: 01162 290023

Email: enquiries@stgeorgesnursery.com

Website: www.stgeorgesnursery.com

Directors: Birju Ghelani, Jaimie Ghelani

Established: 1994

Owns 5 nurseries: Aylestone (94), Enderby (84), Leicester City (90), Narborough (60), Oadby (85) - all in Leics

Places: 413

Employees: 95

STORAL LEARNING*

Head office: 1 Kingdom Street, Paddington Central, London W2 6BD

Tel: 0203 755 0992

Email: info@storal-learning.co.uk

Website: www.storal-learning.co.uk

Directors: Ashwin Grover, Varun Chanrai

Established: 2016

Owns/manages 18 nurseries: Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leics (50); Basingstoke, Hants (90); Bristol (115); Clacton-On-Sea, Essex (190); Blandford Forum, Dorset (81); Gravesend, Kent (84); Maidstone 1, Kent (34), Maidstone 2 (48); Manchester, Greater Manchester (104); Portishead, Somerset (76); Sittingbourne, Kent (61); Urmston, Greater Manchester (79); Warrington, Cheshire (100); Weston-Super-Mare, Somerset (98); Whitwick, Leics (80); Widnes 1, Cheshire (57), Widnes 2 (52); Woodville, Derbs (110)

Places: 1,509

Employees: 455

SUNHILL DAYCARE (EUROPE)

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

Tel: 01763 247474 Fax: 01763 243033

Website: www.sunhilldaycare.com

Email: enquiries@sunhilldaycare.com

Directors: GeoffChapman (managing director), RogerChapman (finance director), Liza Oliver (company secretary), Steve Moss (head of projects and facilities), Kirsty Love (head of childcare and operations), Robb Perry (accounts manager)

Established: 1991

Owns 10 nurseries:Aylesbury, Bucks (96); Berkhamsted (87), Hemel Hempstead (75), Royston (85) - all in Herts; Fen Drayton (75), GreatAbington (90), St Neots 1 (47), St Neots 2 (25) - all in Cambs; Suffolk 1 (30), Suffolk 2 (71)

1 out-of-school club: St Neots (25)

Places: 681

Employees: 170

Plans: Further acquisition and new build in 2019.

TENDERLINKS DAY NURSERY GROUP

Head office: Lampard Investments, 122 Hill House, 210 Upper Richmond Road, London SW15 6NP

Tel: 07940 391682

Email: fkhaki@lampardinvestments.com

Website: www.tenderlinksdaynursery.co.uk

Managing director: Farouq Khaki

Director: Sanjeev Mall

Established: 2006

Owns 4 nurseries: Godalming, Surrey (32); London: Norbury (19), Streatham (38), Twickenham (18)

Places: 107

Employees: 27

Plans: Opening a new nursery in Hammersmith.

TIDDLYWINKS DAY NURSERY*

Head office: 6 Manchester Old Road, Bury BL9 0TB

Tel: 0161 764 1265

Email: info@tiddlywinksnursery.com Website: www.tiddlywinksnursery.com

Directors: David and Imelda Mihell

Established: 1994

Owns 6 nurseries: Ancoats (70), Blackley (62), Bury (110), Clayton (92), Crumpsall (86), Higher Blackley (64) - all in Greater Manchester

4 out-of-school clubs: Blackley, Clayton, Higher Blackley, Middleton

Places: 484

Employees: 150

Plans: Actively looking for our seventh nursery

TINYSAURUS NURSERIES

Head office: Supersaurus Nursery, 46 Cromwell Road, Hove, East Sussex BN3 3ER

Tel: 01273 730017

Email: accounts@supersaurusnursery.co.ukWebsite: www.saurusnurseries.co.uk

Directors: Rikke Kerler, KF Phoon

Established: 2006

Owns 11 nurseries:Brighton, E. Sussex (65); Burgess Hill, W. Sussex (60); Christchurch, Dorset (80); Haywards Heath, W. Sussex (53); Hove 1, E. Sussex (55), Hove 2 (100), Hove 3 (130); Portsmouth, Hants (100); Shoreham-by-Sea 1, W. Sussex (87), Shoreham-by-Sea 2 (75); Worthing, W. Sussex (100)

Places: 905

Employees: 185

Plans: To open 3 more sites.

