A DAY nursery is under new ownership after a deal was brokered by Bury sales experts.

The former Toddlers Pre-School Learning in Whitefield has been acquired by Victoria Adams, a Lancashire-based entrepreneur, and renamed Toddlers Children's Nursery.

Help to clinch the establishment, which was opened in 2007, was provided by Abacus Day Nursery Sales , of St Mary's Place.

The nursery was marketed with a guide price of £149,995, to take over the business and the lease on the premises. Before now the nursery has been rated as 'good' by the education watchdog Ofsted.

Toddlers has been registered to provide up to 43 full-time childcare places and had a recent turnover of more than £327,000.

Eleven staff, including a manager and deputy manager, have stayed on following the deal being sealed.

Ms Adams was attracted to Toddlers by its open-plan layout, which is similar to that of one of her Lancashire nurseries, Teddy Towers, and its large outdoor area. Its location in the grounds of Ribble Primary School was another selling point.

She plans to develop the nursery’s outdoor area and introduce a number of elements of Teddy Towers, like a plastic-free setting, to the business. She wants to market the nursery to younger age groups, and intends to begin running open days as soon as coronavirus regulations permit.

Chelsea Melnyk, sales negotiator at Abacus, said, “I am really pleased to have been able to help Victoria with her first acquisition. Her existing business has a fantastic ethos and Toddlers is a great premises in a brilliant location with a fabulous team, so I am sure this new chapter for the nursery will be its best yet.”

Ms Adams received legal advice from Birchall Blackburn Solicitors and funding for the transaction was provided by Unity Trust Bank.

Andy Ball, relationship manager at Unity Trust Bank, said, “Unity is proud to support businesses that provide access to quality early childhood care and development so that children are ready for primary education.

“We’re delighted to be able to assist Victoria as she expands her business and offers outdoor learning experiences to more children.”