nurseries in/around nw5 - Kentish Town/Belsize pk/hampstead?

[bellbottoms]

I've a 11 month old - so need to start looking for mursery now! I've a list of nurseries in my area, but anyone got advice on any nurseries that are eitehr great, or to be avoided? thank you.

Hello
I would like to tell you about a very bad experience with Chaston nursery in Kentish Town a few years back. My son, then two, was there and I discovered that he could open the big security gate onto the road. When I raised it with the owner I was told that 'the children only do that when parents are around' (I know, incredible!) and she point-blank refused to do anything about it. I even offered to pay for new keys to no avail. Anyway, we went on holiday and when we came back we had been slung out of the nursery because we complained! It was a really awful time. I reported them to Oftsed and as a journalist, have many times thought about writing about this for a newspaper, but ended up thinking that maybe word of mouth was best. I really hope that this is helpful to you - really found it quite a trauma at the time.
best of luck - I'd say Highgate Children's Centre (Nurseryworks) is far and away the best in the area, although expensive.
Hope this is helpful - would hate anyone else to go through what we did!

Message withdrawn

hi Bellbottoms
have you found somewhere? we might be moving to that area next june and our ds will be about to turn 3. would love to know where is good, looking for a state run one...

We're going to look around Chaston Nursery this evening! But the West Hampstead one - didn't know there was one in Kentish town too. Will definitely bear that in mind - thanks AnnieSG!

Am having a horrendous time trying to find nurseries with availability myself.... We live in the West Hampstead area and registered with Asquith in July 05 (before my DS was even born!) for a place in June 06. They rang last week to say that they can only offer a position beginning from August 06. NOT HAPPY especially as I have already spoken with my manager about returning to work in June. I complained to Asquith saying that I was under the impression that our place was finalised and the management actually agreed that I was correct in assuming this at the time but unfortunately they have not had the expected "drop out" rate which they usually factor into their bookings, and if anything the existing babies have increased their number of days plus there are a number of siblings starting and they get preference.

I have also looked at Teddies, Acol Nursery (run by Camden Council) and I am considering Chaston at West Hampstead. The only place that had spaces from June was Teddies but it is not terribly convenient. (Mind you, nor is Chaston! Note as well that Chaston West Hampstead's hours are 830am to 6pm; constrast Asquith which are 730am to 630pm - this really makes a difference to us as we both are city workers and don't want to be paying the exorbitant penalities for late pickup! More importantly nor do we want DS looking at the door wondering when Mummy or Daddy are going to come to get him ).

So rather than choosing a place based on my preference, it has become a desperate battle just to find somewhere that actually has availability!!! I am ending up placing non-refundable deposits at a variety of institutions just so there is a fall back! My advice would be to check out availability of nurseries in your area and put yourself down at a variety of places to give yourself the best options. Best of luck and hope you don't have the same nightmare that I am having!

PS Becster - Would love to hear your thoughts on Chaston West Hampstead ..........

heybaby, have you tried any of the nurseries near to where you work (if it's not in w/hampstead)?

Thanks Bundy for the suggestion. I have considered this but it really is a last resort mainly because I don't want to bring DS onto the sardine can that is the London underground (esp in peak time). Know what I mean? I also looked at nurseries around Baker St but the www.yell.co.uk returned a whole list of nurseries that cover the Baker St area rather than actual nurseries located within Baker St. Not that Baker St is that much more convenient ........

I know, it's a nightmare. Would it be Westminster or Camden there? both should have a list of registered nurseries. I work near Holborn and would have taken a place at work-subsidised nursery just up Kingsway if we hadn't got a place near to home. you could also get a list of registered childminders, many MNers speak very highly of theirs. or look for nanny shares on cards in newsagents.

My friends dd goes to Clowns nursery in Hampstead and she says it is really fab.

becster - what did you think of Chaston?

Oops sorry didn't see this - apologies George30 & HeyBaby! I liked Chaston very much from our little look around, but don't have anything to compare it to - we need to look at some other places before we make a final decision. Also we looked around after work, and I'd like to look at it when there are actually kids there. Our baby is due on May 30th, we're looking for a nursery place from October in West Hampstead. I know we're a bit early, but it sounds like we need to be...

HeyBaby - I'd be really annoyed by what happened to you, it's hard enough returning to work anyway without being let down like this! I won't bother looking at Asquith if I can't be sure I'll get the place I book, so thanks for telling your story!

Thank you. We had a similar problem to HeyBaby and have just accepted a place at Chaston for our little boy starting in April. We liked it when we looked round (obviously) but it is always nice to hear good things from other people. I have been terrified at making the wrong decision.