TINY TEDDIES DAY NURSERY

Head office: The Old Fire Station, Chetton Avenue, Daimler Green, Radford,

Coventry CV6 3LA

Tel: 02476 590059

Email:info@tinyteddies.co.ukWebsite: www.tinyteddies.co.uk

Principals: Paul Ingram, Michelle Ingram

Established: 2003

Owns 3 nurseries: Coventry: Mount St, Chappelfields (61), Radford (89), Whitley (37)

Places: 187

Employees: 50

TINY TOEZ

Head office: Bredon House, Suite G3, 321 Tettenhall Road, Wolverhampton WV6 0JZ

Tel:Contact each nursery directly

Email: admin@tinytoez.com

Website: www.tinytoez.com

Directors: Ranjana Mair, Kamal Mair

Established: 2004

Owns 14 nurseries: Coventry, W Mids 1 (42), Coventry 2 (45), Coventry 3 (57); London: Feltham (116); Sandwell, W Mids (66); Staffs: Biddulph (72), Cannock Chase (83), East Staffs (60), Newcastle-under-Lyme (98), Stoke-on Trent 1 (58), Stoke-on-Trent 2 (62), Stoke-on-Trent 3 (57), Tamworth (92); Stourport, Worcs (41)

Places: 949

Employees: 237

TNB GARRISON EARLY YEARS & PLAY*

Head office: 1-2 St Andrews Road, Tidworth SP9 7EP

Tel: 01980 633962

Email: ec@tnbearlyyears.org

Website: www.tnbearlyyears.org

Executive co-ordinator: Sarah Hawkins

Finance and office manager: Alison Mellor

Established: 2000

Manages 7 nurseries: Bulford 1 (55), Bulford 2 (64), Larkhill (51), Perham Down (40), Tidworth 1 (69), Tidworth 2 (54), Tidworth 3 (49) - all in Wilts

3 after-school and holiday clubs: Tidworth 1 (24),

Tidworth 2 (16), Tidworth 3 (49) - all in Wilts

Places: 382

Employees: 120

Plans: Opening a 55-place nursery in January in Tidworth

Toad Hall Nursery Group

Head office: Glover House, 23-25 Bury Mead Road, Hitchin SG5 1RT

Tel: 01462 427020

Email: headoffice@toadhall-nursery.co.uk

Website: www.toadhall-nursery.co.uk

Directors: Claire French and Gail Tanner (co-managing directors)

Established: 1998

Owns 12 nurseries: Berks: Langley (101), Winnersh (72); Colmworth, Beds (53); Herts: Berkhamsted (77), Hitchin (104), Watford (100); Surrey: Ottershaw (41), Chessington (76), Haslemere (73), Horley (99), Walton-on-Thames (102), Woking (109)

Places: 1,007

Employees: 360

Plans: To increase the group.

TODDLETOWN GROUP*

Head office: 14 Kingsway, London SW14 7HS

Tel: 07966 396187

Email: hello@toddletownnursery.co.uk

Commercial and operations director: Eamonn O'Connor

Director of compliance and regulations: Urvashi O'Connor

Director of childcare: John Warren

HR and marketing director: Sophie Haylock

Established: 2013

Owns 4 nurseries: Chandler's Ford, Hants (50); Chiswick, London (30); Godalming, Surrey (40); Reading, Berks (40)

Places: 160

Employees: 45

Plans: Looking to expand further in London and the Home Counties

TOMMIES CHILDCARE

Head office: Four Brooks Nursery & Pre-school, Parkville Highway, Coventry CV6 4HZ

Tel: 01676 540244

Email: info@tommieschildcare.co.uk

Website: www.tommieschildcare.co.uk

Directors: Caroline Fooks (chief executive), Matt Fooks (finance director), Danielle Butler (operations director)

Established: 1998

Owns 8 nurseries: Coventry 1, Warks (61), Coventry 2 (108), Coventry 3 (32), Coventry 4 (39); Derby, Derbs (40); Kenilworth, Warks (30); Nuneaton 1, Warks (34), Nuneaton 2 (28)

Places: 372

Employees: 101

Plans: Purchasing a nursery and expanding two others.

TOPS DAY NURSERIES

Head office: 744 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, Dorset BH7 6BZ

Tel: 01202 551553

Email: admin@topsdaynurseries.co.uk

Website: www.topsdaynurseries.co.uk

Director: Cheryl Hadland

Established: 1990

Owns 31 nurseries: Babbacombe, Devon (50); Boscombe (135), Bournemouth, Royal Bournemouth Hospital (131), Charminster (59), Christchurch (74), Corfe Mullen (86), Gillingham (96), Parkstone (56), Poole (108), Wareham (47), Wimborne (89) - all in Dorset;Hants: Fawley (67), Havant (54), Lymington (70), Portsmouth 1, Queen Alexandra Hospital (115), Portsmouth 2 (93), Portsmouth 3 (60), Portsmouth 4 (35), Winchester, Royal Hampshire County Hospital (61); Lancing, W Sussex (70); Newport, Isle of Wight - IoWCollege (104);Plymouth 1, Devon (38), Plymouth 2 (48), Plymouth 3 (51), Plymouth 4 (53), Plymouth 5 (68), Plymouth 6 (122);Salisbury, Wilts (104); Taunton 1, Somerset (46), Taunton 2, Musgrove Park Hospital (122);Yeovil, S. Somerset (56).Crèche opportunities available. Also provides training.

