Reccomendations/views on nurseries in Highbury/Islington

[zeepee76]

Hi everyone,

New to these boards and hoping somebody out there can help me out.
I had my son in January this year, and am starting the ball rolling in thinking about getting him a place in a nursery come Jan/Feb 2011. I've located a few local nurseries, Higbury New Park Montessori, Highbury Community Nursery, and Little Angels. Does any one have experience of these places? Can you give me some insight and views on them? I work near London Bridge so will be commuting down Upper St/Essex Rd way....so any other nurseries in that part of town which you'd recommend, I'd love to know...
Thanks

Hi,

My daughter goes to New North Communnity Nursery just off Essex Road. It's a really nice nursery and the baby room (0-2 years) just takes 6 children, so it's hard to get a place but it's nice once you get there! Also there's New River, off Essex Road further east, which is very popular indeed as it has a really big outside play area and a good reputation for staff.

These two are children's centres, so the places are means tested by income.

The Grove, off New North Road towards Old Street, is very well spoken of, but expensive.

I would just say as a small note of warning, that my daughter started at 15 months and found the first six weeks extremely bewildering. Although the staff do their best, your child will simply never get as much attention as they would from yourself or a childminder or nanny. They simply have to fit in with the nursery structure. They get a key worker, but in reality I don't think my daughter spends more time with her key worker than with any other staff member. So there will be times when your child is, say, being clunked over the head by another child and it takes a few minutes for anyone to notice. You just need to be okay with that scenario. It took me a while to wrestle with that once I realised what the reality is. Thankfullly, my daughter now seems to like nursery (she's been there 5 months) and gets excited about going there.

Okay that's it! Good luck with your search.

Hi there,

I ended up going for a nursery near where I lived (Independent Place, in Dalston, and I love it) but I investiagted loads in the Islington area and have friends with babies in Highbury nurseries.

Whatever you choose it is much better to have a nursery as close to your home as possible. I do 5 days work a week and I would struggle if I had gone for any of the options nearer to my work.

A few friends use the Grove and I have to say I have never, ever heard a negative word, but yes they are expensive.

Another friend uses Conewood, a new community nursery in Highbury and loves it. It is brand new so is really clean and spanking and very cheap! You just have to hlep them out from time to time (my friend does their legal work as part of the deal). Maybe do a visit.

Another friend uses Little Angels and is always moaning about them, but they sound great to me (they didn't charge her for a bank holiday when she made a fuss, even though it is standard, and when her son got chickenpox and she didn't get him for 5 hours, they were OK about it...they sound almost too nice!).

My little boy is 18 months and has been in full time nursery (5 days, 9-6) since he was
12 months. We needed the cash of my well-paid job so we can have number two (due in Nov). I have to say that I have never regretted it. His keyworker adores him and I feel like he is really well looked after. In fact, she is going part time to come and work for us come November, to help out with my second. Nursery, when you get the right one, is ace.