SM

Who we are

At SM, we believe in cherishing the magic  of childhood in our fast-paced world.

Our approach focuses on creating an environment where children can grow through hands-on experiences, connect with nature, and enjoy the freedom to explore and develop lifelong skills. With an emphasis on the wonder of books and storytelling, we are committed to nurturing independence, fostering wellbeing, and providing a space where childhood is valued and celebrated.


Our leadership team

Our vision is brought to life through the dedication of our nursery teams, supported and guided by our leadership team. Together, we ensure these values are at the heart of everything we do.

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Sarah Mackenzie
Chief Executive Officer

Sarah is an Early Years thought leader who has dedicated her leadership career to the sector she loves, driving growth and innovation. Having worked for both large and small nursery groups and starting as an Early Years Assistant, Sarah leads SM not only with a passionate strategic vision but also with a deep understanding of how to deliver quality experiences for children, families, and her team. As a mother to a young son, she brings a personal connection to the importance of early childhood development.

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Ash Grover
Chief Strategy Officer

Ash's passion and dedication lies in mission-driven entrepreneurship. As a father to a young daughter and son, he is personally vested in creating a brighter future for families. Guiding SM's ambitious plans with a clear focus and a determination to deliver exceptional customer and team experiences, he has relentlessly ensured we stay true to our mission since Day 1 and that we continue to do so every step of the way.

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Varun Chanrai
Chief Financial Officer

Varun thrives on driving growth and fostering success. With his extensive financial knowledge and forward-thinking mindset, he steers the business toward sustainable achievements. He emphasises the importance of teamwork, ensuring everyone is aligned and focused on meaningful progress. As a dad to two young children, Varun is motivated by the desire to create a better future for them and their generation.

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Shanti Flynn
Education Director

Shanti began her career in early years as a teacher over 28 years ago, and has worked as a LA advisor, Area SENCo, Ofsted Inspector and Head of Education & Childcare. She is passionate about excellent care and early education, leading teams to ensure our young children achieve the best possible outcomes. Her enthusiasm for quality outcomes for the children is unmatched and in her spare time she is also a Board Trustee of PACEY.

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Emma Bate
Operations Director

Emma has over 25 years continuous service, with her nursery group having been acquired by SM back in 2018. With a focus on quality and care, she makes sure every child’s experience is thoughtfully managed, creating a safe and nurturing environment for both children and parents.

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Chantal Wilson
People Director

Chantal is a self-proclaimed people enthusiast with 20 years’ experience in Human Resources. She is a mother of 3 children, a step-mum, a co-parent and proudly neurodiverse. She has worked for household names in hospitality like McDonald’s, Nando’s, and Honest Burgers, leading on pioneering people experiences.

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Daniel Day
Finance Director

Daniel is a strategic and commercially minded finance leader with a wealth of experience in a variety of industries. Before joining SM in early 2024, he lead teams at prominent UK retailers such as Holland & Barrett, Mothercare and Boots. A loving father of two, he's driven by creating financial strategies that enhance our nurseries' ability to provide safe, enriching, and supportive spaces for children.

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Stuart Graham
Infrastructure Director

Passionate about early years, Stuart brings a wealth of operational experience to drive success with a playful approach to everything he does. His depth of knowledge and innovative mindset allows for effective solutions that enable our nurseries to run at their best.

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Claire Sephton
Integrations Director

Claire is a recent addition to the SM team. She brings with her significant experience in Nursery Operations with a particular focus in culture, growth acquisitions and team integration. She has held all key operations roles in Early Years from Nursery Manager to Chief Operations Officer so she intrinsically understands the ins and outs of nursery life from the perspective of a team member, a manager and as a parent also. Claire’s passion lies with the people, both big and little, and champions both for the greater good. She is a mummy to 3 wonderful boys who are her pride and joy.

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Liv Stones
Marketing Consultant

Liv is an experienced marketing leader, having spent 15 years building industry-leading brands in the early years, hospitality and cultural sectors. She was an original member of the N Family leadership team and continues to push the boundaries of how brands relate and deliver for customers. She's a mum of two nursery-aged children, so it's a subject close to her heart.

Culture & values

What makes us SM
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