Places: 2,368

Employees: 701

Torridon Education Group

Head office: East Beech Nursery School, 1 Queen's Lane, Lossiemouth IV31 6DR

Tel: 01343 810091

Email: eastbeechnursery@outlook.com

Managing director: Sharon Hayward

Operations manager: Lauren Hayward

Established: 1994

Owns 4 nurseries: Elgin 1 (54), Elgin 2 (34), Lossiemouth 1 (44), Lossiemouth 2 (34) - all in Moray. Runs an out-of-school and holiday club.

Places: 166

Townsend montessori nurseries

Head office: The Grange Montessori, Westcliffe Road, Ramsgate, Kent CT11 9LJ

Tel: 01843 852575

Email: office@tmnurseries.com

Website: www.tmnurseries.com

Managing director: Philippa Townsend

Established: 2005

Owns 7 nurseries: Broadstairs (85), Faversham (110), Herne Bay (75), Margate 1 (77), Margate 2 (72), Ramsgate (94), Maidstone (91) - all in Kent

Places: 604

Employees: 197

TUDOR HOUSE MONTESSORI

Head office: Gloucester Road, Burgess Hill, West Sussex RH15 8QD

Tel: 01444 241 491

Email: info@tudorhousegroup.co.uk

Website: www.tudorhousemontessorigroup.co.uk

Managing director:

Carole-Ann Benson

Established: 1998

Owns 6 nurseries: Burgess Hill 1 (30), Burgess Hill 2 (48), Burgess Hill 3 (70); Haywards Heath 1 (44), Haywards Heath 2 (100); Lindfield 1 (30) all in W. Sussex

Places: 322

Employees: 95

TWINKLES NURSERY GROUP

Head office: Mercury Court, Manse Lane, Knaresborough HG5 8LF

Tel: 01423 869982

Email: jill@twinklesnurseries.com

Website: www.twinklesnurseries.com

Owner: Jill Johnson

Established: 2003

Owns 6 nurseries: Boston Spa, W. Yorks (93); Knaresborough, N. Yorks (92); Leeds 1, Yorks (108), Leeds 2 (90), Leeds 3 (70); Wetherby, W. Yorks (97). Also runs 3 out-of-school clubs.

Places: 550

Employees: 154

TWIZZLE TOPS DAY NURSERY

Head office: Marsh Farm Road, South Woodham Ferrers, Essex CM3 5WP

Tel: 08450 345123

Email: janette.stagg@twizzletops.co.uk

Website: www.twizzletops.co.uk

CEO: James Sinclair

Childcare director: Janette Stagg

Managing director: Aaron Othman

Established: 2009

Owns 5 nurseries: Basildon, Essex (56); South Woodham Ferrers, Essex (52); Stevenage, Herts (51); Thurrock, Essex (52); Wembley, London (52)

Places: 263

Employees: 80

Plans: To open 3 new nurseries.

VILLAGE NURSERY GROUP

Head office: West Wing 1 & 2, Crewe Hall, Crewe CW1 6UZ

Tel: 01270 667064

Email: joyce@village-nursery.co.uk

Website: www.village-nursery.co.uk

Owners and directors: Ian and Julie Lightley

Operations director: Emma Jones

Finance manager: Joyce Hughes

Established: 2005

Owns 6 nurseries: Alsager 1 (72), Alsager 2 (59), Congleton (55), Knutsford (76), Warrington (74) - all in Cheshire; Trafford Park, Greater Manchester (131)

Places: 467

Employees: 192

WELCOME NURSERIES*

Head office: Crown House, 9 Duke Street, Richmond TW9 1HP

Tel: 020 8614 7514

Email: hello@welcomenurseries.com

Website: www.welcomenurseries.com

Directors: Jonathan Jay, Adam Sage, Linda Mills, Steve Savage

Established: 2019

Owns 6 nurseries: Colchester 1, Essex (90), Colchester 2 (26),

Colchester 3 (66); Lancs: Ingol (62), Langho (54), Leyland (50)

