Abacus vs Asquith Nurseries in Balham Post Reply

[pieinthesky14]

Hi

Does anyone have little one's at either of these nurseries? Both have been recommended to me.

I have been on the Abacus website and the links are not correct (ie does not link to fees or correct ofsted report) - is that a bad sign of attention to detail or am I just paranoid? - I have also heard its very good...

I will be looking to put my daughter in full time, 4 days a week in July - so its not a small question as I want to be sure! My first step is to ask some mums...

Really keen for some "mum" feedback here... can anyone help me out? or offer any other good nurseries to look into...

Thanks...

[AbbevilleMummy]

I can recommend Abacus, my daughter went there for a while.

It is very small which I liked and all of the staff members have been there for years, which is very rare for nurseries.

Their admin is rubbish however, they didn't charge me for ages and in the end I had to tell them that I hadn't paid anything and work out how much I owed them myself. But at the end of the day, the fact that they seem to forget they are running a business is not my problem and the attention everyone paid my daughter was amazing.

I can't remember the exact fees, but I do remember that they are very reasonable. You can find their ofsted report on the ofsted website and I think they are rated as outstanding.

Good luck finding the right nursery for you

[pieinthesky14]

thanks for your reply... sounds like my household.. not idea about the admin, but she is happy LOL

I am just in bits about letting her go to a nursery.. first time mum. you would think I was the only one in the world who has had a baby and had to put her into nursery...

Thanks again

[AbbevilleMummy]

I completely understand, I was exactly the same.

I have visited them all and hated most of them. In the end I went with a nanny share as I couldn't bear leaving my 9mth old in a nursery.

She went to Abacus for a couple of months when she was about 18 months as I had to drop out of the share just before I went back on maternity leave with my 2nd and she thrived there.

You just have to trawl round them all and find the one that feels right for you. Or do what I did and find another option until they are a little bit older.

Good luck x

[ellta]

My 3 year old is at the asquith nursery and has been since she was 9 months old. We are really happy with it. It is friendly, caring and has a nice atmosphere. She loves it. She's been off for the last couple of weeks for Christmas ands has been asking to go for the last couple of days. Ivor a high five this morning because I told her she was going tomorrow.

Completely understand all your worries about leaving your little one- I cried for weeks before she started nursery. But soon you realise you miss them more than they miss you and they really do benefit in so many ways (I think) from the interaction with others. Good luck with your decision. Leaving them does get easier (although never easy!)

[ellta]

Sorry for spelling mistakes! Ivor was I got- iPhone autocorrect!

[pieinthesky14]

oh boy, I cried just reading this...! Im sure she will be fine (aka I hope I will be fine) - and you're right, just by looking at her - she will love it! Thanks SO so much for your reply..!
I thought last night how funny it was that I thought this would be Easy peasy! No explaining a mothers bond in the books I read pre- pregnancy!

thanks again... x

[pieinthesky14]

Any other Nurseries around Balham that anyone can recommend I would be grateful.

I rang one today (will not say who) and they were actually quiet rude, almost like they were doing me a favour even speaking to me! "we have no vacancies and you will be waiting a long time for one.."

I know there are waiting lists at some places - but manners - please LOL

A

[ellta]

Oh dear- I hope it wasn't Asquith because I can't say enough about how nice all the staff are! Good luck!

[pieinthesky14]

Oh no, it was def not asquith.. ! Thanks!!

[audrey]

Was it by any chance BN? Because it would coincide with my experience back in the summer when I was looking as well....

[pieinthesky14]

No it was not, but I have spoken to a few people and get the feeling that its common for popular nurseries to be quite "frank" when they are busy.

I don't think I will take it personally, but if I let my staff run my business with that attitude, im pretty sure there would not be much of a business not matter how good they were LOL

[dailymail]

Hello. I found this post interesting as I too am deliberating over the two nurseries for my daughter. I've looked at both and there seem to be pros and cons of both, but I've noticed that Asquith is quite a lot more expensive - is because they have a bigger site/garden and slightly longer opening hours? While price certainly ins't my top priority, it's sadly not something I can completely ignore either. My daughter will be one when she joins so it's the facilities/care of babies that I'm most interested in. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

[annamike]

Abacus is the best palce on earth where your kids could be. I have had my two boys there (one still going) and they have both been superhappy. True admin is not good and you need to find your own way to pay at the end of the month. However, we have been to other (more expensive) nurseries where admin was rubbish and people not as nice as in Abacus. Staff at Abacus been there for a long time as it is a good place to work and they make the kids feel home..

[pieinthesky14]

I have gone with asquith. I really liked the place - and grounds! they were wonderful when I sniffed my way around the place feeling overwhelmed that my baby was ready to go to nursery. I have heard abacus is lovely too - and thought it was a great place - so it has to come down to what works for you and your family.

Good luck x