to think this nursery is the very embodiment of gentrification in London?

[roundaboutsroundabouts]

I won't name the group of nurseries as I don't know if that's allowed (is it?) but I've just seen them referenced on instagram by a scandi toy brand. They are all in vair gentrified hipster parts of London and the fees are fcking EXTORTIONATE - £90 a day for the under-threes. I know that isn't unusual in London (although in my much cheaper part of London I only pay £55 a day). It holds a "curated" "programme" of monthly "events" (including pilates). The children get a daily smoothie - tomorrow's is beetroot, banana, ginger, berry, lemon and hemp. It describes itself as "design-led" and it's all vair tasteful scandi wooden toys in neutral colours. Design led?! Why does a NURSERY need to be "design-led"?!

You just know that everyone who sends their child there is going to have an ombre "lob", wear clothes from Arket, carry a fjallraven kanken backpack, own a bugaboo or a babyzen yoyo, dress said children in varying sludge colours from Mini Rodini, and have linen bedding in their Victorian Terraced house with white painted floorboards and scandi style planters.

I am BVU I know. But it is so irritating. I grew up in London, the child of an immigrant, and I feel like it's just an endless line of artisan coffee shops and overpriced farmers' markets these days.

roundabouts, why be angry about the divide between rich and poor? We all make choices in life, nothing to stop you trying to earn more money but there will still be people who are better off. So what? If you are content with your lot it hardly matters, if you're not then strive to change it.

Back to that nursery - is it part of the Safari Kids group? Sorry if that has already been mentioned, since last being on this thread plenty of other people have replied. Anyway I looked at their website and they seem pretty good but website doesn't mention fees.

Op, I hear ya!

If you are content with your lot it hardly matters, if you're not then strive to change it.

I am content with my lot, does that mean that I can't be sad that others have absolutely nothing?!

YANBU London is for wankers now.

Is this nursery much more than others in the area?

As an aside I do think it’s a shame Mandarin gets a bad rap as the language for over achievers, after being in that world for a bit this strengthens the ‘other’ feeling. I found it completely fascinating. (I know you didn’t mention it op)

Also I suppose some make huge changes to close the gap

Dottie doodah that makes me so sad. My children LOVE being outside and it has massively benefitted child 2 in particular. The thought of watching a bonfire on a screen is just awful. But forest school settings aren't for everyone I'm sure, and I know its annoying when people bleat on about how great they are so sorry to the poster upthread who was annoyed!

I'm not even in London and Bugaboos and Kankens are old hat where I live! You need to update your stereotypes OP.

You need to update your stereotypes OP.

Well I don't, people still have them in abundance where I am in SE London 🤷‍♀️

The nursery is appealing to that certain demographic.
Isn’t that called marketing and defining your market?

Don't ask me, every time anyone talks about marketing my brain shrivels up and dies.

Just had a look at the website. You’re right OP in that it is marketing itself to a particular group. However they are offering some free places for under twos and they are offering the 15 hours. The thing is their marketing probably doesn’t reach the families that would benefit from the free places.

They look nice enough, but at the end of the day it’s still a nursery. Surely a nanny is preferable

What stereotype do you fit OP?

greenglassteacup

I really have no idea.

Totally with you. I put my DD in a cheap and cheerful nursery that looked and felt really homely. It wasn’t sparkling clean or fancy in any way but all the kids seemed really happy and it had a much nicer vibe than some of the more expensive ones I went to. That one sounds like style over substance to me. And quite pretentious.

Loved the description of the people (don't live in London and had to google what the ombre 'lob' was - out of touch!). I grew up in London for my early years and apparently went to a posho nursery. We had deckchairs to nap on and a piano to thump on. That's about as posh as it got in the 80's!

Haven’t RTFT but what is a lob? My guess is long bob, I have one and I’m not remotely gentrified.

It sounds great! Our London nursery is £85/day and nothing like the one you describe. It’s outstanding but fairly basic.

None of the posh nurseries in our part of London are £90/day - they’re considerably more. Where is the one your describe? Maybe I should move house!

This is on a par of what I paid in london - quality wasn't great though. I love the smoothie idea

I think pretentiousness is a better description than gentrification!

Out of interest why is it pretentious?

They have a ‘fancy’ sounding menu but everything else is the same as other crèches.

You sound slightly bitter and jealous.
This daycare isn't hurting anyone and it's the parents choice.
Also who gives a toss what their houses are like? A lit of stereotyping going on here....

Lolly25

Have you rtft? I suspect not as I have addressed your points in detail.

For about the fiftieth time, I am not jealous.

Just spotted they offer languages too which the ordinary places don’t. Other than that they have just used language used by most gentle parenting type websites. I do not see it as pretentious and I am def not pretentious.

Gentle parenting gets on my wick too tbh so maybe I'm just a nasty old bint.

Only because I hate giving parenting "styles" a name.

roundabouts, you didn't say you were sad, you said you were angry. Not the same thing at all. From your opening post, you've come across to me as being resentful of those who can afford more and that's nothing to do with being sympathetic to the poor.