So I had one child at Mouse House and one at Noah's Ark so I can't answer your question directly, but having experienced nurseries with both kids from a young age, I would go for a morning session. Kids are less tired and more open to new experiences in the morning - especially if this is the first time they are going to nursery, you will find they will settle much easier with a morning session, and they can get home and have a nap after. You might find they are more likely to nap for the first few weeks after starting nursery - it's such an overwhelming experience for them, they get shattered. For example, my daughter had dropped her nap by the time she started at a nursery school, but ended up returning to napping at lunch time (often in the buggy on the way back) in the first couple of months.

Mouse House is a great nursery, I am sure comparable to Marmalade Cat. So is Noah's Ark and much cheaper than Mouse House - the only reason we went with Mouse House for number 2 is because it's a lot closer to us, which makes a big difference once you have two kids to go to two different places. I can't say I personally loved MH staff and management - their attitude was often "taken it or leave it", and I felt they weren't very "customer-focused" in their approach. However, the staff who worked there were amazing, and my child adored it and had a great time. I think staff turnover can be quite random - it could be a couple of people leaving for personal reasons in close succession, plus, it is quite demanding work!

Best of luck,
M 

Hi,
Just reading this chat with lots of interest and wondering what you decided to do in the end? Did you go for Marmelade Cat or Mouse House? I have an afternoon slot at Marmelade Cat and a morning slot at Mouse House. Very keen to hear more recent experiences.

Thank you!

Hello! Just reading this page and all comments and it's very interesting. I was wondering if anyone has fresh feedback. Same situation, I've been offered an afternoon place both at Mouse House and Marmalade Cats and I need to decide. Thanks in advance!!

We liked mouse hole but there was a large turnover of staff, but now in mouse house and really like it. Having done afternoon sessions previously have to say that mornings really are the best for children no matter what people say and if I had my choice all over again I would choose wherever I got mornings. Both nurseries are excellent and your child will be happy in either.

Thanks so much mummy in cj, that is really helpful.
x

My eldest went to Mouse House and youngest to Marmalade Cat (with an afternoon place). For me Marmalade Cat wins hands down. It is smaller and more nurturing. Mouse House has a high staff turnover and is run like a business.

Also MC are very flexible and let you choose which days you want them to do when they are "kittens" if you have an afternoon place (once you see the timetable - so for example you can pick ballet on Wednesday or French on Thursday). It also means you can build up how many afternoons they do, which is great if you have a younger child. We have a summer baby and found 3 days worked best for him, but other autumn children built up to more days.

Don't be put off my an afternoon place. If your child still naps you can move them to an earlier nap before nursery or do a catch up on their day off nursery. Also they will drop their nap at some point in nursery.

I read this threat with interest, just wondered whether anyone had any other recent insights on the Marmalade Cat vs Mousehouse debate? I heard that there was increased staff turnover recently at Mouse House, is this still the case? We have been lucky enough to get offers for both but have to pay a huge deposit to secure the offer for both in the next week so have to make a quick decidion...
Thank you!

I have friends with children at both nurseries and both are great, so really if I were you I would put it down to whether a morning place suits you better than afternoons, and which one is closest to your house. My children both sleep at lunch and so an afternoon place would have been a struggle. But you may find that you get offered a morning place once term has started, so if MC is closer to you and therefore more convenient then it might be worth giving afternoons a go.

I am a nanny and i have looked after children who have gone to mouse house and marmalade cat... obviously you know your child and will choose the nursery that will suit your child most. They are both good nurseries but i do have a personal preference towards marmalade cat!

We've been very happy with Mouse House. Equally people I know have been very happy with Marmalade Cat. It's a personal decision really, suggest you ask to go and look at them both again to get a feel. One of my children did two years at mouse house and started in the afternoons - it was actually a real struggle for him (he was 2 turning 3)as he got so so tired. The next year he got
A morning slot which was much better although a year older he would have coped better. I guess you know your child best as to whether an afternoon would work and whether it fits your routine.

My dd had an afternoon place at Marmalade Cat - and although at the time thought a morning one would be better, i quickly realised that actually worked really well. She had dropped her nap very early - so she was always at her best in the morrning - we filled our mornings with jobs, going to the playground -music classes and i went to Virgin Clapham old town at the time so i would go to a class and she would have an hour in the creche.
We had friends at both nurseries though and all had very happy experiences.

Hello

We got offered a morning place at Mouse house and an afternoon place at Marmalade cat. Which one should we choose?
From the posts on NVN, i get the feeling both are quite good...Marmalade cat seems perhaps more popular but then an afternoon place is less desirable than a morning one..
Any advice?

thanks a lot!