In a pickle!

[saikee]

After two years of being in Canada, we are moving back to London this October. We live in Clapton area under hackney Borough and am having no luck in finding a good Montessori or Private Nursery for my 3 yr old girl. We dont necessarily need to send her within our catchment area. I would love to hear from someone who can suggest any montessori schools maybe in Islington/ stoke Newington or the other side East London i.e Bethnal green , Bow area. Have I left it too late? should my child already be on a waiting list for a place in Jan 2003?

There is the Bethnal Green Montessori (just off Hackney Road) and the Gatehouse School in Bow which is also Montessori. Both come highly recommended. I am not sure about the waiting list situation but I would definitely get on to it straight away.

Saikee, if you want your child to go to a state school when she is 4 you need to contact your local authority now and get her name down for that as soon as possible.

Do you want a nursery school? I can recommend Hopes and Dreams Montessori Nursery on City Road in Islington. It takes children up to 5 and can do the reception year. If you'd like the phone number, let me know.

Has anyone tried Nurseryworks nurseries? They're all over London. I've spoken to them several times and never been sent the promised information. Very annoying. Has anyone had any dealings with them?

Hi i must say for a first timer on this chat forum I am impressed. Thank you so much for everyones input. Wondering bells2 if You would have a url link to gatehouse house school. I have managed to find BGM number listed. Are these montessori schools accredited by a body or is this irrelevant. Any tips to what I should be asking for to get a feel of the place? since I wont be in London to make a visit til October and if I am paying a non-refundable fee, it better be worth it. Anyone You know who has had any experience with these schools?

JJ whats the difference b/w a nursery School and Montessori....? Is hopes and dreams any good?please do post me there number. Someone mentioned St Andrews Montessori in Islington (any recommendations)and another one is called Pillar Box on Bow Road. I wish I was in London right now.

Saikee, Hopes and Dreams is a nursery and also a nursery school, ie it caters for children up to age 5. It also does the reception year (as per the Montessori principle of keeping the 3-6 year olds together in a class), so a child is set until Year 1.

I'm not sure if Canada is all like the US in this respect, but when we looked at Montessori schools in Chicago, we were looking at proper primary schools with facilities for 3-11 year olds. The accreditation in the US is not as present here.. accredited primary schools are few and far between.

Hopes and Dreams adheres to the Montessori method of teaching for the most part, but doesn't go into all the details with the required days and hours, etc. I love it, but am not a fanatic about the Montessori method (ok, I tried to be, but it just didn't work out ). It's also nice that it's a proper nursery, so you can add days as needed and it's open 50 weeks a year. It's great not being stuck with going on hols when everyone else is.

Here's a link to the website.

Saikee, I don't know the name I'm afraid but there is a montessori nursery in Stoke Newington, on Stamford Hill Road just north of Clissold park. Don't know anything about it (I've just seen it from the 73 bus!) but it would be handy for Clapton.

Don't think Gatehouse has a web site but their phone number is 020 8981 5885. Both it and BGM are accredited Montessori's. I know parents with children at both and all are very happy. gatehouse is much more traditional while BGM is a bit more progressive.

zoya any chance of joting the name or phone number while you are on route 73 again I could probably look up on the internet. I wonder if it was like this when it was time for our parent sto send us to school. I already feel 'so' responsible for the decision I make (School selection) for my little one. I just got off the phone with hopes and dreams. need to call later (how convenient when in Toronto). BGM number doesn't work...ummm strange. Next Gatehouse! You are right bells2 website still under construction.

figured out the diff b/w Montessori and montessori nursery. Some Montessori's will have montessori rooms but may not essentially be run by Montessori staff. Also as you mentioned JJ Montessori nurseries works well for working moms,the 8-6 hours as opposed to 9 -3.00. Does your child go on a full day? I just hope the BMG has extended hours, since after speaking to Gatehouse school, their policy is to only give the registration form upon arranging a visit to the School in 'person'. Beam myself! Hopes and dreams so far has it all but woh..expensive1 wonder if nursery grants are available for 3 and 4. Does one need to be living in the borough?