In our case Asquith said there would be a place in June (later than we wanted but OK) and then they rang mid-Jan to say they couldn't offer anything until August and nothing full time until September. Hopeless. I definitely agree that you should get your place sorted asap. I think we were lucky to find Chaston still with places.

This is v interesting. George30 -would still like to meet up next week? IT seems to me that a lot of nursery selection is totally personal pref as I have heard so many different views on the same nurseries from different mums! I guess every nursery is going to have pros and cons so depends on what is on your priority list ... Never going to find a perfect place...

George30 -when are you free next week?

I think that York Rise nursery, Rainbow and Rooftops all in Kentish Town are meant to be very good. These aren't daycare nurseries though (well Rooftops might be) - more pre-schools/nursery schools, so might not be available for full days. What hours are you looking for?

I live very near Baker STreet and looked into Nurseries for my ds1 when we moved here two years ago. I have to say that I am very very picky (I run my own nursery out in Essex) and could not find one I liked at all at first. Eventually, I found one I liked at West London Synagogue (called Beginnings) which he atteneded for about a year. I still had issues with them, though overall they were certainly the best I had seen and ds loved it there. This is probably not convenient for you (it is near MArble Arch if that helps).

Hi Heybaby. I am free on Wednesday and Friday this week if that's any good.

My sister just called and is now visiting on Wednesday but am still free Friday if that's any good.

George30 - We're actually away this week but next week is fine. Let me know what is good for you.

I'm not quite sure what is happening next week as I may be going into work. I am pretty sure I'll be able to meet on Wednesday though if that would be any good?

Just thought I'd let everyone know that I happened to look at the Ofsted website and noticed that Asquith at West Hampstead had a new inspection report. The last report was 2004 and there was a new Nov 2005 report. The 2004 report had appeared relatively good but after reading the 2005 report I am a bit concerned. It says that the centre only opened in 2004 (which probably is why the 2004 report is ok). However on a scale of outstanding, good, satisfactory and unsatisfactory, the Nov 2005 report is only "satisfactory". It also states that out of 25 staff only 15 hold appropriate qualifications however 8 are in the process of completing qualifications. But the worst part was that since the last inspection in 2004 there have been three formal complaints covering numerous areas. The report stated that Ofsted had investigated the complaints and together with the provider put together an action plan.

Ironically, due to some drop outs Asquith have now offered a place to us but after the whole registration mess compounded by the recent report, I have an uneasy feeling in my stomach.

I looked at the Chaston report but the problem is that the reports for 2004 seem to follow a different format and rating system to 2005 reports and Chaston's latest report is 2004. It also appears that the 2005 inspections are carried out by 2 inspectors at a time rather than 1.

In any case, I noticed that Happy Child Day Nursery in Kilburn had a recent report Oct 2005 and they received a "good" rating with glowing comments. Their nursery is a lot less convenient for us than Asquith but I think we will visit them this week to keep our options open.

BTW - George30 - Weds >230pm is good for me to meet up. Hopefully I will have visited Happy Child Day Nursery by then so can tell you my thoughts!

Thanks for all the info. We must be way down Asquith's list cos we still haven't got a place. We're quite wedded to Chaston now though so is probably for the best - have paid the deposit and agreed a start date.
We could meet on Wednesday around 10.30/11. Mornings are a bit tricky as Teds tends to nap for an hour and a half and then needs lunch at 12 which is not that portable (never thought I would miss breastfeeding!). You would be welcome to come up to us though which might make life a bit more relaxing. Up to you. My home email is [email protected] - if you send me your mobile number we can get in touch properly. Hopefully speak soon.

Bit late here but hope this helps. Asquiths didn't used to be asquiths (hence it says it opened in 2004) - new management in place since last inspection so difficult to go on ofsted and there's a new manager who's been there since the summer and has been making real effort to improve. Also remember some staff do not directly care for kids e.g. the cook etc. and someone correct me if I'm wrong but I think nurseries only required to have half their staff with early years qualifications. DD started in Sept and we have seen improvements - which I think is having knock on effect on places and availability. Ultimately is personal pref and what works for you/your child. I didn't like Chaston or teddies so was kind of our only option but not one I regret. A friend recommended one further up the finchley road (cherryfields???) but was a bit awkward travelling for me.

Appreciate it is horrible and stressful when you register/book and then they can't confirm or give you options that aren't much help but that seemed ot be the case with all the ones we looked at. Acol didn't even get back to me until last week (5 months after I returned to work) asking 'did I still want DD to be on the waiting list?'!!