Submit a Review for Woodlands Day Nursery (Barnet)
1-3 Orchard Road, Barnet, EN5 2HL
View Full Details of Woodlands Day Nursery (Barnet)Latest Reviews for Woodlands Day Nursery (Barnet)
10 November 2025
The team at Woodlands are extraordinarily caring and make my son's two days a week there an absolute joy. He eats well, enjoys his play and is always happy at the end of the day. I am always impressed by the amount of personal feedback about him I get from staff at the end of what must feel like a very long day for them!
04 November 2025
As a first-time parent, I was naturally anxious about leaving my child in someone else's care. But from the very beginning, the team at the nursery made me feel completely at ease. What stood out to me the most was how genuinely they cared for my child-not just in words, but through every thoughtful action and detail. Every concern I had, no matter how small, was listened to with such attentiveness and care. It's clear that this is a place where children's safety, development, and emotional well-being are deeply valued. Knowing that my child is not only safe, but also nurtured and supported to grow, has been the greatest relief which I'm truly grateful for. This nursery feels like an extension of our family-a warm, welcoming space where I feel understood, and my child is seen, heard, and loved.
20 October 2025
Woodlands has been so much better than I had hoped. I had to take my daughter from 6 months old- doing very long hours. However, the staff at Woodlands really took the time to ease that for me. The settling in period was way longer than any other nursery I've seen and to be completely honest, I needed those settling sessions so that I could feel confident and ready to leave her with strangers! The Caterpillar team have been incredible: they supply the nappies, buy brand new bottles in the brand I chose and then bought new teat sizes when I did and supplied the formula I wanted. I get given a list of the food she's eaten, types of nappies and amount of milk. They also send me pictures daily which makes my day! My daughter is an excellent eater, as the catering team give such a range of foods and supported me to introduce different foods into her diet. The staff are always smiling, kind and understanding. I've never felt judged even if we both looked a bit bedraggled in the morning!
14 August 2025
My oldest has been attending Woodlands for nearly 4 years. Woodlands has been like a second home to him, and he has truly flourished there. The staff take the time to get to know each child and are wonderful at engaging and interacting with them. He always talks fondly about his day, which is a testament to how much he enjoys being there. I've seen some comments about there not being enough online photos/updates, and while this may be true, I personally feel it's because the staff are focused on interacting with and caring for the children rather than documenting every moment-which is something I value. My 9 month old has just started in the baby room and I'm amazed at how calm and nurturing the baby room is. The staff have been fantastic, particularly as my little one has struggled with separation anxiety. They've been incredibly patient and supportive, arranging settling-in sessions and helping him adjust.He's already becoming more comfortable, and I have no doubt he will love it.
07 July 2025
We're very happy with our time at the nursery. The staff have built lovely bonds with the twins and it's clear they care deeply about their wellbeing/development. Although there have been several changes in their key worker, the transitions have been handled with care and professionalism.The activities are creative and engaging. We appreciate the use of sensory play, which keeps the children stimulated/excited to learn through fun, hands-on experiences.Our main feedback relates to the nursery's safeguarding approach. While we fully understand and support the importance of safeguarding, we've noticed a significant increase in the level of caution compared to when our eldest attended.At times it can feel like the nursery is overly focused on covering itself, even for very minor incidents.Having energetic twins who play rough at times has meant a few bumps and scrapes, which we accept as part of their development. Overall, we grateful for the care and attention and recommend the nursery.
01 July 2025
We've been enjoying our time at Woodlands. I say "we" as how happy/unhappy your child is impacts the whole family. We took our time looking for the right nursery for our son so much so that when we found Woodlands Barnet he was 15 months old. When he started he was quite reserved and would take his time to warm to new things. A couple of months after starting, his personality really started to shine through - he is outgoing, loves being outside, always up for an activity, and has been growing rapidly in his speech and ability to do things independently. The Woodlands Barnett team are warm and welcoming, they are attentive to your child's needs and development, and make the effort to offer tangible support in recommendations and accommodating changes to routine as your child develops. Our son has now outgrown the room he started in and the team were quick to notice his readiness and put plans in place to transition him to the next stage room.
