Our nurseries were bought by private equity firms - fees are up and food is frozen

Lydia Berman chose her son’s nursery because it was close to home, family-run and affordable.

But suddenly, the fees went up and she was being asked to pay extra for nappies and wipes.

Berman is among a growing number of parents who have seen their nurseries bought out by private equity-backed chains, which have come under fire for allegedly using parent’s fees to give millions to shareholders instead of investing in the quality of childcare provided.

Shorts

Nurseries owned by private equity firms spent at least £82m more than not-for-profits on costs such as directors’ pay, rents and loans in 2023/24, according to analysis shared with The i Paper.