An East of England family charity has purchased a day nursery in Essex, which it will run from Monday, August 7, on a not-for-profit basis.

East Anglian Daily Times: Storytime at Ormitots nursery in Felixstowe Road, Ipswich - Ormiston Families supports children, young people and families across the East of England.Storytime at Ormitots nursery in Felixstowe Road, Ipswich - Ormiston Families supports children, young people and families across the East of England. (Image: Ormiston Families)

Ipswich-based Ormiston Families acquired Blois Meadow Day Nursery in Steeple Bumpstead, Essex, for an undisclosed sum.

It will continue to operate under its current name and with its current team of 12 staff, who care for children aged three months to five years.

The charity, which operates four other nurseries across East Anglia, will work with Alison Midgley, the previous owner and experienced primary and early years teacher, who took over the nursery in 2012.

The charity says it is keen to maintain and further build upon Alison’s achievements and ensure all of the requirements of the new Early Years Foundation Stage are met.

Alison said: “We are very proud of our achievements at Blois Meadow and feel that the time is now right to hand over to an organisation which can invest in the future. In Ormiston Families we have found a buyer which shares our ideals of quality and excellence.”

Mark Heasman, chief executive of Ormiston Families, said they were “very pleased” to confirm the purchase of Blois Meadow Day Nursery.

“Over the years, Alison has created a welcoming environment where children in their early years can learn through play and we are determined to continue this great work,” he said.

“We are excited to meet parents and children, as well as welcoming the nursery’s dedicated staff into our ‘Ormiston family’. Their expertise and skill sets are highly valued; they are the key to a successful nursery.”

The nursery will continue to operate its normal opening hours of 7am – 7pm.

Ormiston Families provides services to support children and young people and the charity’s vision is of a world in which every child will be loved, nurtured and valued.

It provides services to support children and young people who face the very real dangers of social exclusion.

The wide-ranging support includes helping those affected by mental ill health, imprisonment and abuse, as well as help for young parents and those struggling in school.