The villa school & nursey

[dulwich mum]

What dose everyone think about the villa nursey on lyndhurst grove? because there has been some bad press lately especially with the new manager amy she dosent really look after the needs of the children but only see it as a money making scheme. I've had a look around myself but have to say i felt like i was being buttered up just so they could get my deposit. I have to say the non private nurseys look alot better than the villa nursey but i hvae to say that the villa school is outstanding but i think its time the villa nursey got a new manager and get rid of amy as she seems running a nursey is not a best point.....

[kittysailing]

What bad press? It's supposed to lovely by all accounts I've heard..

[Ondine]

I don't know the current manager at all but my kids did 0-7 in the Villa and it was wonderful. I would be surprised if the proprietor has let it slip. When you say 'bad press' I take it you mean anecdotes from parents? Might be worth putting the comments directly to Amy (and Gillian Quinn) to find out what it's all about.

[Monkey]

You seem to have very strong views for someone who just looked around the nursery and heard a few negative comments. Have you got an axe to grind?

[oimissus]

what bad press? I am very interested as we have finally been offered a place and are about to pay our deposit so this is a bit alarming. Please can you supply details? Everyone round here (very close to The Villa) sends their children here and I've only heard good things (though I haven't heard much as I don't know that many parents!). (Our other choice was Ephraim Early Years in the Peckham Academy which in fact my husband preferred, but we don't know anyone whose children go there - if anyone has any experience of it we'd love to hear it! Thread hijack over . . . )

[pk]

Monkey Wrote:

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> Have you got an axe to grind?

certainly looks that way doesn't it

to me it's wrong to name and bad mouth an individual (and to suggest that they should be sacked) on a public forum based on some unidentified 'bad press'

[oimissus]

I agree, pk, it's scaremongering, pure and simple. I feel very anxious now about making the right choice for my daughter (she's been at home with me for 2 years). Should I be worried about the lack of responses from current Villa parents???

[Belle]

oimissus - I wouldn't worry about lack of response, it's not been up that long and anyway if you search on the forum you will find positive comments about the villa (if they're still here - think there's been a clean up of old threads though). To be honest the original post read as someone deliberately trying to badmouth an individual, just my interpretation of course but I wouldn't take it too much to heart...I would go on your gut instinct, from when you looked around and if you're worried go back and speak to the manager a bit more.

[bli]

My second child only just left the Villa nursery recently and my third will go soon, so can you count me as an almost current Villa parent?

Not sure what the OP is hinting at (and don't think this is an appropriate place for it), but my children have loved the Villa, it's a very nurturing environment with lovely staff and facilities. We didn't notice any particular changes with Amy's arrival despite the fact she had a tough act to follow in the previous manager, and the care and attention they have received has remained fab.

If you make it to the end of their long waiting list, I'd recommend it without hesitation.

[Pocket]

I find this thread utterly unbelievable (on a number of levels). It's just spiteful and needless.

To reassure anyone who doesn't smell a big 'rat' in the original post:

I am a mother with two children at The Villa. The nursery is outstanding in every way - and it would not be so without good management. I have never had a problem with the manager - if anything she has been incredibly good at organising a busy nursery, as well as being nurturing to the children who attend (I have various personal stories that could attest to both her kindness and professionalism).

Dulwich Mum if you have an axe to grind - which as someone has said, is odd seeing as though you've only 'looked around' the Villa, I suggest you take up your issue with the manager of the Villa herself, or the proprietor.

And for anyone who is thinking of sending their children to the nursery - honestly - you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Every day I pick up happy, confident children who have spent their day having fun, being engaged and creative. What more could a parent ask for? In the years that my children have been there I could not give you a single instance where I thought money was important than our child's welfare or nursery education.

Edited to add: the bit about the 'rat'.