Children's nurseries to acquire in the UK

Name: Children's nurseries to acquire in the UK
Creator: Firmbase
License: https://firmbase.co/terms

Updated 9 November 2026

Looking to acquire a children's nursery in the UK? Firmbase ranks 3,244 children's nurseries using public company information to help buyers prioritise firms for research and potential outreach. The Approach Score ranks firms using public signals including director age and tenure, ownership, business scale, financial strength and recent changes. These firms are not listed for sale, and the ranking does not indicate that an owner is considering a sale.

The median firm has 16 staff and has been in business for 9 years; 80 firms are owned by groups that have acquired several firms in this sector.

Nursery income can combine parents' fees and public funding, while the children's ages affect the staffing needed to provide their care. The balance between funded places and paid sessions deserves scrutiny when buying a nursery business, alongside staffing for each age group. The list uses a broad childcare classification, so it can also include out-of-school clubs rather than nursery settings alone.

Put dependable leadership behind more childcare places

A nursery acquisition needs a clear view of who manages daily care when senior staff are away. Firmbase covers 3,244 UK limited-company and LLP children's nurseries with five or more staff. A regional search works best when you can provide managers with close operational support.

Public ownership data can help you locate independent providers and existing groups. Among childcare firms in this list, 42% have one person holding 75% or more. The median childcare business has operated for 9 years. Company records cannot tell you what a nursery owner intends. Use the Approach Score to order research into suitable settings.

Look at each setting through the services and capacity your group can manage locally. Assess how managers keep staff cover stable when attendance or the team changes. Review the premises, outdoor space and daily routines before you compare settings. Ask how each setting keeps parents informed about their child's day and progress.

Build a pipeline in locations you can serve and verify each setting's registration before contact. Firmbase gives nursery buyers a sourcing tool, not a list of businesses for sale. England's Ofsted search, Scotland's Care Inspectorate, Care Inspectorate Wales and Northern Ireland's Health and Social Care Trust Early Years teams serve different jurisdictions. Qualify the provider directly and plan communication with parents and staff carefully.

3,244

Firms

20%

Every director 55+

42%

Held 75%+ by one person

Median years in business

Median headcount

£250k to £500k

Median turnover band

includes our estimates

80 firms owned by 11 groups that have bought several firms in this sector. That is 2% of this list. Groups that own firms on this list include Kids Planet, Kindred Nurseries, Minoa Education, Bright Stars and Dinotots. To have a group's name removed, email dave@firmbase.co.

Key facts

Ofsted's search includes registered nurseries and inspection reports for England. Ofsted

The Care Inspectorate registers day care of children services, including nurseries, in Scotland. Care Inspectorate

Health and Social Care Trust Early Years teams register and inspect day nurseries in Northern Ireland. nidirect

