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Preschool education

Get advice from other Mumsnetters to find the best nursery for your child on our Preschool forum.

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Original poster

northbridge house nursery - new head

22 replies

sheepcat · 18/11/2013 13:49

hello, considering sending DS1 to Northbridge House nursery after positive feedback from parents. however I have heard that pastoral care throughout the rest of the school and the teaching isn't quite what it was, and that the school overall is getting too big. any thoughts on this and the new head?

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JazzyHunt · 04/02/2014 21:05

Met the new Head today - not quite sure what to make of the change and if it's just me but things seem to be slipping. I don't get the same feeling that things are alright with North Bridge House Junior and the leadership change. Re-assured some experienced staff remain but the stable and caring atmosphere seems to have gone. Starting to have doubts - please reassure me I'm not getting it and it is all fine.

Americanhoney · 06/02/2014 19:02

We are thinking of whether to send DD2 there so it would also be good to hear any thoughts on the nursery and school from other parents. JazzyHunt, what in particular concerned you? I really liked the nursery/junior school and in particular it's relaxed atmosphere when we visited.

JazzyHunt · 09/02/2014 15:08

Hi Americanhoney - my worry is that the school is losing it pastoral ethos and becoming more of a Cognita business asset. I sensed the focus has shifted from NBH Junior and Nursery caring for my DC , looking to fulfill potential giving adequate time and consideration, to it becoming a franchise. My DC loves the staff and the friendly atmosphere in the class, but I am concerned that the owners are pulling in one direction, profit, whilst the special 'something' of its independent charm is waning. I know the new head came in from another Cognita school and it is early days, but I thought there was little wrong previously and I now get less of a warm feeling.

Steppenwolf · 10/02/2014 22:59

Northbridge House has dreadful pastoral care. My daughter had to leave because of persistent bullying.

Original poster

sheepcat · 15/02/2014 10:03

Hi Steppenwolf. That's awful. Which part of the school was she in and when did it happen?

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NW3mama · 24/02/2014 15:17

Such a shame Steppenwolf :( My son is 3 and a bit and we were really keen on North Bridge House for nursery and i just didn't get a great feeling about the place. We then went to Keren's in Belsize Park for a short while and it was dreadful - there were new teachers coming and going every other week. I started talking to another mummy in the Primrose Hill playground one day and she recommended St. Mark's nursery in St. Mark's Square (right by Primrose Hill). It wasn't easy getting a place but we got in and it has been an incredible experience for us. My little one has been there a year now and bounds in to nursery every day. Super warm and has a very loving atmosphere. The Headmistress is very well known among the 'big' schools in North London too and seems to get kids into their first choice for prep schools. We're in the middle of the admissions process now.

Original poster

sheepcat · 25/02/2014 20:11

Hello - would love to hear from mums who have recently started at NBH playgroup or nursery. I have friends whose children are or have been at NBH from playgroup onwards and were very happy. Does anyone share the more negative views??

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Daisycat0208 · 20/03/2014 13:06

I have no experience with the nursery but feel the junior school is inadequate. From relatives experience a teacher invited herself on holiday with them! They additionally failed to report or offer extra support to a child whom was academically behind his chronically age standard in English (we had them independently tested to confirm our fears). Perhaps this is standard of the middle stream classes? or a school not doing it's job adequately.

We got tutoring and got out. I would not recommend this school to anyone. I feel profits are the only thing they care about certainly not standards or pastoral care.

LensPens · 27/03/2014 14:08

hi. sorry to hijack thread but reckon there might be some crossover - does anyone have any recent experience of Broadhurst school?

teacherlikesapples · 28/03/2014 17:40

LensPens- is your priority pastoral care or academic achievement?

Sleepwhenidie · 28/03/2014 17:45

I don't know too much about NBH nursery but if you are looking at alternatives then as well as St Marks, Ready Steady Go is an amazing nursery (Camden/Primrose Hill or St Johns Wood).

Vivisal · 25/12/2014 01:40

It's a bit worrying to have read all these reviews about NBH. After our visit we thought it was a lovely school with a good balance of care and academic push.
Are there parents here with their child in nursery? Would love to hear from you.

googlesmom · 31/01/2015 22:36

hey all, i know it has been a while on this thread but wanted to check if anyone has any new update on NBH for nursery... TIA

eliravel · 10/02/2015 19:13

Hi all, can we have some feedbacks from Mums with children in NB House? My daughter will start tentatively in september. thank you very much, i am a bit worried reading these comments.

AussieMum71 · 28/02/2015 13:55

I can speak for the nursery or junior school however my children are at the prep school and I couldn't be happier. The majority of teachers are excellent!

AussieMum71 · 28/02/2015 13:55

Sorry, that should have said 'can't speak for the nursery...'

AussieMum71 · 28/02/2015 13:56

Sorry, that should have said 'can't speak for the nursery...'

AmySilverston · 16/04/2015 22:14

Taking a broader view and looking to life after nursery school, this article on the My Tufnell Park web site may be of interest:

mytufnellpark.com/topic/34-surely-it%E2%80%99s-better-to-go-private-than-risk-the-local-comprehensive/

mumlivinginNW6 · 16/10/2015 20:25

Hello! Similarly also keen to see if there are any parents with kids at Northbridge House (3-7) as considering it for my little one. Keen to understand whether there is an issue with staff turnover (it didn't feel very warm when we were there) and whether the school is nurturing / focused on the child's development? Slightly worried that it is focused on making profits?

Lelebibi · 14/01/2016 17:56

I have recently confirmed my daughter at the nursery as I was delighted to meet with the children at the school's open day.
I have interviewed 10-15 parents after school and they all loved the school. Their results to entrance exams are great with the benefit of being guaranteed a place until children are 18.
On the other side, visited many others that did not feel as well run, at least to me.
If anyone wants to share their feedback on the school, you are welcome!

AnotherNewt · 14/01/2016 18:04

Could you confirm in what capacity you were interviewing parents?

It sounds a tad more formal than just chatting to other new parents.

MaxRobespierre · 27/03/2016 11:54

Our children attended NBH from yr 3 (Frognal) to yr 8 (Camden), and frankly it was a very disappointing experience.

We would have loved to move them elsewhere earlier on but did not want to jump ship & unsettle them on their prep for secondary schools.

The quality of teaching fluctuated from teacher to teacher (logical) but a) there were many more downs than ups & b) the school did nothing to address these.
Facilities are poor, with hardly any investment.
No Sports strategy & facilities: Regent's Park might be 300 yrds away & NBH might claim to make use of it, but NBH is bottom of the league (humbling beatings) in pretty much any sports activity vs their peer school. That's the measure of things.

At the bottom of this there is one reason: P&L. Cognita is more focused on profit for owners than on children's education. Below 2011 article on another Cognita school reflects 100% our views on 2016 NBH.

www.theguardian.com/education/2011/apr/10/private-firm-profits-free-schools

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