Children's nurseries to acquire in Derby

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

Updated 9 November 2026

Looking to acquire a children's nursery in Derby? Firmbase ranks 43 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 17 staff and has been in business for 11 years; 5 firms are owned by groups that have acquired several firms in this sector. Looking beyond Derby? Explore the full East Midlands list of children's nurseries.

Firms

UK 3,244

14%

Every director 55+

UK 20%

14%

Held 75%+ by one person

UK 42%

Median years in business

UK 9

Median headcount

UK 16

£250k to £500k

Median turnover band

UK £250k to £500k · includes our estimates

5 firms owned by 1 group that has bought several firms in this sector. That is 12% of this list, against 2% across the UK. The group is Bright Stars. To have a group's name removed, email dave@firmbase.co.

The first 25 firms, in Approach Score order

Rank	Firm	Approach Score	The facts behind the score
1	The Faraway Tree DAY Nursery Derby, Derbyshire	Approach Score 74/100	1 director aged 65-69, 1 aged 60-64, 1 aged under 45 · longest in post since 2015 Independent More about this firm 14 staff · turnover est. £537k Net assets £267k (Dec 2025) Director resigned Feb 2025 · PSC register changed Feb 2025 Company no. 09697331 · Companies House thefarawaytreedaynursery.com
2	Tiny Tots Nursery (derby) Derby, Derbyshire	Approach Score 70/100	2 directors aged 70 or over · longest in post since 2013 Independent More about this firm 12 staff · turnover est. £306k Net assets £778 (Dec 2024) Company no. 08810377 · Companies House
3	Tiny Blessings Swadlincote	Approach Score 70/100	1 director aged 60-64, 1 aged under 45 · longest in post since 2020 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 14 staff · turnover est. £249k Net assets £71k (Jan 2026) Company no. 12410683 · Companies House
4	Childcare Matters Darley Abbey, Derbyshire A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 65/100	Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2012 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 185 staff · turnover est. £12.9m Net assets £3.9m (Mar 2025) Company no. 08244079 · Companies House childcarematters.org
5	Mellowcare Derby A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 62/100	Director aged 45-49 · in post since 2024 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 33 staff · turnover est. £830k Net assets £32k (Jun 2025) Director resigned Dec 2024 · PSC register changed Dec 2024 Company no. 10806568 · Companies House
6	The Orange Tree DAY Nursery (stoke) Darley Abbey, Derbyshire A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 58/100	We hold older figures than Companies House Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2015 Corporate owner More about this firm 25 staff · turnover est. £1.5m Net assets £750k (Mar 2022) · newer accounts made up to Mar 2025 Company no. 09799210 · Companies House
7	ELM Park Nursery Derby A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 57/100	We hold older figures than Companies House 1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 55-59, 1 aged 50-54 · longest in post since 2021 Corporate owner More about this firm 40 staff · turnover est. £333k Net assets £458k (Oct 2020) · newer accounts made up to Jun 2025 Director resigned Jul 2026 Company no. 08162800 · Companies House elmparknursery.co.uk
8	Sunnyhill DAY Nursery Derby A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 57/100	1 director aged 55-59, 2 aged under 45 · longest in post since 2023 Corporate owner More about this firm 19 staff · turnover est. £487k Net assets £804 (Aug 2025) Company no. 14943403 · Companies House theearlyyearscommunity.co.uk/sunnyhill
9	Scallywags Private Day Nursery Derby, Derbyshire A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 57/100	We hold older figures than Companies House Longest in post since 1991 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 36 staff · turnover est. £1.8m Net assets £3.4m · newer accounts made up to Jun 2025 Company no. 00396366 · Companies House scallywagsnursery.com
10	The Honey Pots DAY Nursery Derby	Approach Score 55/100	Director aged 45-49 · in post since 2007 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 21 staff · turnover est. £339k Net assets £139k (Jul 2025) Company no. 06306729 · Companies House thehoneypotsdaynursery.co.uk
11	The Orange Tree DAY Nursery (hucknall) Darley Abbey, Derbyshire A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 55/100	We hold older figures than Companies House Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2015 Corporate owner More about this firm 43 staff · turnover est. £1.9m Net assets £807k (Mar 2022) · newer accounts made up to Mar 2025 Company no. 09795369 · Companies House
12	The Orange Tree DAY Nursery (mickleover) Darley Abbey, Derbyshire A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 55/100	We hold older figures than Companies House Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2016 Corporate owner More about this firm 27 staff · turnover est. £1.9m Net assets £819k (Mar 2022) · newer accounts made up to Mar 2025 Company no. 10412743 · Companies House
13	Schools Out Club Derbyshire	Approach Score 54/100	1 director aged 55-59, 2 aged under 45 · longest in post since 2006 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 43 staff · turnover est. £615k No net assets figure held · accounts made up to May 2025 Company no. 05850887 · Companies House schoolsoutclub.com
