A popular Lanarkshire nursery has been taken over by new owners after being independent for nearly 30 years
Busy Bees has acquired Oakwood, which cares for 172 children at its setting on Lochbrae Drive in Burnside.
The move means Oakwood will become the fourth Busy Bees location in or around Glasgow, and also marks the retirement of nursery founder and director Valerie Fotheringham, who started the nursery in the 1990s..
Valerie told Lanarkshire Live: "I have thoroughly enjoyed caring for hundreds of children over the years, working alongside our dedicated team of educators since 1995.
"Busy Bees shares our mission to ensure every child’s happiness, wellbeing and progress is prioritised, so I am in no doubt that Oakwood is in safe hands as I begin my retirement.
"I will be sad to say goodbye to all the families, children and our team, but I will be taking so many wonderful memories with me from over the years.
"The children, families and staff mean so much to me and I know that Busy Bees will look after them within this new chapter that comes ahead. I wish them all the very best for the future."
Busy Bees’ Managing Director of Scotland, Yvonne Smillie, added: “We’re delighted to welcome the children, families and team at Oakwood into our Busy Bees family.
"There is a huge amount of synergy between both Valerie’s story and our own, which is why working together feels like such a natural move.
"Each day, the team provide the care and attention needed to give young children the best start in life, which perfectly aligns with our mission here at Busy Bees.
"We’re looking forward to building on the teams’ successes, while continuing to provide exceptional care for young children in the local area."
Oakwood is one of the longest-established nurseries in South Lanarkshire and has been part of the community for decades. It provides early years care to children from birth to five years, as well as after school care for children aged five to 12 years old.
The campus has two main buildings: Oak Cottage and the Pre-School Centre. Oak Cottage is a purpose-built facility for children aged newborn to three, designed to support children at each age and stage of their development.
Meanwhile, the Pre-School Centre is housed in a large Victorian villa and is home to children aged three - five, aiming to challenge children and prepare them for school.
Busy Bees now cares for more than 40,000 children across 379 nurseries in the UK and Ireland, and 55,000 children globally across eight countries.
**Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live had its own app? Download yours for free here.
