Nurseries - Newton prep vs Marmalade Cat Post Reply

[Kim Wild]

Hello,
I hope to get your advice. We registered with the Marmalade Cat nursery sometime ago and this year received an offer for a place for sept 2017, when my child would be 3y old. We already paid the deposit etc so all confirmed. We have applied long ago for nursery place at Newton Prep, but never thought we will get a place there. We just received a letter and offer to start the nursery from Sept 2017.
Does anyone have an opinion on Marmalade Cat vs Newton prep nursery? I'm a very torn but know that NP has excellent facilities and teachers. Loosing the deposit for MC doesn't bother me i just want to take the right decision. I like both nurseries, so please help me. Thank you ! Both nurseries are 10min away from our home!

[oab]

You are very lucky, they are both excellent!

I would DEFINITELY take Newton Prep, because you will automatically get a place in Reception the year after.
That will save you and your little one having to go through assessments (which I think are a pain at the age of 3+, because so much depends on how they are on the day of the assessment).
Also Newton prep facilities are better I would say (bigger rooms, outside play area).

[hellokittyerw]

Both are great, but I'd say it depends on your plans for reception.

If you want a private primary that is coed, then Newton. Prep is one of the best around. And like the previous poster says, from nursery you progress to reception without an assessment - which is a big plus and pressure off ( I think for children who haven't been through their nursery there are something like 30 places available, so 15 joys and 15 girls - so a lot of competition for entry through assessment).

If you want state primary or single sex private primary (like eaton house for example), then both are great, maybe go with your gut feel.

I would really try to decide where you want your child to go to primary school (if you haven't already), I think this will in large part inform your decision.

[hellokittyerw]

Forgot to say that you should be able to organise last minute visits to both, if you think it would help.

[Kim Wild]

Thank you all for your kind messages. We already decided and NP it's our obvious choice. Not sure why you are saying that from nursery at Newton prep children automatically go to the reception/school as from what I have heard they have a lottery policy and no grantee for anyone...

[Kim Wild]

Also we registered very early on with Fulham Prep so unless they have too many siblings in sept 2018 we are most likely to get a place at the reception class. Newton prep and Fulham prep schools are both excellent. Not even sure, which one I would wanna go for if I get an offer from both.... But yes starting a nursery at NP it's the best start a child could get and maybe that would actually make our choice easier in the future.

[hellokittyerw]

Admission to nursery is by lottery, you are right.
Admission to reception from nursery: it says in their admissions policy "A child admitted to the
Nursery may expect to transfer to Reception the following September unless it becomes clear that such a
course is not in the child’s best interests."
http://www.newtonprepschool.co.uk/userf ... Policy.pdf

Maybe ask the registrar to confirm?

[Kim Wild]

I have checked aready their website and guidances and yes it seems most kids go directly to reception class from the Newton prep nursery. Very happy. And now knowing that we were chosen by lottery makes me feel lucky! Very excited about the nursery & the school