KIDS Allowed has topped a national league table of nursery chains, achieving the highest possible score on quality.

The family-owned firm, with a nursery in Mobberley Road among its stable of eight, was ranked number one among the UK's 25 largest groups, according to Nursery World's 'Nursery Chains' table.

The league table, now in its 20th year, took into account Kids Allowed's clean sweep of Ofsted 'Outstanding' grades, and its 30 per cent expansion.

Kids Allowed has more than 450 employees looking after around 2,000 children across Manchester and Cheshire, from babies to five year-olds.

Jennie Johnson MBE, founder and chief executive of Kids Allowed, said: "It was crucial when we were planning our expansion to Altrincham and Trafford this year that it didn’t impact the quality of childcare we deliver across our centres.

"How we look after our children and their families is always our top priority and to have that recognised is hugely rewarding.

"The team at Kids Allowed put everything into delivering an extraordinary experience to the children they care for.

"This is recognition of their dedication and hard work and they are, quite rightly, incredibly proud – as am I.”

Jennie founded the nursery when she couldn’t find childcare following the birth of her second child, and now oversees centres in Cheadle, Stockport, Wythenshawe, Knutsford, Macclesfield, Altrincham, TraffordCity and its HQ in Christie Fields, Didsbury.

Last month, Kids Allowed announced it had secured a £9.5m loan to buy back the group and return to a family-owned venture.