Do you work with both small and large charities?

We support everyone from small community charities to complex national organisations, tailoring our approach to your scale and needs.

Can you provide an independent examination instead of a full audit?

We carry out independent examinations where appropriate, ensuring compliance without unnecessary burden.

Do you understand charity reporting requirements?

Yes, we have deep expertise in charity reporting requirements and ensure full compliance with regulatory standards.

Can you work with in-house finance teams?

We often complement existing finance staff, providing external assurance, specialist advice and systems support.

What makes Ballards different for third sector organisations?

We combine technical rigour with an understanding of charitable purpose. Our advice is clear, timely and always aligned to your mission. We have a dedicated specialist Tax practice within the Ballards Group.

Day Nurseries

Supporting those who shape young lives, exceptional insight at every stage

Running a nursery has never been more complex. Rising staff costs, funding gaps, increased demand for under-2 places, and tighter regulation are placing sustained pressure on margins and operations.

Whether you are an independent nursery, a multi-site operator, or a private equity investor consolidating the sector, success depends on clear, timely insight. Ballards brings together compliance, finance and advisory expertise to provide joined-up support — helping you make confident decisions, protect margin and scale sustainably in a challenging environment.

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Our approach

We help simplify the complex, so you can focus on delivering exceptional care and education

We take a very personalised approach, combining practical nursery experience with a full suite of financial, compliance and advisory services. Our focus is on giving you clarity across funding, staffing, performance and growth, without making it too complicated.

By integrating accounting, tax, audit, transaction, technology, talent acquisition and digital growth strategy insights, we provide a single, cohesive view of your business. This enables you to respond to regulatory change, manage financial pressures, and plan ahead with confidence, whether operating a single setting or managing a growing portfolio.

Your challenges

What’s holding you back?

Unclear insight, rising pressures and limited time mean you are likely to be experiencing the following:

Funded hours don’t reflect the real cost of delivery.

Our rooms are full, but profitability isn’t improving.

Reconciling funding and tracking income takes too much time.

Staffing ratios and wage increases are squeezing our margins.

We don’t have the data to make confident decisions.

Growth opportunities are there, but we lack clarity on risk and value.

These are not just day-to-day frustrations, but signs that your signs your business could benefit from an

expert partner.

Whether you’re an independent nursery, a growing multi-site operator or an investor in the sector, we help you cut through complexity, gain clarity, and focus on what matters most: delivering high-quality childcare while protecting performance and supporting sustainable growth.

Meet our specialists

(waiting for content TBC here)

Rob Burns

BA (Hons), CA

Transaction Advisory Services Director

OUR DAY NURSERY SERVICES

Aligned expertise, better outcomes

Our services bring together compliance, finance and advisory expertise tailored to the nursery sector. From managing day-to-day pressures to supporting strategic growth, we provide clear, connected insight across your business — helping you protect margins, improve performance and make confident decisions at every stage.

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Accounting & Financial Management

We provide bookkeeping, payroll and management accounts tailored to nursery operations, focusing on the KPIs that matter — including fee mix, staffing costs and room-level performance. This ensures you can identify issues early, understand profitability by age group, and take action before challenges impact cash flow and margin.

Audit & Assurance

Our audit approach is designed for the nursery sector, addressing regulatory expectations while providing valuable operational insight. We focus on areas such as funding income, staff costs and controls, supporting both compliance and improved financial transparency for stakeholders.

Tax Advisory & Structuring

We deliver tax advice aligned to how nursery businesses are structured and grown. From group structuring and property considerations to remuneration planning and exit readiness, we ensure tax decisions are made proactively — protecting value and supporting long-term objectives.

Transaction Services

We support acquisitions, disposals and investment across the nursery sector, working with operators and private equity. Our due diligence, financial modelling and integration support help you understand risk, validate value and transact with confidence at pace.

Business Advisory

We provide practical advice on performance improvement, growth strategy and operational efficiency. This includes support with budgeting, forecasting and scenario planning — helping you navigate funding changes, manage cost pressures and plan strategically for expansion.

Risk Mitigation

We help nurseries understand and manage IT and cyber risks in a proportionate way. Our support strengthens resilience and protects operations without introducing unnecessary complexity — an increasingly important consideration as digital systems and data usage grow.

Technology that enables control and security

We support nurseries in strengthening their IT infrastructure and embracing digital tools that improve visibility and efficiency. From system selection to data integration and cyber risk management, we ensure your technology supports better decision-making, protects operations and evolves with your growth.

People, brand and growth aligned

We combine recruitment insight with brand and digital marketing expertise to help nurseries attract, retain and convert. From building high-performing teams to strengthening your market positioning and enquiry pipeline, we help ensure your people strategy and brand presence work together to support sustainable growth.

FAQS

Answered with clarity, not jargon

How can you help us manage funding shortfalls?

We provide clarity on the true cost of delivering funded hours, helping you assess fee structures, optimise occupancy and understand the financial impact across different age groups.

Do you work with both single-site nurseries and larger groups?

Yes. We support independent nurseries, multi-site operators and private equity-backed groups, tailoring our approach to the scale and complexity of your organisation.

Can you help improve profitability even if occupancy is high?

Absolutely. We focus on room-level performance, staffing efficiency and fee mix to identify why profitability may not align with occupancy levels.

What support do you offer for acquisitions?

We provide end-to-end transaction support, including due diligence, structuring advice and post-deal integration, ensuring you have confidence in both price and risk.

How do you reduce administrative burden?

By handling core accounting, payroll and compliance requirements, while streamlining reporting processes to give you clear, actionable insight without unnecessary workload.

Can you support long-term growth planning?

Yes. Through forecasting, scenario modelling and strategic advice, we help you plan for expansion, investment and exit with a clear understanding of financial and operational implications.