29 April 2025
Both of our children have attended Woodlands Nursery over the past few years, and we couldn't be more grateful for the wonderful experience they've had. The staff are wonderful, warm, and caring - and it's clear how much they genuinely care about the children. We've watched both our daughter and son flourish during their time there, growing in confidence, curiosity, and happiness. Saying goodbye is bittersweet, as Woodlands has felt like a second home. We'll miss it dearly and can't thank the team enough for the incredible start they've given our little ones.
28 April 2025
Our child started at Woodlands Barnet in Caterpillars during September of 2024 and I've only good things to say. He is thriving more than we could've ever hoped and comes in smiling everyday, excited for the day ahead. The team keeps us updated regularly with how he's doing within himself and his development. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and are on hand to help at all times. Our child has created amazing bonds with the staff, even those who are not based in his room due to the effort that they all put in throughout the setting. The quality of activities is outstanding and the children are always engaged with various types of play, both inside and outside in their spacious garden.
28 April 2025
From the initial discussion on the phone, the first visit to actually enrolling our baby into the caterpillars room, everything has been nothing short of excellent in all regards. There is a very good ambience as soon as you walk into the building from the reception all the way to the baby's room, The staff are very friendly and professional and know all of the children's names even if not based in their own rooms. Cannot recommend the nursery enough to any parent who is considering using it. The regular updates and the learning that takes place even at a young age, is clearly seen both in and out of the nursery. Keep up the great work everyone!
04 April 2025
Woodlands takes great care of our daughter, and we feel that it is an exceptional place where she is embraced. She has really enjoyed her time there and has been excited to tell us what she has done that day on our way home. The staff are all lovely, though the staffing was a little dynamic and we felt uneasy when her key person changed. They give us photos on the app, which is always appreciated, but we would be even happier if more photos could be shared - for example, at least once a week.
27 March 2025
We have been very happy with our experience of Woodlands. The staff are very caring and communicate very well with us at drop off and pick up.
10 February 2025
Our eldest daughter has been going to Woodlands for over a year now and our youngest just started. The whole Woodlands team is extremely friendly and has the interests of the children at heart. Everybody is very attentive and this brings a strong peace of mind to us, parents, knowing our children are very well looked after, in a lovely and safe environment. We love the garden is in free access in the summer. We can see our children's development and learning progress, as well as the good manners that are being taught. Furthermore, we have observed little staff turnover compared to other nurseries, which provides continuity to the families.
06 November 2024
Recently, we needed some extra support via a large number of additional days which the nursery luckily had available. Communication and arrangement with the team was a breeze. But the best thing of all, was how our child has revelled and excelled in her additional days spent at the nursery with the team and her friends! Our daughter loves it and we love picking her up, talking to the team to find out about her day and chatting to our lil legs all the way home, about all the fun she has had there. Thank you team, also for all the recent updates, they are totally awesome! Thank you!
26 July 2024
My daughter started at Woodlands in January 2024, and I can't begin to express how happy we have been. We have seen her absolutely blossom and develop. The fondness she has for all the staff is clearly reflected on her smiling face, she sometimes doesn't even want to leave when I collect her. I can't say thank you enough!
24 May 2024
We have had an excellent experience with Woodlands Barnet. The settling-in process was great. Everyone was very supportive and made what could have been a very difficult transition really easy. They understood what a hard adjustment it was, which really helped. There is a lovely atmosphere in the nursery and my little one is really enjoying being there and getting involved in all the lovely activities they have.
20 February 2024
Wonderful nursery - both my children have flourished under the care of the brilliant staff. Woodlands is a lovely, warm setting with lots of fun and educational activities for the children to take part in. The staff are wonderful and the care they provide my children is second to none!
