Mumsnet Talk

Hi all, I'm thinking of Pippa Popins (Tiddly Pops) for my very sociable and inquisitive 12 month old. I'm a protective first-time mum and want an environment where she'll be nurtured and stimulated just as if she was spending the day with her grandparents me at home. Any views? I know children who've been there from 2 years onwards, but none at 12 months.

Hi, I am struggling to make a choice between Pippa Popins and Active Learning. I like Pippa P and know people attending it. I am worried though that it is not suitable for an active boy. He will be 2 when starting. The alternative is Active learning, which has great facilities and outdoor space but I didn't feel so comfortable with the staff.
Any experience at either place that you can share would be much appreciated.

Oh yes, AL will educate. We were seriously impressed but it was just too far for us.

Don't know Bright Horizons I'm afraid, but if you wouldn't mind reporting back that would be cool?

Hello. Opinions on Bright Horizons nurseries?? Thank you!

Thank you kenobi. I ve seen treetops and I m now talking with active learning. It sounds very very interesting and I can not wait to see it. I hope that they are strong on the academic side like pippa popins, not just activities...
Xx

melen have you looked at Treetops and Active Learning? Both have great outside spaces and AL is particularly strong on activities.

I'm looking for a nursery in sw6 for my 2 year old.
I have seen pippapopins. Perfect for a girl but not for my active boy.
I need balance between activities and academic teaching.

Thank you

I've heard nothing but great things about Pippa Popins, my friend's daughter goes there and I understand that they only charge for Christmas cards and tea towels which the children then decorate. She pays for drama classes but doesn't do the other activities like Amanda's Action Kids and Monkey Music as she isn't in school on those days.

Hiya,

I investigated Peques (have a friend with a very happy LO there), Active Learning (too far, too expensive but wow, serious facilities) Treetops (lovely staff but found the building a bit clinical).

Peques is about 55 a day. They are remarkably flexible with their hour structures (you can rearrange days at short notice) and I liked the fact my DD would be mixing with lots of different nationalities - it's anglo-spanish and the nursery of choice for the Franco-spanish community in Fulham (those who don't go Pippas!). They do singalongs every morning and have Mandarin lessons (yes, seriously!) However it's a very stimulating environment and might suit a bouncy child rather than a shy one.

We ended up at Bobby's. DD adored it and the staff were charming. I was very happy with the decision and had no probs whatsoever.
That said the manager is pretty brusque. We didn't have a problem with her at all and appreciated her efficiency and sense of humour (think Barbara Woodhouse) but I can see that her manner might put people off.

I didn't bother to look at Pippa Popins as its hours and pricing structure didn't work for us, but as a PP says, it's the 'smartest' nursery in the area and all the Chelsea mummies send their kids there. Doesn't mean it's the best or has the most outside space (Peques and Active Learning probably take that crown) but it's definitely popular.

I can only speak from my personal experience, but I was unhappy with Bobbys Playhouse. I found the manager was very defensive and difficult to speak to if you had any concern about how your child was doing at the nursery. In the end, we changed nurseries and both my child and I were much happier for it. I found management at the new nursery to be much kinder and ready to discuss matters, rather than seeming to be immediately annoyed if you raised any questions. Unfortunately, my experience was shared with some other parents too. But ultimately, you may find your experience to be different.
Good luck and I hope your daughter is happy wherever she goes!

Hi Kingsroadie,

yes Pippa Poppins is expensive and what I hear is they charge a lot on top for activities etc, a bit like a business. For example the children will do Xmas decorations and then parents have to buy them if DC want to take their work home and things like that, that's what parents with DCs at Pippas told me.

Active Learning Fees are about 85 per day for under twos and about 60 per day for toddlers, so in your case it would be just 60 and cheaper than Pippas.

I am sending DD to Bobbys Playhouse starting in spring, have friends and family with DCs there and all very very happy. All the children I know there are having lots of fun and make excellent friends, I think it is less serious and more play oriented than Pippas and Active Learning.

If you want to categorise parents, I'd say Pippas is more on the posh side, Active Learning probably many aspirational internationals and Bobbys is lots of working couples, as they offer only full days popular with couples where the mother works full time. Pippas has lots of children brought there by nannies etc and also lots of children with stay at home mums who just want a couple of mornings off.

So I guess depending on your focus on play/learning/posh connections you should choose, if you want a stereotypical breakdown of the nurseries :-).

I am looking for next year when my daughter will be 2.5 or nearly 3 (depending on whether we start summer or autumn term).

Considering:

Pippa Popins - been to see it, LOVED it, obv pretty expensive.

Active Learning

Bobby's Playhouse (although have heard/read some not so great things about the staff)

Zebedees

Can anyone help with fees info (except Pippa Popins & Bobby's Playhouse which I have all the info on), any general info about length of sessions and most importantly - any experience of them!

Thanks a lot.