The group, which opened its first site in 2010, operated nurseries and out-of-school clubs in Suffolk, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Kent, Staffordshire, and Essex.
Four of its nurseries were in Ipswich.
In a letter sent to parents on Friday, managing director Gerard Dooley said that the nurseries would be closing with immediate effect.
His letter said, ‘It is with great sadness that we are writing to inform you that the directors of Alpha Nurseries (and all subsidiary companies) have regretfully had to make the decision to cease trading with ever [sic] from today [29 December], December 2023 due to its financial position.
‘As a consequence, all nursery facilities will close with effect from today and will not re-open.
‘This was an extremely difficult decision and was not taken lightly, however essentially there was no ability for the business to continue to remain open.'
According to the East Anglian Daily Times, insolvency specialists Begbies Traynor have been engaged to put Alpha Nurseries into Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation.
The letter adds, ‘Please accept our sincere apologies for any difficultly which this may cause you and your family, and we hope you are able to secure alternate arrangements as soon as possible.’
Alpha Nurseries Group operated 21 nurseries, provided 875 childcare places and had 250 employees, according to Nursery World’s Nursery Chains, published in March 2023. It also ran out-of-school and holiday childcare.
Nursery World has attempted to contact the nursery group for a comment.
The nurseries and out-of-school clubs that Alpha has closed are:
Essex
Busy Beavers Community Nursery, Braintree,
Kent
Bubbles Nursery & Out of School Club, Sandwich
Lincolnshire
ABC Day Nursery, Boston
Middlecott House, Kirton
Newton House Day Nursery, Grantham
Norfolk
Magic Tree Day Nursery, Dereham,
Safe Hands Nursery, Diss
The Willows, Downham Market
Suffolk
The Oaks Nursery, Felixstowe
Bluebells Nursery, Ipswich
Burlington Road ASC, Ipswich
Grange Farm Nursery, Ipswich
Smash Out of School Club, Ipswich
Treehouse Nursery, Ipswich
Sea Horse Day Nursery, Lowestoft
Pixels Day Nursery, Martlesham Heath
Brambles Day Community Nursery and Out of School Club, Reydon (near Southwold)
Black Tiles Out of School Club, Woodbridge
Staffordshire
Kensington House Nursery, Uttoxter
Blossoms Nursery, Stoke-on-Trent
South Yorkshire
Brookhill Nursery, Rotherham
West Yorkshire
Rhubarb and Custards Nursery, Osset (near Wakefield)