Childbase Partnership

What Childbase Partnership does

Childbase Partnership Limited is a UK private limited company founded in 1989 and headquartered in Newport Pagnell, England. It operates a network of 43 day nurseries across 14+ English counties (Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Greater London, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, London, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Warwickshire, West Midlands, and Wiltshire), providing Ofsted-regulated early years education and childcare for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years. The company has been 100% employee-owned since 2017 — the first Early Years firm in the UK to make this transition — under Chairman Mike Thompson and CEO Emma Kneale, and employs over 2,000 staff structured as co-owners ("partners") with governance input through an elected Partnership Council.

The core product is the physical nursery setting, differentiated by Forest Schools outdoor learning, a Ready, Steady, Grow school-readiness curriculum, and consistent Ofsted outcomes (all 43 settings rated Good or Outstanding, over half Outstanding). Supporting digital infrastructure includes the Famly platform (third-party) for parent communication, registration, and fee payments, and the proprietary Childbase@Home app delivering digital learning journeys, observations, and parent training. Sustainability is positioned as a strategic differentiator, with all nurseries holding the Eco-Schools Green Flag with Distinction, 100% renewable electricity, and a Net Zero by 2045 commitment; EduBase Academy provides apprenticeship and commercial training services.

Revenue is generated through subscription-style recurring monthly nursery fees calculated from weekly session rates across 52 weeks per year, with three pricing tiers (all-inclusive, opt-out consumables, and a flexible hybrid), a 10% sibling discount, and government Early Years Free Entitlement (EYFE) funding accepted. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via a postcode-based nursery locator on the company website, Famly-driven enquiry forms, and nursery-level open days and community events. Recognised as the No. 1 ranked UK nursery group in the Nursery World Quality League Table for three consecutive years (2024-2026), Childbase has also raised over £3.5M-£4M for charity across its 35-year history and currently partners with The Sick Children's Trust as 2026 Charity of the Year.

Name

Childbase Partnership

Legal name

Childbase Partnership Limited

Website

https://childbasepartnership.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Childbase Partnership operates 43 Ofsted-regulated day nurseries across England, providing early years education and childcare for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years. Operating as a 100% employee-owned company since 2017, it serves thousands of families through monthly subscription fees and government EYFE funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Childcare and Early Years Education Services

NAICS

Child Care Services (62441), Child Care Services (624410), Child Care Services (6244)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Day Nursery Programs (EDACACAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Half-Day Nursery Programs (EDACACAC), Nursery School Wraparound Care (Extended Hours) (EDACACAG)

Keywords

• Childcare services
• Early years education
• Nursery care
• Preschool education
• Day nursery

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport Pagnell

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices37 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Nursery Fee Revenue: Monthly subscription-based nursery fees charged to families for childcare services. Fees are calculated weekly (sessions booked × 52 weeks ÷ 12 months) and charged monthly in advance. All-inclusive pricing model available covering meals, nappies, wipes, activities. Additional charges for consumables if not opting for all-inclusive.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Childbase Partnership operates 43 nurseries across England providing full-day and sessional early years education and childcare for children aged 6 weeks to 5 years, with Ofsted Good or Outstanding ratings across all settings. The service is delivered directly through owned nursery premises with monthly subscription fees, optional all-inclusive consumables, government EYFE funding acceptance, a digital learning journey platform (Childbase@Home / Famly), and complementary programmes including Forest Schools outdoor learning and the Ready, Steady, Grow school-readiness curriculum.

