Specialist business property adviser, Christie & Co, has announced the sale of Little Pumpkins Nurseries, a portfolio of three children’s day nursery settings across South London.
Little Pumpkins Nurseries comprises three day nursery settings that have a combined capacity for up to 250 children aged nought to five years and an excellent reputation for delivering high-quality early years education in exceptional learning environments. They are all located across South London: on Sydenham Road in East Croydon, Crowther Road in South Norwood, and Woodyate Road in Lewisham.
Husband-and-wife team, Anita and Dean Nicol, established their first nursery in 2003 after struggling to find high-quality childcare for their own children. Their passion for early years education led to the opening of two additional settings over the following two decades. Since then, Little Pumpkins Nurseries has grown into one of South East London’s leading childcare providers and is supported by an experienced senior leadership team and a well-established operational structure.
After over 20 years of owning Little Pumpkins Nurseries, Anita and Dean decided the time was right to hand over ownership of the group.
Following a confidential sales process led by Sophie Willcox at Christie & Co, the settings have been sold to Kindred Education Limited, taking the group’s portfolio to 64 day nurseries across England.
Anita and Dean Nicol, the former owners of Little Pumpkins Nurseries, comment, “After many years of dedication, the decision to sell marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter. Throughout our journey, the children have always been at the heart of everything we have done, with a commitment to providing the highest standards of care, education and opportunities for them to thrive. We are incredibly proud of what we have achieved and look forward to focusing on our own future development, knowing we are leaving the business in a strong position.
“We are confident that Kindred, as the new owners, will continue to build on this success and take the group to even greater heights. We hope they maintain the exceptional standards and values that have been central to the business, while continuing to provide an inspiring, nurturing and positive environment for the children, families and staff. We wish Kindred every success and look forward to seeing the group continue to grow and flourish.”
Laura Wardley-Smith, CEO at Kindred Education Limited, comments, “What really stood out to us about Little Pumpkins was the quality of the nurseries and the strength of the team behind them. There is a real sense of care in the environments and in the experience created for children and families, which felt very aligned with the way we think about early years at Kindred.
“We’re excited to build on everything that is already working so well across the three settings, while bringing the wider support and opportunities that come with being part of Kindred. We’d also like to thank Anita and Dean for the way they have worked with us throughout the transition, and Sophie and the Christie & Co team for their support in bringing the transaction together.”
Sophie Willcox, Director – Childcare & Education at Christie & Co, comments, “Little Pumpkins was an exceptional opportunity to acquire a highly profitable and well-established nursery group with a great reputation across South London. Anita and Dean have built an outstanding business, supported by an experienced management team, impressive facilities, and a clear commitment to delivering high-quality early years education.
“The level of interest generated throughout the sales process demonstrates the continued demand for premium nursery groups with a strong operational foundation and future growth potential. It has been a pleasure working with Anita and Dean to achieve this successful outcome, and I wish both of them and the new owners every success in the future.”
