Highgate are Nursery

[Swedemella]

Hi,
I'm new to this board but have been reading all your messages for a couple of days. I haven't yet had my baby but would like to ask if somebody knew of a good childminder/nursery in the Highgate area of London (N6).
I've been looking at a couple around work but am not sure if I would like to return to the same work or returning at all. My baby would be around 9 months when I plan to return to work so it would have to be from 3 months and upwards.
Jess

[Janus]

Swedemella, I have no experience of this but Rainbow Montessori always looked nice. I used to do yoga in the same building and always looked at all the childrens paintings on my way in! It's in Pond Square, the church there, forget its name. Would be worth checking.

[jessi]

Janus - Thats where I went to Nursery! Ahh, have very fond memories of it, but it wasn't Montessori then! Haven't lived in Highgate for ages now but Swedemella, all I can recommend is looking through the local paper, the Ham & High, there always used to be ads for childminders/nurseries in there. Good luck! What a lovely area to bring your child up in!

[Sunshine]

Swedmella, I live in East Finchley, just up the road from you. We moved from Highbury, N5 in December and our daughter (15 months) still goes to nursery in Highbury because the waiting lists for nurseries around here are so long! There is definitely a shortage of nurseries for under 2s in the area (if there are any enterprising business people out there, reading this, please help!). Certainly put your name down as soon as possible, even if you have to pay to do so.

I found the best source of information about nurseries to be the London Baby Directory (www.babydirectory.com/). I have been recommended nurseries in Fortis Green (Fortis Green Nursery T. 8883 1266 - enormous waiting list) and another on Muswell Hill Road called Grey Gates T.8883 5640 (also long wait). I went to look round the Highgate Activity Nursery on Church Lane T.8348 9248 which seemed OK, but they only take from 2 years old. There is also a nursery on Highgate Road, down near Parliament Hill Fields, called Highgate Childrens Centre which does have vacancies for babies from 3 months. It's part of a chain called Nursery Works. I went to see their Highbury branch which looked great but was pricey (which may explain why they have vacancies).
Childminders I don't know about. The London Baby Directory suggests www.childminder.com.
Good luck! Sunshine.