The first 25 firms, in Approach Score order

Rank	Firm	Approach Score	The facts behind the score
1	Chuckles Nursery Newport	Approach Score 90/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2003 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 30 staff · turnover est. £513k Net assets £189k (Mar 2026) Charge satisfied Nov 2025 Company no. 04959589 · Companies House chucklesnursery.wales
2	Little Angels Bury ST Edmunds Bury ST. Edmunds, Suffolk	Approach Score 90/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2005 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £479k Net assets £93k (Dec 2025) Company no. 05522564 · Companies House
3	Daffodils Day Nursery Boston, Lincolnshire	Approach Score 90/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2001 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 35 staff · turnover est. £520k Net assets £159k (Mar 2025) Company no. 04157914 · Companies House daffodilsnursery.com
4	Ingrebourne DAY Nursery Romford, Essex	Approach Score 89/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2002 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 10 staff · turnover est. £168k Net assets £71k (Mar 2026) Director resigned May 2026 · PSC register changed Sep 2026 Company no. 04432258 · Companies House ingrebournedaynursery.com
5	Kidz.comm Birmingham	Approach Score 89/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2007 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £207k Net assets £21k (Mar 2025) Director resigned Feb 2025 Company no. 06219126 · Companies House
6	Building Blocks DAY Nursery (NW) Oldham	Approach Score 87/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2011 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 58 staff · turnover est. £1.9m Net assets £1.2m (Mar 2026) Charge satisfied Aug 2026 Company no. 07860297 · Companies House
7	Play and Learn Before and After School Club Suffolk	Approach Score 87/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 60-64 · longest in post since 2005 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 8 staff · turnover est. £80k Net assets £2k (Jul 2025) Company no. 05520951 · Companies House
8	Chiverton Nurseries Liphook, Hampshire	Approach Score 87/100	In post since 2014 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 23 staff · turnover est. £912k Net assets £449k (Aug 2025) Company no. 08887098 · Companies House village-nursery.co.uk
9	Beech Hill Nursery School Sheffield	Approach Score 87/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2004 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 20 staff · turnover est. £931k Net assets £369k (Aug 2025) Company no. 05290365 · Companies House ndna.org.uk
10	Kidco	Approach Score 87/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 1998 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 45 staff · turnover est. £2.1m Net assets £1.4m (Feb 2025) Company no. 03505567 · Companies House kidco.com
11	Kids Capers Haywards Heath, West Sussex	Approach Score 86/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2012 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 24 staff · turnover est. £1.2m Net assets £665k (Mar 2026) PSC register changed Jun 2026 Company no. 08145494 · Companies House kidscapers.co.uk
12	Prospect Childcare Services Leeds	Approach Score 86/100	2 directors aged 70 or over · longest in post since 2011 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 39 staff · turnover est. £997k Net assets £97k (May 2025) Company no. 07620540 · Companies House prospecthousenurseries.co.uk
13	Cranston Country Nursery Edinburgh	Approach Score 86/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 50-54 · longest in post since 2003 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 32 staff · turnover est. £1.2m Net assets £407k (Jul 2026) Director resigned Oct 2026 Company no. SC253519 · Companies House cranstoncountrynursery.com
14	Firs DAY Nursery Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire	Approach Score 86/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2002 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 29 staff · turnover est. £752k Net assets £328k (Nov 2025) Company no. 04596205 · Companies House thefirsdaynursery.co.uk
15	Happy Hours Nursery North Somerset	Approach Score 86/100	2 directors aged 65-69 · longest in post since 2003 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 47 staff · turnover est. £972k Net assets £165k (Mar 2025) Company no. 04966965 · Companies House happyhoursnursery.co.uk
16	Christchurch Kindergarten Pinner, Middlesex	Approach Score 86/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 60-64 · longest in post since 2009 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 48 staff · turnover est. £2.9m Net assets £1.9m (Mar 2026) Company no. 07054471 · Companies House christchurchkindergarten.co.uk
17	Piglets DAY Nursery Southampton, Hampshire	Approach Score 86/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2002 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 33 staff · turnover est. £1.2m Net assets £519k (Mar 2025) Company no. 03198752 · Companies House pigletsdaynursery.co.uk/wp_piglets
18	Clwb Enfys Conwy A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 85/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 60-64 · longest in post since 2005 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 32 staff · turnover est. £314k Net assets £40k (Mar 2026) Company no. 05541296 · Companies House
19	The Towers DAY Nursery Llangollen, Denbighshire	Approach Score 85/100	2 directors aged 60-64, 1 aged under 45 · longest in post since 2007 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 9 staff · turnover est. £379k Net assets £60k (May 2025) Director resigned Jun 2026 Company no. 06203616 · Companies House cssiw.org.uk
20	Clever Clogs Kelty Kelty, Fife	Approach Score 85/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2012 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 10 staff · turnover est. £179k Net assets £24k (Jun 2025) Director resigned Aug 2026 · PSC register changed Aug 2026 Company no. SC426891 · Companies House cleverclogschildcarecentrekelty.yolasite.com
21	Jollytots NI Carrickfergus, County Antrim	Approach Score 85/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 65-69 · longest in post since 2003 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 41 staff · turnover est. £843k Net assets £451k (Mar 2025) Company no. NI046503 · Companies House jollytots.net
22	ALL Aboard Nursery Hope Valley, Derbyshire A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 85/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2016 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 28 staff · turnover est. £1.4m Net assets £677k (Apr 2026) Company no. 10502936 · Companies House
23	The Childcare Academy Liverpool, Merseyside	Approach Score 85/100	Director aged 65-69 · in post since 2020 1 individual holds 75%+ · held via a trust or firm · independent More about this firm 20 staff · turnover est. £444k Net assets £92k (Mar 2025) Company no. 12527909 · Companies House thechildcareacademy.co.uk
24	Willows Childcare Spalding, Lincolnshire	Approach Score 85/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 55-59 · longest in post since 2011 2 individuals hold 75%+ · independent More about this firm 17 staff · turnover est. £354k Net assets £283k (Mar 2025) Company no. 07816452 · Companies House thewillowschildcare.co.uk
25	Queenbee Nursery Edgware, Middlesex	Approach Score 85/100	Director aged 70 or over · in post since 2007 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 18 staff · turnover est. £930k Net assets £277k (Jul 2025) Company no. 04860008 · Companies House queenbeenursery.co.uk

3,219 more firms are in the list, in Approach Score order.

