N’s journey to 50 nurseries

From a single nursery in Stoke Newington in 2017 to 50 nurseries across the UK today, our journey has been shaped by curiosity, care, and the belief that early years education deserves something better.

Reaching 50 nurseries isn’t just a milestone. It’s a story of people - our teams, our families, and everyone who has helped the N vision grow into something that children and families trust every day.

In November 2025, we officially opened the doors of our 50th nursery. It’s a moment that has given us a chance to pause, look back, and celebrate how far we’ve come, and to look ahead at the possibilities still to come.

A timeline shaped by people

2017–2019: A bold beginning

We opened our very first nursery on Defoe Road, Stoke Newington, in 2017 - a small team with a big ambition: to create exceptional early years experiences that would stay with children long after they’ve graduated.

In 2019, we opened nurseries in London Fields and West Hampstead. Each one was shaped by teams who believed in curiosity-led learning and outstanding early education.

2020–2021: Growing with purpose

2020 welcomed N Brixton, N Twickenham, and N Stoke Newington - Church Street, even through a challenging year for the entire sector.

In 2021, we made our first acquisition as a nursery group - Surrey Red Balloon nurseries, and welcomed N Weybridge, N Ockham, and N Cobham. We also brought the Ofsted Outstanding Bright Minds Daycare Group in the West Midlands into the family, expanding our reach and bringing N approach to new communities in the Jewellery Quarter, Harborne, Codsall, and Moseley.

This time was about more than growing. We learned from new colleagues, shared ideas, and built something stronger together.

2022: A year of major milestones

2022 marked a defining year for N.

We welcomed N Wandsworth, as Wee Ones officially became part of the N Family group. Around the same time, we celebrated a joyful moment in our story: our 1000th child joined N - a reminder of just how many families trust our nurseries every single day.

This was also the year we achieved B Corp status, recognising our commitment to delivering exceptional early years education and outstanding family experiences in ways that support our team, community, and planet.

To top it all off, Nursery World Magazine placed us at the top spot in their Nursery Chains Quality Table, celebrating the consistent quality our teams deliver across the country.

2023: A year of recognition

In 2023, we officially opened the doors of our 30th nursery, marking a major moment in our expansion.

We committed to the Disability Confident Scheme - an important step in strengthening our inclusive culture and ensuring N remains a place where everyone can thrive.

We once again took the top spot in the Nursery World Magazine Nursery Chains Quality Table - our second consecutive year at the top.

We also earned a place in the UK Government’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers, recognising our continued investment in learning and development pathways across N.

And we proudly became a Stonewall Diversity Champion, strengthening our commitment to inclusion and belonging.

2024: A year defined by culture and sustainability

In 2024, we celebrated achieving Great Place To Work accreditation, officially recognising what we’ve known all along - that N is a place where people feel valued, supported and empowered.

It was also a standout year for sustainability:

A record 24 of our nurseries achieved EcoSchools Green Flag status, demonstrating our team’s passion for nurturing not only children, but also the planet they’ll grow up in.

And for the second year running, we were listed again as a Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer, reinforcing our ongoing commitment to high-quality career development.

2025: The year we reached 50

From Ofsted Outstanding at Defoe Road, to national safety recognition through our RoSPA Silver Award, and being certified as one of the UK’s Best Workplaces, 2025 marks a year of both growth and pride.

And now, reaching 50 nurseries - a milestone made possible thanks to every educator, every chef, every manager, every support-office team member, and every family that has trusted us along the way.

The people behind the milestone

Mark, Chief Operating Officer

From an operational perspective, what does it take to open 50 nurseries across the UK?

Opening 50 nurseries in such a short time has taken absolute clarity of standards, disciplined execution, and a deep respect for local context. We have built scalable ways of working, but we never lost sight of the fact that each nursery is a community.

What are you most proud of when you look at how our nurseries run day-to-day?

I’m most proud of the consistency of experience families receive, no matter which nursery they walk into. That’s a testament to our teams living our values, not just following processes.

How have our teams contributed to shaping the N experience at this scale?

Our teams are the reason the model works. Their insights have directly informed our policies, training, and the design of new sites. Their feedback loops, problem-solving, and commitment to doing the right thing for our children have genuinely shaped our operating model as we’ve scaled.

What have been the biggest learnings or challenges along the way?

Balancing speed with quality has been a constant challenge, but it’s taught us the importance of pace with purpose: growing fast, but never at the expense of children’s experience or team wellbeing. Rapid growth only works when your culture scales faster than your footprint. The operational challenges are always solvable; what matters is keeping everyone aligned and empowered along the way.

In what ways do you see our operational standards helping us grow sustainably?

Strong operational standards are what protect our culture as we scale. They act as our guardrails, allowing us to expand with confidence that quality remains at the centre.

