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US nursery group enters UK market

A major US nursery group, which has grown predominately through franchises, has entered the UK childcare sector with the launch of a large nursery in East Finchley, London.
The Learning Experience team outside the group's first UK nursery, which has opened in East Finchley
The Learning Experience team outside the group's first UK nursery, which has opened in East Finchley

The Learning Experience (TLE) has more than 275 settings across the USA, 90 per cent of which are franchised locations with the other 10 per cent corporate owned. There are plans to open more than 70 nurseries in the UK during the next five years, initially concentrating around the south east of England.

The nursery group, which was launched by the Weissman family in Florida in 1980, started operating franchises in 2003 and has recently been opening one nursery a week in the States.  

TLE managing director Fiona Smith (pictured) joined the company in late 2018 and is responsible for launching and driving the franchise expansion of the brand in the UK.

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