About Us

Originally set up by Directors Tim Apel and Alice Apel in 2001 with just one nursery, Atherton House School, where their son and daughter, George and Charlie, attended at an early age, the Apel family have expanded to run five settings across the North-West in Hale, Altrincham, Lymm and Crosby (Liverpool).

Having always supported the family business growing up, in 2018 son George Apel, joined full time as a fellow director following the completion of his Economics and Management Degree from St Andrews University. In 2022, Lily Truman and George Apel were married, and that September Lily joined the business full-time as Development Manager. Lily also heads up our sister company, Caterpillar Careers, a recruitment company specialising in Early Years to support recruitment and retention at our settings. 

The Apel family are dedicated to running nurseries individually, which directly impacts the homely environment you’ll find when walking into one of the nurseries. The children are central to everything we do, and it is an honour to see them blossom. 

The Atherton House Nursery Group are passionate about it's wonderful staff team that work across the settings, with staff wellbeing a key priority and are proud to have multiple staff members celebrating more than 25 years. Working in the Atherton House Nursery Group isn’t just a job, you’ll find a second home in your career with us.