06 February 2024
Woodlands Barnet is a great nursery. My 4-year-old and 2-year-old both attend the nursery, and both have settled really nicely and feel excited to attend. There are so many learning opportunities for them, and they both talk about their friends. They really love their teachers, they have been very nurturing and all genuinely very caring. They often have many activities to develop their social and emotional skills and they always spend time playing out in the lovely garden. In the preschool room, my son has learnt a lot and there are plenty of opportunities to learn about phonics and numbers. We have had a very helpful process so far thinking about transitioning to school, and Woodlands has been very supportive in this. Would highly recommend!
10 January 2024
Our son has been in the Bumblebees room since Sept 2023. We initially were worried about him being in a larger setting, compared to his previous nursery, but there are plenty of staff around, so each child can have the attention that is required. We like that there is free flow between the room and the garden (particularly in the warmer weather), as our son loves being outdoors. There are a good range of activities and the meals sound healthy and tasty! The entire team are so friendly and welcoming, it really feels that each child is a part of the Woodlands family. Staff work with parents to help children work on various skills and milestones - and run events to raise money for charity, which helps build the community spirit. Our only improvement would be more updates via the app: We'd love more photos of what our son gets up to! However, we understand that it is a balance between staff being present at the moment for the children and being able to take photos.
09 October 2023
Woodlands has looked after our daughter really nicely. She has just moved from Ladybirds to Bumblebees, so this review relates to her time in Ladybirds. At the start of her time in Ladybirds, the staffing was a little dynamic, with lots of recruitment and shuffling of staff between rooms, and changes of key person. That seems to have settled out in the last few months, allowing our daughter to feel more settled and confident with the adults caring for her (this was important during potty training). The current staff are better at giving us updates and photos on the app, which is always appreciated (although there is room for them to increase this further). They do lots of activities, including time in the garden, and lots of messy play. They have really encouraged our daughter to make friends, and she has been happy and well looked after during her time at Woodlands in Ladybirds room. The management team are responsive and easy to contact.
06 October 2023
My daughter is in the Ladybirds room at this nursery- she has really enjoyed her time there and comes back excited to tell us everything she has done. The nursery staff are all lovely and I was able to call in the initial phases and ensure my child was okay- which was reassuring for me. I am happy with the care provided by the nursery and do feel my daughter really enjoys her time there.
Latest Reviews for Woodlands Day Nursery (Barnet)
10 November 2025
The team at Woodlands are extraordinarily caring and make my son's two days a week there an absolute joy. He eats well, enjoys his play and is always happy at the end of the day. I am always impressed by the amount of personal feedback about him I get from staff at the end of what must feel like a very long day for them!
04 November 2025
As a first-time parent, I was naturally anxious about leaving my child in someone else's care. But from the very beginning, the team at the nursery made me feel completely at ease. What stood out to me the most was how genuinely they cared for my child-not just in words, but through every thoughtful action and detail. Every concern I had, no matter how small, was listened to with such attentiveness and care. It's clear that this is a place where children's safety, development, and emotional well-being are deeply valued. Knowing that my child is not only safe, but also nurtured and supported to grow, has been the greatest relief which I'm truly grateful for. This nursery feels like an extension of our family-a warm, welcoming space where I feel understood, and my child is seen, heard, and loved.
20 October 2025
Woodlands has been so much better than I had hoped. I had to take my daughter from 6 months old- doing very long hours. However, the staff at Woodlands really took the time to ease that for me. The settling in period was way longer than any other nursery I've seen and to be completely honest, I needed those settling sessions so that I could feel confident and ready to leave her with strangers! The Caterpillar team have been incredible: they supply the nappies, buy brand new bottles in the brand I chose and then bought new teat sizes when I did and supplied the formula I wanted. I get given a list of the food she's eaten, types of nappies and amount of milk. They also send me pictures daily which makes my day! My daughter is an excellent eater, as the catering team give such a range of foods and supported me to introduce different foods into her diet. The staff are always smiling, kind and understanding. I've never felt judged even if we both looked a bit bedraggled in the morning!
