Tigers Childcare
Tigers Childcare is an Irish private childcare provider operating 34 physical centres across Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Cork, and Wicklow, serving 3,200+ children aged 6 months to 13 years through Early Years, Pre-School (ECCE), After-School, and specialist Nexus ASD programmes; the company was acquired by Kids Planet Day Nurseries in May 2026 for approximately €75 million.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Tigers Childcare does
Tigers Childcare is one of Ireland's largest private early-years and school-age childcare operators, founded in 2003 by Karen Clince. As of May 2026, the company operated 34 physical childcare settings across Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Cork, and Wicklow, employing 640+ colleagues and caring for more than 3,200 children. Its service portfolio is segmented into three core lines plus specialised and add-on offerings: Early Years Services for children aged 6 months to 5 years (full-day care), Pre-School Services for children aged 2 years 8 months to 5 years under Ireland's ECCE scheme (38 weeks per year), and After School Services for children aged 5 to 13 years. A specialist Nexus vertical provides small-group (6 children with 1 teacher and 3 tutors) ASD early education using PECS, DIR/Floortime, ABA, Marte Meo, TEACCH, and play therapy methodologies. Add-on services include Breakfast Clubs and holiday Camps. Pedagogy is rooted in the Irish Aistear and Síolta frameworks with a play-based, child-led curriculum.
The operating model relies on physical centres rather than digital distribution; families find and enrol via the website's centre finder, book tours, and pay monthly fees one month in advance via direct debit, with billing and attendance tracking handled through the third-party Child Paths parent-communication platform. Revenue is principally subscription-recurring childcare fees supplemented by government-funded ECCE sessional payments and the National Childcare Subsidy (NCS). Pricing is centre-specific and not publicly disclosed. The company is registered with Irish data-protection regulators (GDPR-compliant) and publishes a Modern Slavery Act Statement.
Tigers pursued a programmatic roll-up strategy, scaling from 14 facilities in 2021 to 34 by 2026, supported by a €10.5 million equity investment from Business Growth Fund (BGF) in November 2021 and multiple bolt-on acquisitions (Douglas, Pembroke Wood, Bettystown, Enfield, Naas) between 2023 and 2024. In May 2026, Tigers was acquired by UK-based Kids Planet Day Nurseries (the UK's second-largest childcare provider, itself backed by private equity firm Fremman) for approximately €75 million, with founder Karen Clince retained to lead operations locally and Kids Planet planning to rebrand Tigers under its own name.
Tigers Childcare firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tigers Childcare
- Legal name
- Tigers Childcare
- Website
- https://tigerschildcare.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Tigers Childcare is an Irish private childcare provider operating 34 physical centres across Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Cork, and Wicklow, serving 3,200+ children aged 6 months to 13 years through Early Years, Pre-School (ECCE), After-School, and specialist Nexus ASD programmes; the company was acquired by Kids Planet Day Nurseries in May 2026 for approximately €75 million.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tigers Childcare industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Early Childhood Education and Childcare Services
- NAICS
- Child Care Services (62441), Child Care Services (6244), Educational Services (61)
- SIC
- Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Full-Day Childcare Centers (EDACAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Early Intervention ABA (Birth–3) (EDAKAHAD)
Keywords
Where Tigers Childcare is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dublin
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices13 records
Markets served
Tigers Childcare business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Childcare Service Fees: Monthly fees charged to families for childcare services. Fees vary by centre and service type. As a registered childcare provider, eligible families can claim the National Childcare Subsidy (NCS). Fees are charged one month in advance via direct debit.
- ECCE Scheme: Free preschool classes under the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme, operating 38 weeks per year. Provides government-supported early years education to eligible children aged 2 years 8 months to 5 years.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Centre-specific pricing varies by location and service type |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
Tigers Childcare product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tigers Childcare operates a network of physical childcare centres delivering early years education, sessional pre-school, after-school care, breakfast clubs, holiday camps, and the specialized Nexus ASD programme for children aged 6 months to 13 years. Services are delivered in person across 34 Irish locations and billed to families on a recurring monthly basis, with eligible families accessing the Irish government's ECCE free preschool scheme.
