A POPULAR-group of five nurseries have been acquired by Kids Planet.

David and Suzanne Edwards made the "difficult decision" to sell Springfield Day Nurseries after 20 years. The family-run company, which started with just one nursery in Colwyn Bay, now five settings: Craig-y-Don, Conwy, Abergele, and two in Colwyn Bay.

Kids Planet, a family-owned, award-winning group of 173 nurseries across the UK, have acquired the business. This is their first step into Wales.

Clare Roberts, CEO at Kids Planet Day Nurseries, said: “I am delighted to welcome the teams of Springfield Day Nurseries and Dragon Camps into Kids Planet, marking our first step into Wales.

"Springfield prides itself on offering the highest standards of care for children, aligning well with our own values for quality childcare provision and environments.

"We are excited and really looking forward to supporting the teams moving forwards.”

Clare set up Kids Planet in 2008. She was struggling to find childcare in the area that she lived in that offered flexible hours after having her first daughter, Isabelle. After taking voluntary redundancy, she convinced her father, who had previously been one of the owners of another nursery group, to start again and set up Kids Planet.

They opened Warrington and Widnes that same year and settings in Beamont and Lymm in 2009 followed. Clare's sister, Lucy, joined the team a few years later as Childcare Director.

Springfield was a "dream" for Suzanne, a former nurse. The business provides childcare for more than 400 children and employs about 80 staff.

In a joint statement, David and Suzanne Edwards, former owners, said: "It was a very difficult decision to sell the business after nearly 20 years but having reached that decision we considered our options very carefully. We decided that Kids Planet shared both our ethos and approach to delivering the very best in childcare. Having met with them and worked with them through the process, our view has been reinforced.

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"Kids Planet have a family centred approach focusing on the detail of child welfare and development at the heart of their thinking which was very much our approach.

"We wish Kids Planet every success as they take Springfield Day Nurseries forward in their first foray into Wales."

The management team, and all the other employees, will remain the same at Springfield, and there will be "complete continuity" in terms of the service parents receive in terms of childcare from the teams across Springfield.