14 August 2025
My oldest has been attending Woodlands for nearly 4 years. Woodlands has been like a second home to him, and he has truly flourished there. The staff take the time to get to know each child and are wonderful at engaging and interacting with them. He always talks fondly about his day, which is a testament to how much he enjoys being there. I've seen some comments about there not being enough online photos/updates, and while this may be true, I personally feel it's because the staff are focused on interacting with and caring for the children rather than documenting every moment-which is something I value. My 9 month old has just started in the baby room and I'm amazed at how calm and nurturing the baby room is. The staff have been fantastic, particularly as my little one has struggled with separation anxiety. They've been incredibly patient and supportive, arranging settling-in sessions and helping him adjust.He's already becoming more comfortable, and I have no doubt he will love it.
07 July 2025
We're very happy with our time at the nursery. The staff have built lovely bonds with the twins and it's clear they care deeply about their wellbeing/development. Although there have been several changes in their key worker, the transitions have been handled with care and professionalism.The activities are creative and engaging. We appreciate the use of sensory play, which keeps the children stimulated/excited to learn through fun, hands-on experiences.Our main feedback relates to the nursery's safeguarding approach. While we fully understand and support the importance of safeguarding, we've noticed a significant increase in the level of caution compared to when our eldest attended.At times it can feel like the nursery is overly focused on covering itself, even for very minor incidents.Having energetic twins who play rough at times has meant a few bumps and scrapes, which we accept as part of their development. Overall, we grateful for the care and attention and recommend the nursery.
01 July 2025
We've been enjoying our time at Woodlands. I say "we" as how happy/unhappy your child is impacts the whole family. We took our time looking for the right nursery for our son so much so that when we found Woodlands Barnet he was 15 months old. When he started he was quite reserved and would take his time to warm to new things. A couple of months after starting, his personality really started to shine through - he is outgoing, loves being outside, always up for an activity, and has been growing rapidly in his speech and ability to do things independently. The Woodlands Barnett team are warm and welcoming, they are attentive to your child's needs and development, and make the effort to offer tangible support in recommendations and accommodating changes to routine as your child develops. Our son has now outgrown the room he started in and the team were quick to notice his readiness and put plans in place to transition him to the next stage room.
29 April 2025
Both of our children have attended Woodlands Nursery over the past few years, and we couldn't be more grateful for the wonderful experience they've had. The staff are wonderful, warm, and caring - and it's clear how much they genuinely care about the children. We've watched both our daughter and son flourish during their time there, growing in confidence, curiosity, and happiness. Saying goodbye is bittersweet, as Woodlands has felt like a second home. We'll miss it dearly and can't thank the team enough for the incredible start they've given our little ones.
28 April 2025
Our child started at Woodlands Barnet in Caterpillars during September of 2024 and I've only good things to say. He is thriving more than we could've ever hoped and comes in smiling everyday, excited for the day ahead. The team keeps us updated regularly with how he's doing within himself and his development. The staff are incredibly knowledgeable and are on hand to help at all times. Our child has created amazing bonds with the staff, even those who are not based in his room due to the effort that they all put in throughout the setting. The quality of activities is outstanding and the children are always engaged with various types of play, both inside and outside in their spacious garden.
28 April 2025
From the initial discussion on the phone, the first visit to actually enrolling our baby into the caterpillars room, everything has been nothing short of excellent in all regards. There is a very good ambience as soon as you walk into the building from the reception all the way to the baby's room, The staff are very friendly and professional and know all of the children's names even if not based in their own rooms. Cannot recommend the nursery enough to any parent who is considering using it. The regular updates and the learning that takes place even at a young age, is clearly seen both in and out of the nursery. Keep up the great work everyone!
04 April 2025
Woodlands takes great care of our daughter, and we feel that it is an exceptional place where she is embraced. She has really enjoyed her time there and has been excited to tell us what she has done that day on our way home. The staff are all lovely, though the staffing was a little dynamic and we felt uneasy when her key person changed. They give us photos on the app, which is always appreciated, but we would be even happier if more photos could be shared - for example, at least once a week.
27 March 2025
We have been very happy with our experience of Woodlands. The staff are very caring and communicate very well with us at drop off and pick up.