Product overview
Tigers Childcare operates as a comprehensive childcare ecosystem providing early years education and care services across 34+ locations in Ireland. The portfolio includes three core service lines: Early Years Services for children 6 months to 5 years (full-day care), Pre-School Services for children 2 years 8 months to 5 years (ECCE sessional), and After School Services for children 5-13 years. Specialized offerings include Nexus ASD Classes for children with Autism. Additional services include Breakfast Club, Camps, and Sessional ECCE government-funded programs. The services are delivered through a network of centers across Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Cork, and Wicklow, with a focus on play-based, child-led curriculum aligned with Aistear and Síolta national frameworks.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Nexus: Specialized early years education service dedicated to supporting children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Operates small classes with experienced Teachers and Behaviour Therapists.
Products and services
- Early Years Services Full-day care and education for children aged 6 months to 5 years, providing environments that promote learning and exploration through a play-based, child-led curriculum aligned with the Aistear and Síolta frameworks. Delivered at Tigers' dedicated Early Years centres across Dublin, Kildare, Meath, Cork, and Wicklow.
- Pre-School Services Sessional pre-school service for children aged 2 years 8 months to 5 years, operating 38 weeks per year under the Irish government's ECCE (Early Childhood Care and Education) Scheme to ease the transition into primary education.
- After School Services Childcare for school-age children aged 5 to 13 years, providing unstructured play time in safe, warm environments with a focus on social and emotional development; service available up to 6:30pm.
- Nexus ASD Classes Specialised early education service for children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, featuring small classes of 6 children with 1 teacher and 3 tutors and applying PECS, DIR/Floortime, ABA, Marte Meo, TEACCH, and play therapy methodologies in a safe, inclusive environment.
- Breakfast Club Morning childcare service offered at select Tigers locations, providing supervised care before school hours from approximately 7:30am to 9:00am for school-age children.
- Holiday Camps Holiday camps offered during mid-term breaks and summer holidays, providing childcare and structured activities for school-age children during school closures.
- Sessional ECCE Free early childhood care and education provided under Ireland's ECCE (Early Childhood Care and Education) Scheme, offering 38 weeks of government-funded preschool annually for eligible children aged 2 years 8 months to 5 years.
Quantifiable outcome
- Caring for over 3,200 children across 34 settings
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Tigers Childcare
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Tigers Childcare technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature3 records
Tigers Childcare partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Child PathscoreChild Paths is a digital platform integrated into Tigers Childcare operations for real-time parent communication, attendance tracking (drop-off and pick-up confirmation), and documentation management. It reduces paperwork for educators and provides parents with daily updates on their children's activities.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Tigers Childcare competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Tigers Childcare social profiles
Digital presenceTigers Childcare compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Tigers Childcare financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tigers Childcare leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Tigers Childcare subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Tigers Childcare funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tigers Childcare M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tigers Childcare
What does Tigers Childcare do?
Tigers Childcare operates a network of physical childcare centres delivering early years education, sessional pre-school, after-school care, breakfast clubs, holiday camps, and the specialized Nexus ASD programme for children aged 6 months to 13 years. Services are delivered in person across 34 Irish locations and billed to families on a recurring monthly basis, with eligible families accessing the Irish government's ECCE free preschool scheme.
Is Tigers Childcare a public or private company?
Tigers Childcare is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Tigers Childcare founded?
Tigers Childcare was founded in 2003. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Tigers Childcare based?
Tigers Childcare is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does Tigers Childcare make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Childcare Service Fees are the primary driver. The others are ECCE Scheme.
Does Tigers Childcare have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tigers Childcare.
What industry is Tigers Childcare in?
Tigers Childcare's product category is Early Childhood Education and Childcare Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDACAAAA, Full-Day Childcare Centers, with a secondary code of EDAKAHAD, Early Intervention ABA (Birth–3). Its NAICS code is 62441 and its SIC code is 8351.