Smile & Shine Nursery

A park setting, practical Montessori materials and a nature trail give Smile & Shine Nursery its character. Based at Mill Hill Park Pavilion and Bowling Green, it combines indoor activities that children can choose for themselves with outdoor exploration. The garden is enclosed, so outdoor play has a dedicated space as well as the nearby natural surroundings.

Children aged 9 to 60 months are accepted, with 50 places in total. No Ofsted inspection has been published for this setting yet.

Learning and Activities

EYFS provides the framework for children's learning and development, covering language, physical skills, relationships and other areas through play and practical experiences. Here, that includes role play, obstacle games, magnetic letters and number puzzles. Children can choose a book to bring home on Fridays, giving families a concrete way to join in with their learning.

Montessori adds hands-on learning with materials children explore at their own pace. Sandpaper letters connect touch with early literacy, while number rods and bead stairs give mathematical ideas a physical form. Pouring and food preparation bring everyday tasks into learning. These are practical choices for parents who value children doing things for themselves.

Outdoor and Community Life

Forest School takes learning into natural surroundings through exploration and practical outdoor activities. The enclosed garden and nearby nature trail make the setting's park location relevant to the nursery day, rather than simply an address.

Little Sign Stars provides weekly signing classes, using stories, ribbons, instruments and other props to engage children. Staff practise the signs between sessions, giving children repeated opportunities to use this additional way of communicating.

Each child has an assigned key worker who is accessible to parents for discussion and feedback. Consistent daily routines provide a familiar structure, while the key worker arrangement gives families a particular person to talk to about their child.

A Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) role provides a contact for additional needs. The signing classes also accommodate children who learn in different ways. These are specific support arrangements, rather than an inspection judgement about their effectiveness.

Chefs cook meals at the nursery using fresh ingredients, with planning involving a nutritional therapist. The menu includes breakfast, lunch and tea, with dishes such as jacket potatoes and vegetable rice.

Sessions and Attendance

Opening hours are 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. The nursery operates across the year, closing for bank holidays, one week at Christmas and two weeks during summer. Enquiries can be made through the nursery's enquiry form or by email at info@smileandshine.co.uk.

Getting There

The address is Mill Hill Park Pavilion and Bowling Green, Mill Hill Park, Daws Lane, London, NW7 4SE. The park has two car parks; drivers are directed to 75 Daws Ln, London NW7 4SE.

Bus 221 serves Parkmead Gardens (N), providing a named public transport option for families.

• Regulatory record. Ofsted's records list a concern dated 4 February 2026; its outcome is not published, so families may want to ask the nursery about it.
• Holiday cover. Christmas and summer closures interrupt the year-round opening pattern. Families needing continuous care should factor these breaks into their plans.
• A child's daily arrangements. With an age range of 9 to 60 months, ask during a visit how grouping, settling and rest would work for your child, alongside the attendance pattern and funded-hours charge structure.

Smile & Shine suits families drawn to practical Montessori learning, signing and outdoor exploration in a park setting. Its materials, weekly signing classes and nature trail give parents concrete reasons to consider it. The key worker and SENCO roles add useful points of contact; the dated concern merits a direct conversation before choosing the nursery.