Fortis Green Nursery or Woodside Avenue Montessori

[LisaDrew]

Hi, I have to choose between Fortis Green Nursery in Muswell Hill and the Montessori Nursery on Woodside Avenue in Highgate for a 2 year old. Has anyone had experience of either or both?

Hi there,

I know this is an oldish post but I wondered which you went for and how its going. I am deciding between Fortis Green Nursery and Active Learning in Crouch End, we are also on the waiting list for the Nursery Montessouri. I think I prefer Fortis Green but it closes at 5.30pm which makes it a little impractical when and if I go back to work!

I would love to know your thoughts.

Thanks, Alice

Hi there,

My child attends Active Learning Crouch End,this nursery is amazing the management and staff are fantastic ,very friendly and my child is very happy and loves going to nursery.
The open hours work really well

I know this is probably redundant now but I have just had a pretty poor experience with Woodside Avenue - if anyone out there is considering it. The staff were sweet but I felt very under pressure to leave him and GET OUT - and my 2 y.o was very very traumatised by being left on his own. I cant even go to the loo now without him beginning to gasp his way into a fit. His reactions
changed my mind promptly and I gave notice after leaving him just twice at this nursery because they weren't open to me staying until he was calmer and I felt ready to leave - and it has cost me VERY dearly. I have to pay for the 8 week notice period despite my child not even having gone through a week of care. I don't deny that this is their rule but my experience of nursery with my previous child was nothing like this and I am left feeling like they are all about money.

Argent, that sounds awful. It's so important for the staff to be flexible with the settling in process as each child is different. On the other hand, yes they do have experience & they can suggest things, but ultimately the parent has to agree & feel confident with these decisions!! It seems you were forced to do something which didn't feel right to you at the time

I commiserate with Argent's experience but have to say mine has been very different. I and my daughter are loving the Woodside Avenue nursery. She's been going there for 3 months and this week began to be quite fearful of being left there alone, so today I spent three hours sitting in with her again and no one was anything but supportive.

We didn't choose Active Learning because the atmosphere is quite hectic and I felt it may not be right for a child that is maybe a bit shy.

Hope that helps!