Ex-Asquith CEO and staff launch New Nursery Group

The former chief executive of Asquith Nurseries, one of the largest nursery chains in the country, has started a new nursery group with the acquisition of two stand-alone settings.

Russell Ford has set up All About Children with former colleagues Marcia Viccars, ex-operations director at Asquith, and Liz Richardson, who previously worked as the chain's childcare and education director. All will reprise the same roles and responsibilities in the new company.

The group has bought Langley Gorse Day Nursery, a 40-place setting just outside Sutton Coldfield in the West Midlands, and Westfield Day Nursery in Cheltenham.

Mr Ford, (pictured), told Nursery World that the group plans to expand with 12 to 15 new nurseries in the next few years over an area that stretches 'south of Sutton Coldfield and east of Cheltenham'.

He added, 'We have a third nursery in the pipeline before Christmas and we are looking to put together a small group of high-quality day nurseries.

'We will probably open five or six nurseries over the next 12 months and a further five to six over the subsequent 12 months to two years.'

The group aims to buy going concerns, with 'really good, extensive outdoor space' a priority.

'We're looking for nurseries in relevant, affluent demographics,' said Mr Ford. 'We want to offer high-quality childcare, invest in good staff teams and charge full fees.

'We want staff to be trained to a minimum of level 3. We value foundation degrees and we want to be able to provide staff development and support.'

The group's first two settings are very different from each other.

Westfield Day Nursery has 'a fabulous reputation in Cheltenham and a very good Ofsted', said Mr Ford, plus a very experienced manager and staff team. Langley Gorse Day Nursery currently has an inadequate Oftsed grading and had an improvement plan in place before it was acquired by the group.

The nursery needs refurbishment but, Mr Ford said, 'It's a good location, set in two acres with amazing outdoor space and a beautiful building. We've brought in our own manager. Where we can see potential, we will take it on.'