Places: 348

Employees: 100

WHITE HORSE CHILD CARE/THE TREES DAY CARE NURSERIES

Head office: Stanley House, 64-65 Victoria Road, Swindon, Wilts SN1 3BB

Tel: 01793 488988

Email: post@whitehorse.co.uk

Website: www.thetrees.co.uk

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

Established: 1989

Owns 5 nurseries: Eastleigh, Hants (93); Southampton 1, Hants (85), Southampton 2 (83); Swindon 1, Wilts (88), Swindon 2 (74)

Places: 423

Employees: 126

Wind in the Willows child care

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

Tel: 01925 221010

Directors: Ginny and Neil Taylor

Established: 1993

Owns 3 nurseries: Sefton, Merseyside (70); Warrington: Longbarn (26), Woolston (100)

1 out-of-school club: Sefton (8)

Places: 196

Employees: 44

WISE OWLS CHILDCARE*

Head office: Unit 2, Thimble Farm, Stud Green, Holyport, Maidenhead SL6 2JH

Tel: 01628 620013

Email: info@wiseowlschildcare.co.uk

Website: www.wiseowlschildcare.co.uk

Owner: Tanya Galitzine

Business manager: Laura Hughes

Established: 2000

Owns 6 nurseries and pre-schools: Abingdon, Oxon (40); Maidenhead 1, Berks (30), Maidenhead 2 (30); Reading 1, Berks (40), Reading 2 (60); Slough, Berks (30). Also runs 3 breakfast clubs, 4 after-school clubs and 2 holiday clubs

Places: 230

Employees: 100

WOODBERRY DAY NURSERY GROUP*

Head office: Threefield House, Threefield Lane, Southampton SO14 3QB

Tel: 02382 021451

Email: accounts@woodberrynursery.co.uk

Website: www.woodberrynursery.co.ukDirectors: Kathy Beauchamp, Shane Beauchamp, Kelly Sampson, Richard Beauchamp

Established: 2008

Owns 3 nurseries: Southampton 1, Hants (68), Southampton 2 (75), Southampton 3 (65)

Places: 208

Employees: 45

Plans: Building a purpose-built 78-place day nursery in Waterlooville, Hants

YMCA

YMCA is a federation of local YMCAs.

Website: www.ymca.org.uk

Owns 43 nurseries andpre-schools:Bath YMCA: Bath 1 (26), Bath 2 (28), Bath 3 (56), Bath 4 (38), Bath 5 (38), Bath 6 (18); Chippenham, Wilts (52); Trowbridge, Wilts (55).

Bournemouth YMCA: Boscombe, Dorset (30).

YMCA Black Country Group: West Bromwich 1 (119), West Bromwich 2 (51); Wolverhampton (40) - all W. Midlands.

YMCA Cornwall:Cornwall (17).YMCA East Surrey: Reigate, Surrey (35).

YMCA Fairthorne Group: Andover (121), Isle of Wight 1 (86), Isle of Wight 2 (56), Portsmouth 1 (58), Portsmouth 2 (72), Portsmouth 3 (53), Southampton 1 (128), Southampton 2 (30), Southampton 3 (46), Southampton 4 (32), Southampton 5 (108), Southampton 6 (52) - all in Hants.

YMCA Maidstone: Loose (28), Tovil (28) - both in Kent.

YMCA Reading: Reading, Berks (48).

YMCA Somerset Coast: Bristol (60).

YMCA Sefton: Southport, Merseyside (52).

YMCA St Helens: St Helens, Merseyside (96).

YMCA Trinity Group: Grundisburgh (24), Lowestoft 1 (51), Lowestoft 2 (55) - all in Suffolk.

YMCA Swansea: Swansea (48).YMCA Thames Gateway: Dartford 1, Kent (62), Dartford 2 (25); Romford, London (24); Swanscombe, Kent (16).

YMCA Worcestershire: Kidderminster (42), Malvern (24), Redditch (52) - all Worcs.

Also owns out-of-school and holiday clubs across the UK.

Places: 2,180

Employees: 1,000+

what the directory covers

This list includes details of all the private, voluntary and independent chains of nurseries, kindergartens, playgroups and crèches known to Nursery World. Under the term ‘chain’, we have included groups with at least three nurseries up and running.

While we have tried to be comprehensive, we may have omitted some chains not known to us. If your chain is not in our listing, please contact us at nurserychains@gmail.com and we can include you in the next edition of Nursery Chains, due out in autumn 2020.

Individual nurseries have not usually been named. Figures after each nursery's location denote the number of places it is 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 crèche provision and places in any nurseries that are owned and managed by each group.

The information in each entry reflects the state of play at the end of October 2019.