Nursery in NW5 for 3yo? Just moved from US

[monkeymom]

I would be so grateful for any leads on good nurseries in the Kentish Town area. We were part of a child care co-op in the SF Bay Area and my daughter is really missing her friends, and I need to start doing artwork again.
And if anyone has any tips for the searching process, I'm all ears.
Thanks so much!

[Sunnydale]

Hello
Welcome to London. I can't recommend any nurseries based on experience as my DD goes to one in NW3, but a good place to start is:-
www.camden.gov.uk/surestart (list of free nurseries in the Camden borough, of which NW5 is part)
And also:-
www.NW3kids.co.uk (list of activities in NW3, which is the postcode next door to NW5 and should still be accessible to you)
All the good nurseries get booked up way in advance (I was told to put my DD's name down when she was 1, though I didn't, and still got a place) - so it's still worth phoning round. Camden council should have a list of every nursery in NW5, some part time and some full.
Good luck - there are some great things to do with kids in North London, and she'll soon make friends

[monkeymom]

Hi Sunnydale,
Thanks so much for that, it's much appreciated. I'm heading to those websites now.

Ironically I did start the search about a year ago, but didn't get any responses though email from 4 of the good nurseries in the area. I figured I would just need to get here and do it. And so it begins...
Take good care~

[Pollyanna]

rainbow nursery used to be fantastic.

It isn't a daycare nursery though, so just open mornings, but fab - 2 of mine went there.

[monkeymom]

Thank you!

[malovitt]

My two both went here and loved it.

[philkim]

We love Rooftops which is by Talacre in NW5. I think it is best to go and visit if you can - it is very child centred, friendly, warm and privately owned so not as profit driven as other places -although you do have to climb four flights of stairs to get there.

[Roastchicken]

If you don't need full daycare, I can really recommend Dolphin Montessori in Leighton Crescent. My DD loved it and the care and attention paid by the three members of staff is second to none. The manager has run it for 20 years and is very attentive and really loving to the children - they put a lot of thought into how they plan each day. They also have a nice garden, are next to a secluded playground and have a dance teacher a couple of times a week. Hope that helps

[thatwasmyfavouritedress]

My DCs have gone to Woodentots on Rochester Road, which is great. It's montessori, but not ott montesorri and has lovely garden where they spend loads of time digging and planting. There might be an all day place or a few afternoons available in september i think.

[thatwasmyfavouritedress]

sorry, re woodentots, an all day place is 9-3 - also a nursery school not a daycare.