Aplomb Day Nursery, Hendon

Two garden spaces, a mud kitchen and weekly cooking give Aplomb Day Nursery, Hendon a practical, hands-on character. This West Hendon setting combines outdoor play with creative activities and early literacy and numeracy, rather than making school preparation a purely indoor affair. There is room for movement, too: weekly yoga reaches every age group.

The nursery has 40 places in total and accepts children from 3 months to 5 years. At its July 2022 inspection, Ofsted rated it Good overall. That dated judgement is a useful starting point, while the current offer gives families concrete things to weigh: a chef on site, separate outdoor spaces and both half-day and full-day attendance.

Learning and Activities

The early years foundation stage sets the framework for children's learning, development and care: the day brings together play, communication, physical development and growing independence. At Hendon, sensory experiences, creative work and early number and literacy activities form part of that play-based offer. These give children different ways to participate, rather than expecting every child to learn through the same activity.

Weekly cooking club adds a recurring practical activity. Yoga sessions run weekly across all age groups, led by an early-years yoga instructor who is also a room leader. Sports4Tots is another weekly session. Together, these establish a recognisable rhythm of cooking and movement alongside the everyday programme; families comparing settings can weigh the recurring activities as well as the opening hours.

In July 2022, adults used stories, rhymes and repeated words to help younger children develop language. They also described what children were doing and named unfamiliar objects during play. The weakness was in extending those conversations: children needed more questions that invited a fuller answer, followed by enough time to think and respond. That matters because hearing words and learning to use them in conversation are different parts of language development.

Outdoor and Community Life

The two garden spaces and mud kitchen provide physical settings for outdoor exploration. They sit alongside bright indoor areas, giving the nursery day both indoor and outdoor possibilities. The buggy and car-seat shelter is a separate practical feature for families bringing equipment with them.

In July 2022, community learning extended to visits to fishmongers and markets, a construction-site visit and litter picking in neighbouring streets. These experiences connected learning with real workplaces and the care of shared surroundings. The garden and a local park also featured in children's physical activity at that time.

Older children had a council in July 2022, helping decide everyday rules, including how books should be treated. This gave them a role in shaping their shared space. Adults also encouraged independence and recognised children's effort during learning, rather than concentrating solely on the finished result.

In July 2022, individual care plans drew on what staff knew about each child and what they needed to learn next. Leaders sought parents' views each term and listened to the preschool council when considering changes. These were practical routes for family and child feedback to influence the nursery's routines.

At the July 2022 inspection, Ofsted found safeguarding effective, positive support for children with SEND through work with other agencies, and communication that kept parents informed about their children's development. Those findings belong to that inspection date. They provide a dated assessment of the care arrangements, rather than a substitute for understanding how an individual child's needs will be handled.

The current Hendon offer includes parent workshops, events and opportunities to take part in classroom activities. This gives parents ways to contribute beyond a brief conversation about the day. For a family wanting involvement in nursery life, that is a useful part of the offer to consider alongside attendance patterns.

A chef prepares homemade food on site each day, and menus receive nutritionist input. The Hendon sample menu includes halal options; the kitchen team's responsibilities also include attention to allergies and dietary requirements.

Mealtime organisation was a separate concern in July 2022: some children were seated well before their food was ready and lost interest while waiting. The improvement sought was a better-timed routine. This is worth considering alongside the food itself, because the experience of eating includes the wait as well as the meal.

Sessions and Attendance

The address is 169 West Hendon Broadway, London NW9 7EB. Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays and two weeks at Christmas, so families need to plan cover for those breaks.

Three timed attendance options are offered: a morning half day from 8am to 1pm, an afternoon half day from 1pm to 6pm, and a full day from 8am to 6pm. This gives families a choice between attending for one part of the day and staying throughout the opening window. Early bird sessions can be requested, and more flexible arrangements may sometimes be possible.

The interest form specifies a minimum of two days and lets families indicate their preferred weekdays and whether those days are flexible. Enquiries can be made through that form or the West Hendon contact details, including info@aplombchildcare.com and 020 8109 8741. Visits can also be booked.

Funding and Paid Extras

Funded childcare is offered for children aged 9 months, 2 years and 3 to 4 years, subject to eligibility. This participation should be considered alongside the chosen attendance pattern; eligibility for support does not itself establish the family's booking arrangements. Current prices come in the nursery's written quotation.

• Conversation during play. In July 2022, children needed more opportunities to answer open questions and reflect on their learning. During a visit, ask how practitioners now extend conversations and give children time to respond.
• The lunch routine. The July 2022 concern was waiting too long after being seated for food. Ask how the timing of preparation and seating works now, especially for younger children.
• Funding and the chosen pattern. Hendon offers morning, afternoon and full-day attendance alongside funded childcare. Before agreeing a booking, request a written breakdown covering funded hours, additional attendance, food and non-food consumables.
• Dietary requirements. An on-site chef and halal menu options are useful practical details. Families managing allergies should confirm the current kitchen arrangements and how their child's requirements will be communicated to staff.

Aplomb Hendon suits families choosing between morning or afternoon half days and full-day attendance, with a minimum two-day booking pattern. Its strongest current practical features are the two garden spaces, mud kitchen, on-site cooking and recurring movement activities. These give parents concrete reasons to consider it beyond its opening window.

The July 2022 Good judgement supplies a dated quality assessment, with clear points to examine around conversation and mealtime timing. For parents who value hands-on play, weekly activities and opportunities to participate in nursery life, this is a setting with a recognisable offer and specific questions to bring to a visit.