Feeder nurseries - north london

[mumzy4u]

Trying to ascertain which nurseries are best if I am considering applying for habs, Highgate, north London collegiate, shhs etc. which nurseries prep and support the end goal without being too pushy ? Which nurseries provide most support to parents at home to continue this learning. I know results are out this week, which nursery are you from and where are your kids going ?

This may be useful.

Where do you live? Realistically, recommending a nursery in St John’s Wood when you live in east London may not be all that sensible.

North London/north west

The schools I mention above are also all north London

Fair enough. Neither Habs nor NLCS are in London (although they are close). SHHS and Highgate are three miles from each other (and I understand that it’s a weirdly difficult journey in the car - perhaps the schools / councils discourage driving). Would you say which of these you are closest to?

A friend who wanted these sorts of schools (and got them) chose Broadhurst.

However there are plenty of nurseries that prep for pre prep schools. I probably wouldn’t choose a nursery that was a difficult journey from my house.

Agreed. I live near habs and nlcs and I’ve heard amazing things about whizz kids in mill hill but their hours are for non working parents basically, they don’t provide lunches and it would be a logistical nightmare… mulberry house and clowns also too far out really. So to clarify I would be looking at Edgware, Stanmore, Elstree , radlett.

It may be that Broadhurst is too far away then. I know some terrific nurseries in Islington but not so far out. Good luck!

Habs assessment is designed to be the sort of test you can’t be tutored for - colour in a butterfly, make some food out of Play Dough, write your name etc.

@mdh2020 agreed, but good to be in a nursery where they can support with prep.

Is it worth ringing the schools and asking whether they have any nursery recommendations? I applied to prep schools using a list given to me by some preschools we toured. This would be the same sort of thing but in reverse.

@CruCru good idea !

Some people on another thread mentioned this one. Worth a visit? Ask to see a list of the leaver destinations.

@mumzy4u The Avenue opposite Highgate tube is a well known feeder to all the selective independent schools.

Clowns nursery is one of the best feeder in local area. The principle takes emotional ownership of every kids’ progress ! She has strong relationships with many north London schools!

In theory, but in reality all these schools take the kids who have been prepared

@mumzy4u - I am in the exact same predicament. Our daughter is currently at N Family Whetstone (nursery) and we want to move her into a pre-prep which will assist with 4 + assessments for NLCS, Habs etc. Similarly to you, we are looking at edgware, stanmore, mill hill etc for a pre-prep.

Can I ask where you ended up choosing and/or if you have any recommendations. Our daughter is currently 2 yrs and 4 months.

@Sumsy were in the same boat, did you end up finding a good pre prep in the area that you could recommend? We looked at Grimsdell in Mill Hill, but wasn't a fan in the end

If you're looking for 4+ support, no-one does it like Clowns. But it's pricey. More than school fees last time I looked! Personally I didn't find them terribly empathetic, but every child is different and I know lots get on really well there.

Lots of kids from N London go to Habs and NLCS - we are in an NW postcode and you can get both buses within 10 minutes walk of our house. There are quite a few who go to Habs from W Hampstead, though personally that would be a bit on the long side commute wise for my liking.

I've heard quite the opposite on empathy. Everyone I know with kids there raves about it.

As I said - personal opinion. Was a few years ago.

Nope. Wrong wrong wrong. My son is in Year 2 at one of those schools and went to a local preschool with zero experience of preparing children for anything other than the local state schools. We didn’t “prepare” him ourselves either, beyond what any other university-educated parents would do with a four year-old. I was utterly astonished when he started reception and I found out there was such a thing as a “feeder nursery”.

On average, more prepared kids will get in than those unprepared. I didn't say that they don't take unprepared kids. A very chatty extroverted kid might well be fine. A shy/undiagnosed neurodivergent one hasn't a chance if not prepared. How else does a place like Clowns get their stellar results, far above the average chances, if preparation really counts for nothing?

Fuck me, there are assessments for 4 year olds, for pre-prep? And feeder nurseries?! I had no idea!! I thought this thread was a satire at first.

This is a crazy way to organise education.

(FWIW I went to a private school but not till 11).

It’s obvious- someone already said that Clowns is eye-wateringly expensive. I imagine that there is more correlation between parental IQ and entry to these schools than nursery attended. It’s just that clever parents = high paying jobs=posh nurseries.

My son’s school’s first sift of applications is literally a lottery anyway. Names out of a hat, matters not a jot what nursery they went to, all in same hat.

oh don't get me wrong - I don't think that these schools choose the brightest kids at 4. Assessing at that age is clearly bonkers. But they do take those who have been prepared to pass their test.