Janine, People Director

How do you think N’s approach to learning, development, and wellbeing helped us reach 50?

What makes N a great place to work, even as we continue to grow?

What makes N a great place to work is the sense of belonging: a team that genuinely cares, leaders who invest in people, and a culture that celebrates both individuality and collaboration. Growing to 50 nurseries hasn’t diluted that - it’s strengthened a community of early years educators who share knowledge, inspire each other, and stay connected through a common purpose with a business where our values resonate.

How does reaching 50 nurseries strengthen our community of early years educators?

Reaching 50 nurseries strengthens our community of early years educators by widening the circle of people who can learn from and support one another. With every new nursery, we add more experience, more ideas, and more shared practice - and that collective knowledge makes us all better. It creates a richer, more connected network where educators feel part of something bigger.

What are your hopes for our team as we move into the next stage of growth?

As we enter our next chapter, we’ll continue building a workplace where everyone can thrive - creating more opportunities for development, listening closely to our teams, and nurturing the wellbeing practices that define us. Our growth will always be matched by our commitment to our people, and I’m excited for what comes next.

Eleanor, Architectural Design Manager

What does it take to design nurseries that meet N’s standards?

N's ambition to be the highest quality, best loved nursery group is at the forefront of our minds when it comes to design. We place the end user at the centre of all of our decisions, looking at how we can find the best possible solutions for the children, families, and teams that use our buildings. We strive to deliver best-in-class and are committed to rethinking, using lessons learnt from our in-use nurseries to refine the specifications and design choices.

Is there a particular nursery build or transformation that stands out to you?

Our East Dulwich nursery was a massive achievement for the whole team, as this project took over 5 years from concept to completion. The building's Grade II listed status added complexity to the design process, with challenges in the statutory planning and regulatory submissions to ensure the building heritage was protected, whilst meeting contemporary safety standards. Given the poor condition the building was in when we took it on, it's amazing to see this space filled with life again as a thriving community asset!

How do you balance the practical (safety, structure, compliance) with the magical (play, curiosity, warmth)?

One of the biggest challenges of our job is to find solutions that deliver technically, whilst retaining aesthetic quality. We prioritise functionality, comfort and safety, to ensure our spaces meet the operational needs of the building users. Once this is established as a baseline, creative solutions are interwoven to give the nurseries the 'wow' factor, using the building features where possible to give each space a unique, individual touch.

What does reaching 50 nurseries mean from a property and development perspective?

Reaching 50 nurseries marks a major milestone for us, and reflects the hard work, dedication, and learning that has driven us since our first nursery opened in 2017. We’re incredibly proud of our portfolio we've built and, most importantly, the meaningful impact our work has had on thousands of children and families.

What excites you about designing nurseries for N’s next 50?

We love the challenge of reimagining existing buildings, and new sites always bring fresh excitement. Building on the knowledge we've developed so far, we're ready to get stuck into the next projects, with the opportunity to refine our designs further, leveraging new technologies, and integrating feedback from our current nurseries to ensure we keep improving.

From a sustainability point of view, how do we bring our values to life in the way our nurseries are designed, built, or refurbished?

In line with our B-Corp status and impact commitments, sustainability is a huge consideration when it comes to design and development. We prioritise retrofit over new-build and avoid demolition wherever possible, minimising waste and reducing the carbon footprint of our buildings by working with the existing building fabric. Nearly all of our sites are run on 100% renewable power, using energy-efficient electric heating and cooling systems in lieu of traditional gas boilers. We provide thermal upgrades to our buildings to help reduce heat losses / gains, and regulate environmental conditions. Natural lighting and ventilation are incorporated where possible, with a focus on the well-being and comfort of the building users. In terms of specification, we take care to assess the environmental impact of our materials and products, in conjunction with safety and durability considerations, to ensure responsibility across our supply chain.

What 50 nurseries really means

50 communities

Each nursery is part of its local area. It’s shaped by the families who join, the teams who run it, and the communities we work with.

Welcoming thousands of children each year

Every child brings their own personality, story, and spark. We’re proud to be part of their early years.

In 2025 alone, over 2,800 children joined N as new starters, each one becoming part of a community shaped by curiosity, care and connection.

A growing team of brilliant educators

From apprentices to Room Managers, our people are the reason children arrive excited and leave inspired.

And an unwavering promise

To keep creating early years experiences that feel outstanding - joyful, safe, welcoming and genuinely child-centred.

Looking ahead

Our journey to 50 nurseries has taught us that the best things happen when people work with purpose, care deeply, and support each other.

But we’re not stopping here. The next part of our story will be led by the same values that brought us to this moment: curiosity, sustainability, community, and outstanding education.

We’re excited for what comes next and for every person who will join us along the way. Explore our current roles and help us build the next 50.