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Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

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Original poster

childcare in Tunbridge Wells

15 replies

tessac · 03/10/2006 19:49

Help! I'm moving to Tunbridge Wells (the Claremont area, around Grove Park) at very short notice, and am having a bit of a panic about childcare. I've found a nursery that can offer my four-year-old son and two-year-old daughter a couple of morning sessions from January, but I've worked out that by the time I drop them off, I'll have to turn around and pick them up. (It would help if I could drive, of course.) Does anyone have any recommendations? I'm reluctant to give up my two-days-a-week writing job, both for financial and psychological reasons! Any tips gratefully received.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

CorpseBride · 04/10/2006 19:54

It'll be hard going in TW without a car - could you find a childminder that would collect them?

Original poster

tessac · 05/10/2006 20:50

You're right, I am kicking myself for not learning 20 years ago. Oh well, perhaps this whole situation will be the spur that helps me overcome my irrational fear of driving lessons...

OP posts:

pupuce · 05/10/2006 20:53

Have you asked the borough? They have a list of nurseries and childminders - with addresses.
I can ask my ex-childminder if she has vacancies - she is very good!
What are you looking for?

charliebat · 05/10/2006 20:58

Can recommend a driving instructor if you want

gingernutlover · 06/10/2006 19:10

www.childcarelink.gov.uk/index.asp

this website gives you lists and contact detaisl for childminders/nurseries/creches etc, just type in your new post code

I live in TW and really like the nursery dd goes to but its the opposite end of t wells.

at least claremont is walking distance from town and there is couple of lovely park - calverly grounds and dunorlan park within walk of claremont too.

www.netmums.com (or co.uk?) also has listings of toddler groups, nurseries etc.

Get hold of the grapevine magazine from your health visitor - has listings of tons of stuff going on.

also, claremont primary is a fab school - very sught after but maybe thats why you've chosen to move there I guess.

mrsdarcy · 06/10/2006 20:02

my children went to Rocking Horse Montessori and it was lovely. It was a few years ago though.

I had refresher driving lessons in TW - you can do it

Original poster

tessac · 07/10/2006 22:18

Thanks, everyone. Those are all great tips. Yes, please, to recommendations for driving instructors (who can deal with someone who crashes her pushchair into lamposts on a regular basis because she has no spatial skills), and childminders. I'm sure I can survive without working for a bit ? I think I'm partly using it as excuse for not throwing myself into exploring a new town/joining stuff/going to toddler groups, etc. PS Didn't realise Claremont was quite so popular - we fixed on it because we liked TW and a friend said she went to Claremont 30 years ago. Now found out it's harder to get into than Fort Knox.

OP posts:

pupuce · 07/10/2006 22:22

Tessac - Claremont is not everyone' s cup of tea though! I know some parents who don't like it!

charliebat · 07/10/2006 22:29

I didnt learn to drive for YEARS because I crashed my pushchairs into lamposts and people and cant even push a trolley round sainsburys without crashing
I will contact you via mumsnet with details

charliebat · 07/10/2006 22:34

Oh no I wont...email me [email protected]

Original poster

tessac · 09/10/2006 17:33

Thanks, Charliebat, that's very reassuring. I'll email you directly. Re other schools, there's one up the road called St Peter's which looks, from its latest Ofsted report, to be friendly. Does anyone know anything about it? Like most parents, I'm not looking for academic excellence, just somewhere where my son isn't going to be beaten up daily (he's the type of child who screams if I tie his shoelaces too tight, plus he's very weedy for his age).

OP posts:

mrsdarcy · 09/10/2006 19:01

My neighbour sent her children to St Peter's and thought it was great. I looked round and liked it. It has a less middle-class intake than Claremont, I think.

I know someone who has taught supply at Claremont and thought it was rather up its own bum. It gets excellent results though and is very over-subscribed.

There's an excellent nanny agency called East Green Child Care which I used and was impressed with.

I left TW 2.5 years ago though so am not up to date with it all. I hope you're v happy there.

Original poster

tessac · 09/10/2006 20:47

Good to know about St Peter's - thank you. I'll pop up for a visit as soon as we're settled. I'm sure I'm getting my middle-class knickers in a twist for nothing, and DS is probably much more resilient than I give him credit for. Anyway, my DD will be joining him a year later, and she is shaping up to be quite butch, so maybe she'll protect him.

OP posts:

charliebat · 09/10/2006 22:42

Ive emailed you:-)

saggymum · 02/11/2006 10:37

Only just seen this and I do feel for you! We are moving to TW (St Johns area) from London in 5 weeks time - completely unprepared, in fact have only just found house, oh, and number 2 on way in March. The one thing that has been cheering me is that everyone says how fantastic nearly all the schools are - claremont especially - so please take comfort from that! Do you fancy meeting for a coffee some time, as a warm-up for the toddler/mother groups? Also non-driver so happy to aim for central, walkable location...

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