Mar 29, 2021
The Old Station Nursery Group is delighted to announce that Choochoos Day Nurseries, a Kent based group of 3 nurseries, has joined the group.
Choochoos Day Nurseries, previously owned by Karla and Dominic Tabony, opened its first nursery in Whitstable in 2005; later opening Choochoos Day Nursery in Canterbury in 2010 and Dover in 2013.
Located in the heart of their respective communities within Kent, each of the Choochoos Day Nurseries has a well-established and creditable reputation for providing support to families and quality care to their children; with the nursery in Canterbury being the oldest nursery in Kent having first opened in 1960.
Commenting on joining the group, Sarah Steel, Chair of The Old Station Nursery Group, commented: “We are really excited to welcome Choochoos Day Nurseries into The Old Station Nursery Group. We are really looking forward to meeting all of the children, parents and staff members at each of the three nurseries and welcoming them into our nursery family.”
She continued, “We are always looking for new ways to innovate the children’s learning and provide the best possible service to all of our families; so we are very excited to work with the teams at Choochoos, to learn from them, review best practice and share our group ethos.”
Karla Tabony, previous owner of Choochoos Day Nurseries commented, “The Old Station Nursery Group shares the same ethos and beliefs for children in childcare as my own. I am confident that Choochoos Day Nurseries will thrive under their ownership continuing to deliver outstanding care and education that our parents and carers have grown used to and expect.”
Established in 2002 by Sarah Steel, The Old Station Nursery Group currently comprises of 33 nurseries providing 2151 places across Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire, London, West Midlands, Staffordshire, Worcestershire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Suffolk and Essex.
Named as the 19th largest nursery group in the UK (Nursery Chains league, March 2021), The Old Station Nursery Group has grown considerably since its first acquisition in October 2019. As Choochoos Day Nursery joins, The Old Station Nursery Group will care for up to 2385 children in 36 nurseries across the UK; with the ambition to expand further and support more families in the near future.
The Old Station Nursery Group joined larger nursery group, La Maison Bleue, in 2019. Founded in 2004 by Sylvain Forestier and Antonia Ryckbosch, a childcare professional, La Maison Bleue has built a strong and innovative educational project and is the leading childcare provider in Switzerland and the third largest provider in both France and Luxembourg.
To watch a short welcome message below from Sarah Steel, CEO of The Old Station Nursery Group, click here.
Photo: [left to right] Karla Tabony and Sarah Steel