Two of the fastest growing organisations in the UK’s early years sector have joined forces in an exciting new training partnership.

Partou entered the UK in June 2024 and currently has 106 nurseries. It is the leading childcare provider in the Netherlands, a country which was recently ranked as number one in child wellbeing in a UNICEF report.

Realise, the largest provider of early years training in the UK, will be responsible for delivering apprenticeship programmes for Partou team members across its 49 nurseries in the North West and Yorkshire.

Danni Adams, Learning & Development Manager at Partou, said: “We are thrilled to have appointed Realise as one of our principal training providers.

“We currently have over 270 apprentices across our settings, with another 92 vacancies, so that shows how committed we are to helping the career progression of our team members, recruiting new talent into the sector and retaining them through increased opportunities.

“As we continue to establish Partou in the UK, it is crucial that we have training partners who have a commitment to excellence and share our values for continuous learning and career development for our people.

“In Realise we are confident we have found the perfect fit for our northern locations. Right through the early years career pathway, from entry level with Skills Bootcamps to Level 5 and beyond, Realise has the expertise and programme offering to support all our needs.

“The fact that Realise has trainers right across the country who can offer excellent coordination and support to our learners was another important factor in our decision to select them after an extensive recruitment process.

“Most importantly, however, is the shared commitment to create a culture of excellence for our learners, with both ourselves and Realise prioritising high-quality training and development that ensures our apprentices receive the best possible education and support.”

As well as a growing presence in the UK, Partou is the biggest childcare group in the Netherlands with more than 700 settings, over 70,000 children and 9,000 team members.

Karen Derbyshire, Operations Director for Early Years at Realise, said: “We are delighted to have partnered with Partou at an early stage on their UK journey.

“It is a nursery group renowned for delivering outstanding childcare and we are proud to be playing our part in helping its talented team further develop their careers

“Ultimately, our main aim is to produce fantastic early years practitioners for Partou, whether that be introducing new people to the sector or adding to the skills, knowledge and experience of existing staff members.”