Product overview

Childbase Partnership operates 43 nursery settings across England as a single unified childcare service, offering early years education for children from 6 weeks to 5 years. The core offering consists of their physical nursery locations supplemented by digital services: Childbase@Home (family website and app) provides parents with access to their child's learning journey, observations, photographs, and parent training; the Ready, Steady, Grow Programme supports school readiness; and Forest Schools delivers nature-based outdoor learning. All settings are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Childbase@Home: Exclusive family website and app providing information about children's development, activity videos, worksheets, free parent training sessions, and child classes. Covers topics around biodiversity, wildlife conservation, reforestation, eco-systems, recycling, and environmental activities.
• EduBase Academy
• Childbase International

Products and services

• Childbase Partnership Nurseries (43 UK sites) Network of 43 nurseries across England offering early years education and childcare for children from 6 weeks to 5 years. All nurseries are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, with state-of-the-art eco-friendly facilities, gardens, and Forest School programmes. Nurseries operate Monday to Friday, 52 weeks a year, with opening hours typically between 7.30am and 6.30pm.
• Childbase@Home family portal and mobile app Family website and mobile app providing parents with access to their child's digital learning journey, observations, photographs, activity videos, worksheets, and free parent training sessions. Covers topics including biodiversity, wildlife conservation, reforestation, ecosystems, recycling, and environmental activities to try at home.
• Ready, Steady, Grow Programme School readiness programme provided to parents showing what their child will be learning in each term during their final year of nursery, preparing children for a confident start in primary school.
• Forest Schools outdoor learning programme Nature-based outdoor learning programme where children receive natural experiences supporting physical and mental wellbeing, enhancing creativity and problem-solving skills through hands-on, outdoor learning activities including den building, campfires, wood carving, and nature hunts.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% of nurseries rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted with majority Outstanding
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• The Sick Children's TrustminorOthers · 1 January 2026Charity of the Year 2026 partner. The trust provides families with accommodation ('Homes from Home') when children are seriously ill in hospital. Childbase nurseries raise funds through various events including summer fetes and charity climbs.
• Little WingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Exclusive partnership since 2014 for first aid training. Little Wing trainers are or have been part of front line emergency services. They deliver paediatric first aid training to all nursery practitioners and free parent training courses.
• Eco-SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll Childbase nurseries participate in the Eco-Schools programme, achieving the Green Flag with Distinction for three consecutive years. Programme covers topics including litter, waste, biodiversity and healthy living with each nursery having an Eco Committee led by practitioners and pre-schoolers.
• FamlycoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital platform used for nursery management, parent communication, registration forms, and booking systems. Parents use Famly for daily updates, observations, photographs, and childcare account payments including Tax-Free Childcare.
• Eden Reforestation ProjectsminorOthersPartnership for tree planting - one tree planted for each current employee (over 2,000) and commitment to plant one for every new recruit. Trees planted in Madagascar.
• Local AuthoritiescoreOthersPartnership with local authorities for government EYFE funding administration, attendance reporting, and regulatory compliance including Ofsted inspections.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Busy Bees: One of the largest UK nursery groups operating hundreds of day nurseries. Direct competitor to Childbase in the same full-day early years care model across overlapping UK geographies.
• N Family Club: Premium UK nursery group operating in similar affluent South East catchments. Directly comparable on full-day nursery model, pricing tier, and quality-led positioning.
• Kidsunlimited (Kids Unlimited): UK nursery group offering full-day early years care with similar age range and Ofsted-rated quality positioning. Competes in northern English regions Childbase also serves.
• Family First Nursery Group: UK nursery operator with a growing multi-site estate. Directly comparable on full-day nursery service, government funding acceptance, and multi-county coverage.
• Partou: Multi-site European nursery operator with comparable recurring subscription fee model and similar childcare programming.
• London Early Years Foundation (LEYF): London-focused charity nursery group offering full-day early years education with government funding acceptance. Comparable on early years pedagogy and quality positioning.
• Magic Monkeyz / Monkey Puzzle Day Nurseries: UK franchise nursery network offering full-day and part-day early years care. Comparable on age range, pricing model, and multi-region presence.
• Tops Day Nurseries: Southern England nursery group operating full-day nurseries with similar all-inclusive fee structure and Ofsted quality focus.

Broad incumbents

• Bright Horizons Family Solutions: Large global operator of nurseries and employer-sponsored childcare. Comparable full-day nursery service offering, with broader international footprint and stronger employer-channel presence.

Others

• Childbase International: Listed as a sub-brand of Childbase Partnership for international operations. Captures any future international expansion comparable to global nursery operators like Bright Horizons.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/childbase

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Childbase Partnership