Nuuri is delighted to welcome Atherton House Nursery Group to the platform, further strengthening Nuuri's growing network of high-quality early years providers across England.
Atherton House Nursery Group is a family-run nursery group with seven settings across the North West of England, spanning Hale, Altrincham, Lymm, Wirral and Crosby in Liverpool. Known for their warm, homely environments and a strong commitment to running each setting individually, Atherton House has built an exceptional reputation in the communities they serve.
A Family-Run Group With Deep North West Roots
Atherton House Nursery Group has a rich history in North West childcare. Founded in 2001 by the Apel family, the group began with the acquisition of Atherton House School in Great Crosby, Liverpool, before expanding steadily over the following two decades to become one of the region's most respected nursery groups.
The group specialises in high-quality childcare with a Montessori and Early Years Foundation Stage focus, giving children a strong foundation through play-led, child-centred learning. Each setting carries its own distinct identity and ethos — a deliberate approach by the Apel family, who believe that running nurseries individually is what creates the warm, welcoming atmosphere families experience the moment they walk through the door.
In 2018, the next generation of the family joined the business, with George Apel taking on a Director role and leading the group's expansion strategy. His wife Lily joined in 2022 as Marketing and Development Manager, also heading up Caterpillar Careers — the group's sister company and a specialist early years recruitment business. This blend of long-standing family values and fresh ambition has seen the group grow from four settings to seven in recent years, with the most recent additions including Rainbow Day Nursery in Lymm, Cosy Corner Day Nursery in Oxton, and a Wirral-based setting.
Throughout the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, Atherton House kept their doors open to support key workers and vulnerable families — a testament to the group's deep commitment to their communities.
Improving the Parent Journey Across the North West
By joining Nuuri, Atherton House Nursery Group will benefit from a powerful online presence that makes it easier than ever for families across the North West to discover, compare and connect with their settings.
A key feature of the partnership is the group's use of Nuuri's Tour Booking function, which allows prospective parents to schedule a nursery visit directly through the platform. For families weighing up their options across multiple locations and settings, the ability to book a tour in just a few clicks — without needing to call around or wait for a response — makes a meaningful difference to the experience.
And the results are already speaking for themselves.
What the Atherton House Team Are Saying
"We've had a great experience with Nuuri since joining with our group of seven nurseries. Steven has been incredibly helpful throughout — always responsive and happy to answer any questions we've had.
One of the standout features for us is the ability for parents to book tour times directly. We've seen a noticeable increase in these bookings over the past few weeks since using the platform.
The website itself is clear, easy to navigate, and user-friendly for both our team and prospective parents. Overall, we're really pleased to be on board with Nuuri and would happily recommend them."
— Lily Truman,Atherton House Nursery Group · ★★★★★ via Trustpilot
A Warm Welcome From Nuuri
Nuuri Founder and CEO Steven Clarke welcomed Atherton House Nursery Group to the platform:
"We're really pleased to welcome Atherton House Nursery Group to Nuuri. They are exactly the kind of nursery group that Nuuri was built for — passionate, family-run, and deeply rooted in their local communities across the North West.
What George, Lily and the wider Apel family have built over more than two decades is genuinely impressive, and it's brilliant to see that dedication already translating into more tour bookings and stronger connections with local families through the platform. We're excited to support their continued growth and partner with a digitally aligned nursery group."
Discover Atherton House Nursery Group on Nuuri
Families across the North West can now explore Atherton House Nursery Group's seven settings directly on Nuuri, with full location details, photos, fees, Ofsted report links and the option to book a viewing — all in one place.
Atherton House Nursery Group on Nuuri
Nuuri continues to partner with nursery groups and independent settings across the UK, helping parents find trusted childcare while giving providers the tools to showcase their settings and connect with more families.
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