Established early years education provider Bertram Nursery Group has relaunched as Thrive Childcare and Education with a programme of investment and development across its 37 nurseries and kindergartens.

Established 20 years ago in Scotland, Bertram has acquired high-quality nursery groups including Happitots, Holyrood, Corner House, Oranges and Lemons, Bright Beginnings and Enchanted Forest, as well as successful independent nurseries, extending its reach to North West England.

Following a successful management buyout with Apiary Capital in 2019, the group surveyed parents and team members to find out what was important to them and what they wanted from their nursery provider.

Taking that feedback on board, Bertram used the Covid-19 lockdown period to review its services for children, parents and communities and consider how best to grow and develop in the years ahead.

It identified a clear need to continue investing in indoor and outdoor environments, the technology used to help teams communicate with parents and in the teams themselves, who are at the heart of inspiring children to grow and develop.

Chef exec, Cary Rankin explained: “Our commitment to putting children first and providing a safe and nurturing environment hasn’t changed, and never will.

“This is supported by investing in our teams, encouraging them to make early years education a rewarding career choice with prospects for development. We also recognise that children’s learning is enhanced in invigorating outdoor spaces and we are committed to investment in outdoor learning opportunities.

“We also know how important it is to provide a flexible service that meets parents’ needs, from opening hours and services for school-age children to opportunities for extra-curricular activities. Above all, our nurseries are part of the local communities they serve and we recognise that one-size doesn’t fit all.”

To increase consistency and recognition of Thrive Childcare and Education’s services and ethos, all its nurseries are being united under four sub-groups:

• Happitots nurseries will extend beyond Glasgow and South Lanarkshire to provide a network of affordable, flexible nurseries across Scotland
• Holyrood nurseries will extend Thrive’s network of affordable nurseries in North West England, recognising parents’ and community needs
• Corner House nurseries will extend beyond Edinburgh to operate more widely across Scotland, providing an extensive range of exciting, extracurricular activities and large outdoor areas
• Nature Kindergartens, Thrive’s new sub-brand, will reflect its vision to develop children’s outdoor learning. Thrive will expand its Nature Kindergartens network in Scotland and England to enhance children’s learning through self-discovery in natural spaces.

Rankin

concluded: “We want to be first, trusted choice for parents and employees in the areas we serve and we are committed to maintaining and celebrating the local identities of our nurseries across Scotland and North West England.”

For more information about Thrive Childcare and Education, see www.thrivechildcare.com