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Children 1st nursery group seal deal on 24th setting

Business
One of the largest nursery groups in the UK, Children 1st, has acquired Honey Pot Day Nursery in Oakwood, Derby.
Children 1st managing director Adrian Mason with company founders Margaret Mason, and Hugh Mason, outside the group's latest acquisition
Children 1st managing director Adrian Mason with company founders Margaret Mason, and Hugh Mason, outside the group's latest acquisition

The family-owned nursery group, which employs more than 600 people in its settings across the Midlands and South Yorkshire, plans to expand the nursery, creating new learning environments for children, new jobs, and increasing the overall occupancy at the setting. 

Honey Pot Day Nursery in Breadsall, which will be known as Children 1st @Oakwood, has remained fully- open to all existing children during the change-over.

In line with the group's investment in quality learning spaces, the nursery will undergo a significant programme of refurbishment to enhance the learning environments and develop unique and innovative spaces in which children learn, develop and grow. The refurbishment will also increase the number of places available at the setting. 

The setting also benefits from having mature gardens with a large outdoor space and has a strong emphasis on outdoor learning.

Commenting on the new nursery, Children 1st managing director, Adrian Mason said, ‘When we visited the setting we were impressed by how  well it was run. It was clear the owners shared our ethos in terms of how childcare should be delivered which means that the transition will be smooth. We are confident that the new Children 1st @ Oakwood will be a hugely positive development for existing and future families as well as the local community.

‘We are planning to invest significantly in the setting and its grounds and buildings provide us with a huge opportunity to create one of Derby’s best nursery environments for children to enjoy, both indoors and outside. We can’t wait to get started.’

Suzanne Miskow, former owner of Honey Pot Nursery commented, ‘When we met the team at Children 1st we knew that they would have the best of intentions for the nursery, our children and families. This was very important to us. We are really pleased that the nursery will be taken over by a family run business that will take the setting forward for future generations of children to enjoy.’

Children 1st was joint top with Kids Allowed in Nursery World's Ofsted league table, which ranks the 25 largest groups for quality, in Nursery Chains 2019

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