You're seeing the first 25. Buy all 3,244 for £3,043 + VAT, with the facts behind each score, director names, shareholders and financials.

Buy the list of all 3,244 firms, with director names, ages and shareholders

Each row comes with the facts behind its score, financials with dates and contact details.

What's in the file

One row per firm, in Approach Score order, as Excel + CSV.

The score and the firm

Approach Score

The facts behind the score

Points for each part of the score

Financials with dates

Website

Publicly available contact details, where identified

Directors and shareholders

Director names

Director birth month and year

Director appointment dates

Named shareholders with more than 25%, with ownership bands

Some people with significant control appear as Other individual, with no further detail. Director email lookups are not included.

Frequently asked questions

How should I approach a children's nursery owner?

Introduce yourself at the first contact and say what type of childcare setting interests you. Explain that you found the owner's details on the public Companies House register through Firmbase. Explain the way to object to your use of their data, and stop if they object. Check the Telephone Preference Service and the Corporate Telephone Preference Service before making a call. Keep children's care and parents' trust central without assuming the owner wants to change the business.

Where can I check a nursery's registration?

In England, search Ofsted's registered childcare and inspection reports. Scotland's Care Inspectorate registers and inspects nursery care services. Care Inspectorate Wales registers children's day care and publishes a service search. In Northern Ireland, the relevant Health and Social Care Trust Early Years team registers and inspects day care providers. Check the setting and service type, since the company name alone may not describe every childcare activity.

Ofsted · Care Inspectorate · Care Inspectorate Wales · nidirect

What does the Approach Score tell a nursery buyer?

Firmbase explains its ranking of public company signals on the methodology page. The Approach Score can help you organise research into a nursery business, but registration, care quality and family relationships call for direct review. Check the setting and its staff arrangements before comparing it with another provider. No score built from company filings can reveal what an owner plans to do.

How should I compare funded and parent-paid places?

Separate the income terms for publicly funded places from fees paid by parents, then match each to the sessions and ages served. Check occupancy by room and the staff cover needed for each group. Read the funding and parent agreements before projecting income. A nursery with full rooms may have a different financial pattern from one with the same headcount but a different mix of sessions.

How this list is filtered

Active on Companies House. Companies in liquidation, administration, receivership or a voluntary arrangement, or with a proposal to strike off, are left out.
Dormant companies are left out.
Firms whose owners asked to be removed are left out.
Private limited companies, public limited companies, LLPs and private unlimited companies only. Sole traders and partnerships are not covered.
SIC code 88910.
5 or more staff, from filed headcount or our estimate where none is filed.
Registered office in the UK.

How this list is built

The Approach Score ranks firms mainly on public Companies House information about owner tenure and age, ownership, size, financial strength and recent register changes.

Firms with higher scores appear first in each list.

Use the ranking to order research, then check each business directly.

Read how the Approach Score works

What it does not mean

No firm here is for sale, and the score says nothing about any owner's plans.

At least 95% of the firms where we hold directors had them checked in or after November 2026.

What we do not cover

We cover limited companies, LLPs and private unlimited companies. Sole traders and ordinary partnerships are not on Companies House, so they are not here. Regulatory information is not included in this list. Buyers should check the relevant register as part of their due diligence. Check Ofsted's registered childcare search in England, Scotland's Care Inspectorate directory and Care Inspectorate Wales's service search. In Northern Ireland, confirm registration with the relevant health and social care trust.

Why age bands but no people's names

Age bands come from the month and year of birth on Companies House. This page shows no exact ages and no people's names. Both come with the purchased list. The band edges from 45 to 65 are the ages where the score changes. A row shows no age bands when a director's surname is in the firm's name, its group's name or its website. Those directors' ages still count towards the score.

Is this your firm?

You can ask us to take it off every acquisition page, and out of every list we sell after that. Give us your name and work email, and we send you a link to confirm. If your email address is on the firm's own website domain, the firm comes off once you confirm. If it is not, a person reviews your request first. A list already sold stays with its buyer.

To have personal data erased, see our privacy policy.

Other areas

East Midlands East of England London North East North West Northern Ireland Scotland South East South West Wales West Midlands Yorkshire and The Humber

Buy the list of all 3,244 firms, with director names, ages and shareholders

Each row comes with the facts behind its score, financials with dates and contact details.