Food
Healthy, home-cooked meals prepared by qualified chef, catering to all dietary requirements.
Holly Lodge Nursery
Ofsted: Good
(Jan 2022)
Number of places
22 places
Age range
2–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jan 2022
Local authority
Camden
About this day nursery
Holly Lodge Nursery, located in Highgate and operated by Queen's Crescent Community Association (QCCA), offers a nurturing environment for children from under six months to five years old. The nursery aims to provide a 'home from home' atmosphere, encouraging child-led learning and active parent involvement.
It facilities include a 'Daisy Room' for babies up to 24 months with its own garden, and a 'Sunflower Room' for two-to-five-year-olds, also with direct garden access, promoting messy play both indoors and out. The nursery operates during term times from 8 am to 6 pm and boasts a capacity of around 40 children.
It provides healthy, home-cooked meals prepared by a qualified chef, accommodating all dietary needs, with staff trained in food hygiene. Holly Lodge Nursery also offers various enrichment activities such as cooking, yoga, and gardening, with plans to introduce a weekly forest school.
As part of the QCCA family, it provides flexibility for parents by offering access to its sister Caversham Nursery during holidays. The nursery received a 'good' rating from Ofsted in 2022, recognising its warm and friendly environment where children feel safe and emotionally secure.
Our ethos
Holly Lodge Nursery aims to provide a 'home from home' atmosphere, encouraging child-led learning and active parent involvement. They offer enrichment activities like cooking, yoga, and gardening, with plans for a forest school, and focus on creating a warm, friendly, safe, and emotionally secure environment.
What it's like
Children arrive at nursery with excitement and enthusiasm and receive a warm welcome from the friendly and caring staff team. This nurturing approach helps them to feel at ease and settle in quickly. Staff praise children for their efforts, helping to build their self-esteem and confidence.
Child-led learningHome-cooked mealsForest school plannedPart of QCCA family
Pricing & funding
Charges are based on full day, core day, or half day sessions, with weekly rates also available for children aged 0 to 3 years. Additional hours and lunches are billed separately for funded sessions. Registration fees and deposits apply but are waived for funded-only bookings.
Funding accepted
15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)
Good to know
- Registration fee and refundable deposit are waived for funded-only places.
- A recommended deposit can be paid by funded-only families to secure a place.
- Late collection fees apply for pickups outside scheduled times.
- Late payment fees are charged if invoices remain unpaid after 10 days.
Key facts
Opening hours
8am-6pm during term times
Age range
Under 6 months to 5 years
Term time / All Year
Term Time
Staff
Unknown
Established
2014
Waitlist
Unknown
Ofsted Inspection
Ofsted rating for Holly Lodge Nursery
Last inspected 27 January 2022 · Catherine Greene
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good
What it's like to attend
Children arrive at nursery with excitement and enthusiasm and receive a warm welcome from the friendly and caring staff team. This nurturing approach helps them to feel at ease and settle in quickly. Staff praise children for their efforts, helping to build their self-esteem and confidence.
Inspector highlights
- The manager supports staff effectively with regular well-being and supervision meetings, prioritising time for professional development.
- Leaders, managers and staff are ambitious and reflect effectively on the overall effectiveness of the nursery to identify improvements.
- Staff plan good quality activities that support children to make progress in all aspects of their development and know the children well.
- Children demonstrate positive self-esteem and emotional well-being, forming trusting attachments with their key person.
- Staff help children to get the best start in their early education effectively, using the curriculum to plan experiences that develop their understanding of the local community.
Areas to develop
- 1review the organisation of some adult-led activities outdoors, particularly to help children remain more focused and engaged in their learning and play
- 2support children who speak English as an additional language to use their home language further as they play and learn, to support their language at home.
Inspection #10217242 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report
What parents say
Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection
Parents comment very positively about the nursery.
They say that their children cannot wait to attend each day.
Inclusion & environment
How they support every child
SEND provision
Staff promote children's communication and language well, including for those children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Outdoor space
Children have plenty of opportunities for physical play and fresh air, both in the outdoor play area and during regular outings. Outdoors, they dig in the sand and splash in the water, thoroughly enjoying balancing and laughing with excitement as they follow each other in a circuit.
Parent Reviews of Holly Lodge Nursery
5.0
(9)
Nerea González M.
4 months ago
We had first tried a large chain nursery, but it felt corporate and impersonal, with a high turnover of staff. We’re so grateful to the mum at the park who recommended Holly Lodge, it has been exactly what we were hoping for. Our 2-year-old daughter started in October, and it has truly been a blessing. The nursery is warm, welcoming, and full of genuinely caring staff. The team feels connected, everyone seems fully involved, and it’s clear they approach their work with love and dedication. Many of the staff have been there for years, which is reassuring and shows they are valued and well treated. The manager has been incredibly flexible and supportive during our daughter’s settling-in, making the transition smooth and enjoyable. We’ve also been impressed by the quality of the food and the way the nursery includes parents in fun activities. It’s been wonderful to see our daughter engaging with her peers and sharing these experiences with us. We couldn’t recommend Holly Lodge more!
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Coline Abert
3 months ago
Our twins love the Holly Lodge nursery! They've been attending since they were six months old, so for almost two years now. The staff is caring and loving, accommodating and understanding, and always provides fun activities! We're so grateful for all the love and care this nursery gives to our boys. We highly recommend it to any parents!
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Zu Ro
4 months ago
Cannot recommend enough. Warm and caring place, my child is so well looked after. She thrives physically and academically, the children build relationships and confidence way above bigger nurseries. The staff are amazing and my whole family will be heartbroken when it’s time to leave.
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Lisa L
4 months ago
We love Holly Lodge Nursery—warmly recommended, our little one is having the most fun every day and is so well cared for by the team!
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E
7 months ago
Outstanding. Our daughter enjoys everyday at this nursery. The team and so caring and dedicated. A home from home. Thank you Holly Lodge Nursery! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Read on GoogleReviews from Google for Holly Lodge Nursery. See all on Google Maps
Inspection history
Date: December 2014
- January 2022Good
- March 2018Good
- December 2014Good
Frequently asked about Holly Lodge Nursery
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