10 February 2025
Our eldest daughter has been going to Woodlands for over a year now and our youngest just started. The whole Woodlands team is extremely friendly and has the interests of the children at heart. Everybody is very attentive and this brings a strong peace of mind to us, parents, knowing our children are very well looked after, in a lovely and safe environment. We love the garden is in free access in the summer. We can see our children's development and learning progress, as well as the good manners that are being taught. Furthermore, we have observed little staff turnover compared to other nurseries, which provides continuity to the families.
06 November 2024
Recently, we needed some extra support via a large number of additional days which the nursery luckily had available. Communication and arrangement with the team was a breeze. But the best thing of all, was how our child has revelled and excelled in her additional days spent at the nursery with the team and her friends! Our daughter loves it and we love picking her up, talking to the team to find out about her day and chatting to our lil legs all the way home, about all the fun she has had there. Thank you team, also for all the recent updates, they are totally awesome! Thank you!
26 July 2024
My daughter started at Woodlands in January 2024, and I can't begin to express how happy we have been. We have seen her absolutely blossom and develop. The fondness she has for all the staff is clearly reflected on her smiling face, she sometimes doesn't even want to leave when I collect her. I can't say thank you enough!
24 May 2024
We have had an excellent experience with Woodlands Barnet. The settling-in process was great. Everyone was very supportive and made what could have been a very difficult transition really easy. They understood what a hard adjustment it was, which really helped. There is a lovely atmosphere in the nursery and my little one is really enjoying being there and getting involved in all the lovely activities they have.
20 February 2024
Wonderful nursery - both my children have flourished under the care of the brilliant staff. Woodlands is a lovely, warm setting with lots of fun and educational activities for the children to take part in. The staff are wonderful and the care they provide my children is second to none!
06 February 2024
Woodlands Barnet is a great nursery. My 4-year-old and 2-year-old both attend the nursery, and both have settled really nicely and feel excited to attend. There are so many learning opportunities for them, and they both talk about their friends. They really love their teachers, they have been very nurturing and all genuinely very caring. They often have many activities to develop their social and emotional skills and they always spend time playing out in the lovely garden. In the preschool room, my son has learnt a lot and there are plenty of opportunities to learn about phonics and numbers. We have had a very helpful process so far thinking about transitioning to school, and Woodlands has been very supportive in this. Would highly recommend!
10 January 2024
Our son has been in the Bumblebees room since Sept 2023. We initially were worried about him being in a larger setting, compared to his previous nursery, but there are plenty of staff around, so each child can have the attention that is required. We like that there is free flow between the room and the garden (particularly in the warmer weather), as our son loves being outdoors. There are a good range of activities and the meals sound healthy and tasty! The entire team are so friendly and welcoming, it really feels that each child is a part of the Woodlands family. Staff work with parents to help children work on various skills and milestones - and run events to raise money for charity, which helps build the community spirit. Our only improvement would be more updates via the app: We'd love more photos of what our son gets up to! However, we understand that it is a balance between staff being present at the moment for the children and being able to take photos.
09 October 2023
Woodlands has looked after our daughter really nicely. She has just moved from Ladybirds to Bumblebees, so this review relates to her time in Ladybirds. At the start of her time in Ladybirds, the staffing was a little dynamic, with lots of recruitment and shuffling of staff between rooms, and changes of key person. That seems to have settled out in the last few months, allowing our daughter to feel more settled and confident with the adults caring for her (this was important during potty training). The current staff are better at giving us updates and photos on the app, which is always appreciated (although there is room for them to increase this further). They do lots of activities, including time in the garden, and lots of messy play. They have really encouraged our daughter to make friends, and she has been happy and well looked after during her time at Woodlands in Ladybirds room. The management team are responsive and easy to contact.
06 October 2023
My daughter is in the Ladybirds room at this nursery- she has really enjoyed her time there and comes back excited to tell us everything she has done. The nursery staff are all lovely and I was able to call in the initial phases and ensure my child was okay- which was reassuring for me. I am happy with the care provided by the nursery and do feel my daughter really enjoys her time there.