Family First Nurseries Group

Family First Nurseries Group is a United Kingdom-based childcare provider founded in 2019 with the stated ambition of becoming one of the UK's leading childcare providers. According to its official website, the group began with just four nurseries and a small team, and has since grown to approximately 100 settings across the UK. Its portfolio spans 10 distinct nursery brands alongside a collection of independent settings, giving families a broad range of choice while every nursery is underpinned by the group's investment, support, quality standards and shared values. The group positions itself around a 'local heart, backed by group-wide quality' model. Each setting is encouraged to retain its own character and identity to serve its local community, while benefiting from Family First's central investment and support. The group reports serving more than 10,000 families with a team of over 2,500 colleagues, and holds an average rating of 9.4 on DayNurseries, a UK nursery review platform. Family First's approach is guided by five core commitments: nurturing critical and creative thinkers, fostering a sense of belonging, exploring our world, developing confident communicators, and supporting happy and healthy childhoods. These commitments are intended to ensure consistent values and quality across the group's diverse settings. The company also promotes four company values covering wellbeing and engagement, inclusion, diversity and equality, safeguarding, and investment in future leaders. Among the group's brands are Cherry Childcare, Davidson Roberts, Footsteps, Just Imagine, Kids Play and Little Garden. Little Garden was the first nursery group to join Family First in 2019. Just Imagine joined in 2021, while Cherry Childcare, Davidson Roberts and Footsteps joined in 2022, and Kids Play joined in 2023. The group continues to operate open house events and online nursery search tools to connect families with local settings.

Family First Nurseries Group was founded in 2019 with the ambition of becoming one of the UK's leading childcare providers. According to the group's official website, it began with just four nurseries and a small team. The first nursery group to join Family First was Little Garden in 2019, establishing the group's model of acquiring or partnering with existing nursery brands and allowing them to retain their individual identities. In 2021, Just Imagine joined the group, bringing strong community values and a philosophy guided by 'Nurture, Care, Inspire'. The following year, 2022, saw three more brands join: Cherry Childcare, which brought over thirty years of experience and an 'Active Learning and Purposeful Play' approach; Davidson Roberts, founded in 2006 and guided by 'Nurture, Care, Inspire' with a focus on outdoor learning; and Footsteps, known for outstanding childcare across the Midlands with a philosophy helping every child become 'One Step Ahead'. In 2023, Kids Play joined the group, bringing over 18 years of experience and a focus on connecting children with nature through woodland gardens, Forest School activities and child-led learning. By the time of its official website content, the group had grown to approximately 100 settings across the UK, spanning 10 distinct brands alongside a collection of independent settings. The group reports serving more than 10,000 families with a team of over 2,500 colleagues, and holds an average rating of 9.4 on DayNurseries. The group's growth has been driven by a strategy of bringing existing nursery brands into the Family First family while preserving their local character, supported by central investment, quality standards and shared values.

• 2023

  Kids Play joins Family First.

• 2022

  Cherry Childcare, Davidson Roberts and Footsteps join Family First.

• 2021

  Just Imagine joins Family First.

• 2019

  Family First Nurseries Group founded with four nurseries; Little Garden becomes the first nursery group to join.

Local heart, backed by group-wide quality; a collection of group brands and independent nurseries united by shared values and quality standards.

• Cherry Childcare

  Part of Family First since 2022, bringing over thirty years of experience; children learn through Active Learning and Purposeful Play.

• Davidson Roberts

  Founded in 2006 and part of Family First since 2022; guided by Nurture, Care, Inspire with outdoor learning central.

• Footsteps

  Joined Family First in 2022, known for outstanding childcare across the Midlands; philosophy helps every child become 'One Step Ahead'.

• Just Imagine

  Joined Family First in 2021, bringing strong community values; guided by Nurture, Care, Inspire.

• Kids Play

  Joined Family First in 2023, bringing over 18 years of experience; children connect with nature through woodland gardens, Forest School activities and child-led learning.

• Little Garden

  The first nursery group to join Family First in 2019; guided by Nurture, Care, Inspire.

1. 1Family First Nurseries | Childcare & Preschools Across the UKfamilyfirstnurseries.co.uk
2. 2About Family First Nurseries Group | Our Story & Valuesfamilyfirstnurseries.co.uk
3. 3Our Nursery Brands | FFNfamilyfirstnurseries.co.uk
4. 4Our Company Values | Family First Nurseriesfamilyfirstnurseries.co.uk
5. 5Family First Nurseries Groupwikidata.org