Derbyshire nursery school sold to local operator
The Lanes Day Nursery in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, which was first established in 1994, has been sold to Oak Wood Early Years Limited.
The nursery is a popular setting and one of the few nurseries still running a successful out-of-school club in the area.
It has the capacity for up to 42 children and enjoys both an excellent reputation and a ‘Good’ CQC rating.
The business has been owned by Angela Mold since 1994 and was brought to market to allow her to retire.
Following a confidential sales process with Jassi Sunner at Christie & Co, it has been purchased by Oak Wood Early Years Limited, which comprises Oak House Nursery and now The Lanes.
Emily Waez, manager at Oak Wood Early Years Limited, said: “We already operate an Ofsted ‘Outstanding’ nursery setting in Derbyshire, and we look forward to implementing our ethos and frameworks into The Lanes Day Nursery.”
Sunner adds: “Lanes Day Nursery held a unique position on the border of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and, therefore, was always likely to attract a range of interest.
“Following a thorough marketing process, our client was delighted to select a local operator to continue the good work she had put in place and allow some synergy between her nursery and their existing set-up.
“This is another example of the confidence in the sector and the focus of activity in the Midlands at the moment where we have seen a number of sales over the long, medium and short term.
“Due to the funding changes this year, we are seeing an increase in activity from new entrants or smaller operators in the sector who are looking to benefit from the changes the sector will provide.
“Adopting tried-and-tested local approaches to childcare alongside managing local authority funding will be key to enabling the Government strategy to increase nursery uptake.”