14	Second Steps DAY Nursery Derby, Essex A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 54/100	We hold older figures than Companies House 1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 55-59, 1 aged 50-54 · longest in post since 2021 Corporate owner More about this firm 29 staff · turnover est. £18k Net assets £120k (Mar 2021) · newer accounts made up to Jun 2025 Director resigned Jul 2026 Company no. 07678676 · Companies House
15	Ducklings Childcare (godmanchester) Derby A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 53/100	We hold older figures than Companies House 1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 55-59, 1 aged 50-54 · longest in post since 2022 Corporate owner More about this firm 10 staff · turnover est. £512k Net assets £338k (Jan 2022) · newer accounts made up to Jun 2025 Director resigned Jul 2026 Company no. 07480622 · Companies House ducklingschildcare.co.uk
16	Scallywags Private Day Nursery Derby, Derbyshire A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 53/100	We hold older figures than Companies House 2 directors aged 70 or over, 1 aged 45-49, 2 aged under 45 · longest in post since 2002 Corporate owner More about this firm 41 staff · turnover est. £2.2m Net assets £969k · newer accounts made up to Jun 2025 Company no. 04581594 · Companies House scallywagsnursery.com
17	The Orange Tree DAY Nursery (derby) Darley Abbey, Derbyshire A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 53/100	We hold older figures than Companies House Director aged 60-64 · in post since 2018 Corporate owner More about this firm 31 staff · turnover est. £1.7m Net assets £639k (Mar 2022) · newer accounts made up to Mar 2025 Company no. 11258326 · Companies House
18	The Early Years Community Derby A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 53/100	1 director aged 55-59, 2 aged under 45 · longest in post since 2023 Corporate owner More about this firm 16 staff · turnover est. £411k Net assets £549 (Aug 2025) Company no. 14943401 · Companies House theearlyyearscommunity.co.uk
19	Chartam House Nursery Derby A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 53/100	1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 55-59, 1 aged 50-54 · longest in post since 2026 Corporate owner More about this firm 14 staff · turnover est. £528k Director resigned Jul 2026 Company no. 14136284 · Companies House chartamhousenursery.co.uk
20	Alvaston Achievers DAY Nursery Derby	Approach Score 51/100	Director aged under 45 · in post since 2017 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 16 staff · turnover est. £490k Net assets £131k (Jan 2026) Company no. 10584806 · Companies House
21	Bramble Wood DAY Nursery Swadlincote	Approach Score 50/100	Director aged under 45 · in post since 2018 Independent More about this firm 16 staff · turnover est. £408k Net assets £76k (Mar 2026) Company no. 11566726 · Companies House
22	Shardlow Hall Day Nursery Derby, Derbyshire A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 49/100	1 director aged 50-54, 1 aged under 45 · longest in post since 2018 1 individual holds 75%+ · independent More about this firm 56 staff · turnover est. £1.9m Net assets £439k (May 2025) Company no. 08073751 · Companies House shardlowdaynursery.com
23	The Early Years Academy Derby, Derbyshire A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 49/100	2 directors aged under 45 · longest in post since 2019 2 individuals hold 50%+ · independent More about this firm 5 staff · turnover est. £356k Net assets £258k (Aug 2025) Charge satisfied Feb 2025 Company no. 12224262 · Companies House
24	Barnkids Derby A director sits on 4 or more companies	Approach Score 48/100	We hold older figures than Companies House 1 director aged 70 or over, 1 aged 55-59, 1 aged 50-54 · longest in post since 2024 Corporate owner More about this firm 86 staff · turnover £1m Net assets £579k (Jan 2024) · newer accounts made up to Jun 2025 Director resigned Jul 2026 Company no. 04833392 · Companies House barnkids.co.uk
25	Little Alpacas Boundary, Leicestershire	Approach Score 48/100	Director aged 50-54 · in post since 2021 Independent More about this firm 14 staff · turnover est. £170k Net assets £10k (Mar 2025) Company no. 13384082 · Companies House littlealpacas.co.uk

18 more firms are in the list, in Approach Score order.

You're seeing the first 25. Buy all 43 for £799 + VAT, with the facts behind each score, director names, shareholders and financials.

Buy the list of all 43 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.

It holds the facts behind each score, points for each part of the score, financials with dates, publicly available contact details, where identified, director names and named shareholders.

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

How this list is filtered

5 or more staff, from filed headcount or our estimate where none is filed.
Registered office in Derby.

See every filter on the UK list

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

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

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Buy the list of all 43 firms, with director names, ages and shareholders

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