East Midlands nursery group sold to national operator

Nursery group Kids Planet has bought Chesterfield counterpart in a deal that will see five facilities changing hands.

Natalie Johnson set her group of nurseries,  Excellence in Childcare (EIC),  up in 2009. The company now provides 420 places for children aged 5 to 12.

Redwoods Dowling Kerr advised on the deal, which sees Kids Planet expand its portfolio to 38 nurseries.

Director of childcare for Redwoods Dowling Kerr, Jenna Caldwell, said: “I am so thrilled for Natalie. After 10 years of pure dedication to the sector, she can now concentrate on her new business venture, safe in the knowledge that her nursery group will continue to thrive under the ownership of Kids Planet.”

Johnson said: ““I would just like to thank Redwoods Dowling Kerr for making the sale process of our group of 5 nurseries seamless from Start to finish. I chose Redwoods as I bought my first nursery from them 10 years ago and was very pleased with the purchase process and professionalism.

“I am so glad I made that decision as I would not have met Jenna Caldwell. Jenna has been amazing, beyond words, I will never be able to thank her enough. Jenna understood that selling excellence in childcare group was a mixture of emotions for me.”