10 Best Independent Nurseries in North London

Deciding on a nursery for your child can be daunting as it’s a big first step in their school journey. To help we’ve put together a list of our top 10 independent nurseries in North London. They’re all rated outstanding or good by Ofsted are popular with parents in the area.

Perhaps you’ve just moved to the North or Northwest London area? If so you may be looking for a round up of great nursery schools for your child to get you started.

10 Best Independent Nurseries in North London

Below is our list of the top 10 private nurseries in North London. They’re all rated Outstanding or Good by Ofsted and are popular with parents in the North London area.

We’ve also included a wide range of approaches to early years education so that hopefully you can find one that fits best for you.  

Nursery school is your child’s first experience of education (and often their first time away from you). So you want to get it right. But where do you start? Here are some factors you may want to consider:

Preparing Your Child for the 4+ or 7+ Assessments

Pre-preparatory (4-7 years) and preparatory (7-13 years) schools in London are often selective. This means that they assess children before they offer them a place.

The age of intake is usually either at 4 or 7 years old, which is why you’ve probably heard of the 4+ and 7+ assessments. There are also a few schools that assess children a year later at 5 or at 8 years old instead.

Depending on the school, the competition for spaces can be high. If you have your heart set on your child attending a high performing Preparatory School then this is a factor to consider when selecting a Nursery School for them too.

Montessori Based Learning

Another important consideration when choosing a nursery schools is what learning method you prefer your child to start with.

The most well-known is the Montessori Method of Education which has become hugely popular over the last 100 years, in particular for the early years education.

The Montessori Method is a child-centred approach to education. The child chooses what they wish to learn, at which point during the day.

It also teaches independence by having a classroom set up in such a way that little children can reach shelves to take out and put back toys on their own. There is a focus on elements such as life skills and learning how to do everyday tasks.

While these methods may sound less traditional, over the years they have had some great results in terms of children’s interest in and ability to learn.

As a result many of the nursery schools in the below list incorporate elements of the Montessori Method to their daily learning. Some have it as a stronger influence than others, so this may be something else you wish to consider.

At these schools, children play and learn through outdoor projects, all day long.

Best Newcomer

It’s rare to be able to present such a great newcomer to a list of the best north London nursery schools. With stunning facilities and high standards, they’re a great option for North London parents. They even have a parent’s cafe where they offer coffee at drop off.

Broadhurst School (Hampstead)

This is a small, cosy but highly sought after nursery for children aged 2-4. When they start at age 2 children stay for 3 hours either in the morning or the afternoon. After the first year children move up to full day sessions of 6 hours.

The children are introduced to pre-reading and pre-writing skills and begin practical numeracy. It teaches first phonics and numbers at an early age through play-based learning.

The school also offers a wide range of stimulating activities, including music, yoga, drama, art and craft, free play and stories. There’s also a beautiful outdoor playground full of play equipment, where they can play each break time. 

4+ Assessments

Broadhurst has an excellent reputation for preparing children for North London 4+ assessments for highly selective prep schools. This preparation means that the nursery day is quite structured.

After some free play there is table time where children work in small groups with their teachers. They practice a range of skills including developing literacy and numeracy through fun and interactive activities.

How to Apply

There is a huge demand for places and, if you want to apply then it’s recommended you do so ‘at the earliest stage of pregnancy’.

The morning spaces are like gold dust and go really quickly. So if you can, put your child’s name down before the end of your first trimester!

Missed that deadline? There’s also a waiting list so it’s still worth applying in case a space becomes available.

Clowns Nursery (Golders Green)

Clowns Nursery is a very popular day nursery and school that can take babies from as young as 6 months old, all the way up to 5 years old.

As opposed to just being open during term time, Clowns also offers holiday programmes too, which are ideal for working parents. These holiday programmes mean that the school is open for 48 weeks of the year.

During term time parents can also choose to have their children at the school from 8am-6pm if they wish. They offer a range of after school activities within the school, so that children can do all their clubs such as music, PE and drama on the premises after the school hours. 

It’s set in a beautiful, large building with a large outdoor garden, packed full of fun play equipment and activities. 

