Active Learning Finchley (London) is part of the Bright Horizons portfolio, which received the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (ROSPA) award in April 2018.
This purpose-built facility sitting in a lovely leafy part of North Finchley. This light spacious building is fitted with specialist studios, Performing Arts and Music (for drama, general dance, ballet, street dance, music, yoga), a fabulous fully equipped Art Studio, and Science and IT (with interactive whiteboards, individual computer terminals, pre school Science lab equipment, and more). For younger babies, they have their own special haven in the form of Active Senses
The nursery has an amazing and large garden at the rear where children can play sports, drive bikes on a ‘real’ road with traffic lights and enjoy all sorts of sensory experiences.
Active Learning Finchley (London) is registered for ninety-six children and with a dedicated team of specialist teachers in the studios who are supernumerary to all the wonderful nursery mentors, children are nurtured and looked after as unique and individual children.
Group: Bright Horizons Family Solutions
Person in charge: Poppy Ellis (Nursery Manager)
Local Authority / Social Services: London Borough of Barnet Council
Number of Staff: 37
Service Offered: Day Nursery (Privately Owned), Open all year, Full Day Care, Sessional Day Care
Total Places for Children: 96
Age Range: from 0 years 3 months to 5 years 0 months
Opening Days: Mon-Fri
Opening Hours: 0730-1830
When Closed: Bank Holidays & Christmas
The Review Score of 8 (maximum of 10) for Active Learning Finchley (London) is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.
a) The Average Rating is 4.6 out of 5 from 21 Reviews over all time. This Average Rating is also the rating value for Active Learning Finchley (London) in Google's Search Results - more info
b) The score for the number of positive Reviews is 3.4 out of 5 from 2 positive Reviews in the last 12 months.
a) 5 Points are available for the Average Rating of all Reviews over all time. For each review the Day Nursery / service is rated Excellent, Good, Satisfactory, Poor or Very Poor on a number of areas eg Staff, Management etc. The Day Nursery receives points for each rating as follows: Excellent = 5. Good = 4. Satisfactory = 3. Poor = 2. Very Poor = 1. These points are added up and then divided by the total number of completed ratings to generate the average rating.
The Average Rating of 4.633 for Active Learning Finchley (London) is calculated as follows: ( (182 Excellents x 5) + (54 Goods x 4) + (8 Satisfactorys x 3) + (6 Poors x 2) + (1 Very Poors x 1) ) ÷ 251 Ratings = 4.633
b) 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 12 months. If there are no Positive Reviews in the last 12 months, then 2.5 points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 2 years. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with 'Extremely Likely' or 'Likely' in answer to the question 'How likely are you to recommend this Day Nursery to friends and family?'
The 5 points available are broken down as follows:
4 points are available for the first 5 Positive Reviews, 3 points for the first Positive Review and then 0.25 Points for each of the next 4 Positive Reviews.
1 point is available for reaching a target number of Positive Reviews based on 20% of the number of registered maximum number of service users. If the target is partially reached then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery with 50 registered maximum number of service users has a target of 10 Positive Reviews, if it has 10 or more Positive Reviews it will receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews will receive 0.7 points.
If there are no Positive Reviews in the last 12 months, then 2.5 points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 2 years. The calculation is the same as above, except the points are divided by 2.
The 3.354 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Active Learning Finchley (London) is based on 2 positive Reviews in the last 12 months and is calculated as follows:
3 + 0.25 = 3.25
Target of 19.2 positive Reviews (96 registered maximum number of service users ÷ 5). 2 Reviews ÷ 19.2 Target = 0.104
When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
Active Learning Finchley (London) has a Review Score of 8 (7.987)
Review submitted from a Postal Card by Z H (Mother of Child) on Thursday 27 July 2017. Relates to July 2017.
My daughter started attending this nursery from the age of 9 months. As a first time mother, I was nervous about returning to work. However, from the moment she started to settle in all my worries were gone and she has been totally happy there ever since. The staff are all dedicated, professional and committed to the children's learning and well-being. The handover at the end of the day is extremely personalised- my daughter's key worker always knows the little things that make her who she is. She has already learnt so much there and I'm excited to see her continue to flourish there.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Extremely Likely
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Review submitted from a Postal Card by Joelle C (Mother of Child) on Thursday 8 June 2017. Relates to April 2017.
My second child is now at Active Learning and loves it, just as much as my first child did.
She has so much to keep her busy and had developed so much since she started in January.
It's great to know I can drop her off knowing she will be well cared for and is having fun.
The staff are great.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Extremely Likely
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Review submitted from a Postal Card by M B (Mother of Child) on Wednesday 17 May 2017. Relates to May 2017.
My son is really enjoying being there. When he started at the nursery, I was worried about him.
After a while, I saw how he is happy there.
