Bright Horizons Finchley Central Day Nursery and Preschool
Good★ 2.3 on GoogleBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in London for children from birth to 5, open 8am to 6pm. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in January 2023. Open since 2011, with 84 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
What childcare usually costs in Barnet
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Barnet from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
N3 1XEWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
- 30 January 2026 — Concern: actions taken what Ofsted published
Ofsted inspector, 31 January 2023 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children are extremely well cared for in this secure and welcoming nursery environment, where staff know them very well. Staff celebrate children's individuality and, as a result, children throughout the nursery are very happy, settled and confident. They enjoy their time at nursery, making good relationships with staff and their peers. Older children delight in inviting their friends into their play, explaining how to take turns and share resources. Younger children are eager to join in with games with their familiar adults and seek them out for comfort when needed.
Staff set high expectations for children's behaviour and children are aware of the rules and boundaries within the nursery. Babies learn to take turns as they post shapes into a sorting box. Toddlers engage in a singing session in the garden and staff model what it means to take turns. Older children wait their turn patiently to use a steel tongue drum. They clap and praise their friends for the sounds they make. Children of all ages are polite and show enthusiasm towards helping each other. Toddlers delight in putting out cutlery for their peers before they arrive for their lunch.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- refine the planning for the outdoor area to provide all children with the same rich experiences for learning n support staff to strengthen their interactions with children and allow them more time to respond to questions.
- 31 January 2023Good
- 16 May 2017Good
- 28 August 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Bright Horizons Finchley Central Day Nursery and Preschool
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.