We’re so happy to share that Nära Nurseries has joined the Storal family. Their two much‑loved settings in Oxfordshire bring us to 57 nurseries across England, offering more than 5,800 places for children to learn, play and grow.
Nära was founded four years ago by early years professional Gill Medhurst, who set out to create warm, nurturing spaces rooted in kindness, respect and a real sense of community. Over time, those values have shaped two settings that families speak about with genuine affection - places where children feel celebrated for who they are.
That shared spirit is what made this partnership feel natural from the very beginning.
Sarah Mackenzie, Storal's CEO, reflected on what drew us to Nära:
“Nära is a wonderful nursery group with a very clear sense of purpose and identity. Gill and her team have created something very special for the children and families they serve, built around genuine care, strong relationships and a thoughtful approach to early childhood education.
“What stood out to us throughout our conversations was how closely Nära’s values mirror our own. The focus on kindness, respect and community is something we care deeply about at Storal. Our role now is to support the talented teams already in place, ensuring they have the resources, opportunities and backing to continue delivering exceptional experiences for children and families.”
For Gill, choosing Storal was about finding the right home for what she and her teams have built:
“Creating Nära has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Over the past four years we have built something incredibly special alongside our teams and families, a warm and inclusive community where children are truly nurtured and celebrated.
“Choosing the right organisation to carry this forward was therefore incredibly important to me. From the moment we met the Storal team, it was clear that they shared our values and our commitment to high quality early years education. I am confident that our nurseries, our teams and the families we serve will continue to thrive as part of Storal.”
As we welcome Nära into Storal, our focus stays exactly where it always has: on our teams, our families and the children at the heart of every setting.