ACL really looks after all children. All staff focus on the children with interest.
There is a big garden and they do a lot of outside activities.
Also, their food is great, ACL gives lots of different foods.
My son goes to language and speech therapy, and ACL is really helpful about language and speech.
I can see how he's improving his speech day by day.
All I can say is 'Thank you ACL Finchley'.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Extremely Likely
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Review submitted from a Postal Card by Tracey R (Mother of Child) on Tuesday 11 April 2017. Relates to March 2017.
My baby really enjoyed her first session at Active Learning Finchley. They had so many activities and she really loved taking part in the painting activity overall the staff are very welcoming and warm.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Extremely Likely
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Review submitted from a Postal Card by S K (Mother of Child) on Tuesday 4 April 2017. Relates to March 2017.
My son has a wonderful time at nursery. Most recently he has watched ducklings hatch from eggs. He comes home from nursery telling me all their names and that they are growing. He is always telling me what he has learnt. He especially enjoys his art lessons. He was very proud of the pictures he took and now knows hoe to operate our camera at home. He has extended this at home and wants to do this all the time. When he started he was very shy, but with each room all the nursery nurses have been very supportive with all areas of development. I am extremely happy with Active Learning and would highly recommend to friends and family.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Extremely Likely
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Review submitted from a Postal Card by N E (Mother of Child) on Tuesday 4 April 2017. Relates to March 2017.
We have had a brilliant experience of the nursery. Our child has an amazing time in the baby room. The staff are excellent and he has learned and developed in leaps and bounds. Our son has recently moved up into the toddler room and has settled very well within a week. The staff are brilliant and very welcoming. They plan a variety of activities everyday. The activities are fun and educational. They go in the garden as often as they can, depending on the weather. I could not be a happier parent.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Extremely Likely
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Review submitted from a Postal Card by V E (Mother of Child) on Tuesday 4 April 2017. Relates to March 2017.
I love this nursery. My child is so happy she runs in through the door and starts her day. She especially enjoys sessions where she gets to do something practical like sports or playing drump. She has loved watching the ducklings grow. The manager sent out daily newsletters so we could talk about it at home. At the moment she is enjoying letters, the children are doing phonics and she comes home singing songs which I am told are helping her learn sounds. The staff from the baby room up have all been wonderful and she bonded with her key person in each room well. Love this nursery.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Extremely Likely
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Review submitted from a Website Submission by A D (Mother of Child) on Thursday 16 March 2017. Relates to December 2016.
Our experience of the baby room was very positive. The staff were focused and caring and made the effort to get to know our child. Unfortunately, within 2 months he moved to the toddler room which was very different. One of the most disappointments was that the garden was poorly utilised and not consistent with the 'policy' for outdoor play. Often being told that they had not been outdoors for 2 whole days in a row with poor excuses being given by staff, especially during a dry summer.
Given this nursery has the best outdoor space of all the nurseries in the area, we found this unacceptable. Raising this with management had little or no impact. We felt that staff in the toddler room were not motivated as after 5 months our son had not settled. The joining up of the toddler and baby room at the start and end of each day creates a very chaotic and unsettling atmosphere for the children and it often seemed there were insufficient resources available to manage the mix of children.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Unlikely
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Marketa Cardon, Mrkg at Active Learning Finchley (London) responded to this review on 28 Mar 2017:
Thank you for your comments about our nursery, we really appreciate that you have taken time out to share your feedback. Our team is totally committed to continually provide naturally inspiring environments in which children can flourish. We embrace the importance of the outdoors and I can ensure you that our garden is being used by all group ages throughout the day, at all weathers.
The younger children usually go out early in the morning each day on hot, summer days but they can also wear wetsuits, allowing them to enjoy outdoors even on a rainy day out.
I would really appreciate if you would be happy speak to us, so the areas you have mentioned can be discussed and we can have an opportunity to address any of your comments. Alternatively, you can contact us via ukfeedback@brighthorizons.com Leave your contact details, and the Regional Manager would be happy to talk to you and offer further insight.
Review submitted from a Website Submission by Julia (Mother of Child) on Wednesday 15 March 2017. Relates to February 2017.
This is a great nursery with a huge curriculum covering languages, the arts and sport. They have a wonderful outside space which the kids love. My son has thrived in this environment and the teachers are wonderfully loving and supportive.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Extremely Likely
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Review submitted from a Website Submission by Bina P (Mother of Child) on Wednesday 15 March 2017. Relates to March 2017.
The nursery is nice and clean, and feels like a good environment for children when you step into it. The outdoor space is really large and very good as my son loves to be outdoors. They keep the children active and engaged in activities and the main thing is my son is happy to go to and be at nursery, which indicates that he is enjoying himself there and it is a caring environment.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Extremely Likely
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Review submitted from a Website Submission by Achala G (Mother of Child) on Tuesday 14 March 2017. Relates to March 2017.