History

The school was set up by Tracy Landy and started off as a tiny day nursery run at her own home. Today it is a busy and vibrant large nursery for babies from 6 months to children up to age 5.

Even though it has grown a great deal since then, the family feel and personal touch Tracy is so passionate about is still evident.

It has an excellent reputation and was recently voted outstanding by OFSTED.

Manor House and Clowns Preschool

Clowns is divided into three main centres:

Day Nursery (6 months – 2 yrs)

The year after children turn 2, they will then progress to one of the two sections of the school:

Clowns Pre-school (2-5 yrs): this has a freer curriculum and is more for children who are entering non-selective primary schools where there is no assessment process. It has a well rounded range of activities.

Manor House (2-4 yrs): this is for children who are sitting for the 4+ assessments to independent schools. It focuses on the development of each child and has a more structured learning plan.

Admissions

Early registration is advised to get a place and specify which of the 2 schools you will prefer (Manor House or Clowns Pre-School). If you do receive an offer make sure to clarify whether you got your preferred choice as they are different sides of the school.

Oak Tree Nursery, Devonshire House School (Hampstead)

This is a nursery which is on the grounds of (and is a part of) the much larger Devonshire House Preparatory School. It takes children from 2½ years old for either morning, afternoon or full day sessions. 

The nursery offers lots of opportunities for free play as well as structured times to follow the nursery curriculum. This includes music sessions, weekly PE lessons and Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE) lessons where they encourage children to talk about and think about their feelings.

Admissions

Children start Oak Tree nursery at 2½ years of age when they’re nappy free. Places are offered subject to an observed play session. Priority is given to siblings but there are spaces for new families too.

Newcomers start at two points during the academic year. Children with birthdays from September to March start the September following their second birthday. And those with birthdays from April to August begin in the January following their second birthday.

After the Nursery years, pupils automatically continue on to the Pre-Prep Devonshire House school. Children can join Devonshire House Pre-Prep from other schools at 4+ but entry at this point is subject to assessment.

North London Forest School Nursery (Hampstead)

There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.

This is a Norwegian saying and one that certainly stands up when it comes to forest schools. These outdoor nursery school settings are growing in popularity, especially in urban cities.

How It Works

Each day the children are taken to a local outdoor area. From November to April this is often on Hampstead Heath.

Here they are set activities, such as building dens, catching rain water and making animal pictures from sticks. From April to November the school camps out in Belsize Wood nature reserve unless the weather prevents it.

Being outdoors and using natural materials they find doesn’t mean that the children are not learning. Quite the opposite. They might count out pine cones, write out letters using sticks in the mud. It’s learning through play on a big level. All in the great outdoors.

The school covers traditional curriculum of literacy and mathematics but in a practical, hands on way.

Term Times and Hours

The Forest School offers Morning sessions from 8:30-12 noon, Afternoon sessions from 12.30-4pm or all day sessions from 8:30am-4pm.

The North London Forest School was rated outstanding by OFSTED and ever more local parents love the idea of outdoor learning.

Northbridge House Nursery & Pre-Prep (Hampstead)

Northbridge House is a co-educational school that starts at 2 years of age with the Nursery, and moves on all the way up to 16 years of age in Hampstead, and 18 years of age in Canonbury.

One of the words that leaps out whenever you hear parents talking or writing about this nursery is ‘happy’.

The welcome starts before your child begins, with parent and child sessions running throughout spring and summer terms. New starters can become familiar with the school and staff, making their first day at nursery much less daunting. There’s a wealth of positive and fun learning experiences, which children (and parents) love. It’s another nursery backed up by an outstanding school inspection report.

Admissions

You can apply online and you must do so by a deadline which is about 10 months before the year your child will begin. The Nursery is non-selective but if your child applying for entry at Pre-Reception level and after, they will be asked to attend a short interview.

Whether you’re thinking ahead and want to give your child the best chance of getting into a top prep school or are looking for a nursery with a gentler and more play centred approach, we hope this list gives you a helpful rundown. And makes your decision a little easier.