Cripps advise on the sale of two ‘Outstanding’ day nurseries and pre-schools to a private equity backed buyer

Cripps’ corporate team has advised Tony Pritchard, Nicola Wood and Stella Tallantyre on the sale of Child’s Time Holdings Limited and its subsidiary, to Family First Day Nurseries.

Child’s Time is a family run business, which operates two day nurseries and pre-schools in Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire trading as Grosvenor House Day Nursery and Handkerchief Nursery. Under Tony, Nic and Stella’s ownership, the settings have reached and maintained an ‘Outstanding’ Ofsted status, demonstrating the high standard of teaching, learning and development provided.

The Cripps team, which was led by Julie Hughes and included Katie Haylock, Rachel Holdaway, Megan Pitt, Meg Harold, Chris Waight, and Emma Saunders, advised on all legal aspects of the transaction including an internal pre-sale reorganisation of the group and property and banking work, working alongside the childcare team at Christie & Co and the tax and accountancy team at Cooper Parry.

Commenting on the support provided, Tony Pritchard said “We can’t thank Julie and her team enough for their hard work and most of all, support, during our transaction. A mix of pragmatism along with a can-do attitude ensured that the inevitable stresses that come along with transactions such as these were managed effectively but also knowing our short and long-term needs were being met. Their knowledge of the childcare sector was invaluable and I wouldn’t hesitate in recommending them to other childcare providers that are considering making changes to their long term future plans.”