I am very happy with active learning Finchley. The mentors are great, they look after the kids well, they have various activities going on which help in child development and most importantly my daughter loves going to her nursery
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Extremely Likely
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Review submitted from a Website Submission by Reshma M (Mother of Child) on Tuesday 14 March 2017. Relates to March 2017.
I fell in love this nursery when we came to see it at their open day,
My daughter has multiple food allergies and the nursery has handled then really well,
My daughter loves nursery so much that she doesn't want to come home.
The team are absolutely fabulous.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Extremely Likely
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Review submitted from a Website Submission by Jo (Mother of Child) on Tuesday 14 March 2017. Relates to March 2017.
The staff are so friendly and my son looks forward to going to nursery, which is a huge relief to his working parents. They do a wide range of activities and my son has developed good relationships with some of the other children.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Extremely Likely
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Review submitted from a Website Submission by Julia J (Mother of Child) on Tuesday 14 March 2017. Relates to March 2017.
A wonderful nursery with great indoor and outdoor space and a really warm and welcoming atmosphere.
A stimulating environment with loads of fun and educational activities.
Fantastic staff who seem to enjoy their work, love the children and take a genuine interest in our child as an individual.
Our daughter absolutely loves it there and it's a real comfort to us to know she is safe and happy while we are at work.
It's a lot more expensive than other nurseries we looked at but we feel it's worth it for the care she receives.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Extremely Likely
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Review submitted from a Postal Card by Anna B (Mother of Child) on Thursday 8 December 2016. Relates to November 2016.
We have been using this nursery for the last 6 years for all of our three children. We have nothing but positive comments to say about them! The staff are so warm, friendly and professional. The activities for children are wide-ranging, stimulating and promote fun and enjoyment as well as learning. Our children could not have been in better hands. The meals are high quality too! We often wish we could have our lunch there! It is expensive but they are a high-quality outfit.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Extremely Likely
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Review submitted from a Website Submission by Daniel S (Father of Child) on Thursday 24 November 2016. Relates to November 2016.
We have put both our children through Active Learning and it has been a wonderful experience. They offer an amazing curriculum with caring, professional staff that go the extra mile day in day out. In addition to core subjects, they have specialist language, art and Music teachers. There are regular music performances as well as a sports day across all ages. When my daughter went to school, she and the other Active Learning children were already ahead of where they should be for reading and maths. This nursery is fantastic! Worth every penny.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Extremely Likely
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Review submitted from a Postal Card by Simon H (Father of Child) on Wednesday 23 November 2016. Relates to November 2016.
My daughter has attended nursery since she was 5-months-old. At each stage, I have been impressed with the care she has received and the knowledge of the staff. Now she is older, I find every stage of her growing up fantastic if she says something or does something, I think: "Wow! How does she know that." She comes home talking about numbers and shapes - she loves art and music, dances all the time, sings songs at the top of her voice and runs everywhere forwards and back. She is thriving and loving nursery.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Extremely Likely
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Review submitted from a Postal Card by Claire L (Mother of Child) on Friday 18 November 2016. Relates to November 2016.
The girls and boys looking after our children really care and love them. They do need to work on getting the most out of the outdoor space though. One of two half our sessions is not enough! Please please please pay the staff who look after our children more. My fees per month are not representative of how much you pay them. Shocking!
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Likely
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Review submitted from a Postal Card by A B (Mother of Child) on Tuesday 15 November 2016. Relates to November 2016.
The staff are very focused on each individual child's enjoyment and development. At the end of every day, we get feedback about activities our toddler has enjoyed. When I arrive to pick up my son, he is always pointing our things he has done that day. It is a happy, safe environment in which to grow and learn.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Likely
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Review submitted from a Postal Card by R K (Mother of Child) on Tuesday 15 November 2016. Relates to November 2016.
My daughter joined just under as year ago. Staff are all very friendly, approachable and caring. The interaction i've had with the staff has been good. My daughter enjoys attending.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Extremely Likely
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Review submitted from a Postal Card by Amelia H (Mother of Child) on Wednesday 17 February 2016. Relates to February 2016.
This nursery is at the limit of our financial possibilities but it's worth every penny. It's the model of what a nursery should be. Please don't let the new management change it in any way. Parents and children notice even the smallest cut made to save money.
How likely would you be to recommend Active Learning Finchley (London)? Extremely Likely
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March 2018
Recipient: Bright Horizons Family Solutions
Date: Thursday 01 Mar 2018
Recipient: Bright Horizons Family Solutions
Date: Wednesday 01 Mar 2017
April 2016
Recipient: Bright Horizons Family Solutions
Date: Tuesday 19 Apr 2016
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