Nurseries in Edgware

The latest evidence does not show a general Edgware childcare shortage.

Barnet's childcare assessment considered by councillors in March 2026 reported no current borough wide childcare sufficiency problem, although 2 Barnet wards were being monitored.

On the Harrow side, Edgware is among the wards with the largest supply of private and voluntary childcare places. Harrow recorded 101 additional places in Edgware in its latest assessment, a 27% annual increase.

Availability at an individual nursery can still differ by age and required days.

Yes.

For 2026 to 2027, Department for Education rules state that when a child lives in one borough but attends childcare in another, funding is the responsibility of the council where the childcare setting is based.

The same rule applies to the funded entitlement, Early Years Pupil Premium and Disability Access Fund.

An Edgware family can therefore live in Barnet and use a Harrow nursery, or vice versa, without losing their national childcare entitlement.

Yes. Eligible working parents can receive up to 30 funded hours a week from the term after their child reaches 9 months until school age.

Barnet confirms that the entitlement can be taken over 38 weeks or stretched across as many as 52 weeks where the provider offers that pattern. Parents must reconfirm their eligibility every 3 months.

Harrow also provides up to 1,140 funded hours a year for eligible working families from 9 months old.

For both Barnet and Harrow, get a valid working parent code by:

31 March for an April start

31 August for a September start

31 December for a January start

Barnet specifically confirms these deadlines, and Harrow uses the same national funding dates.

Do not wait until the child is due to start nursery before applying for the code.

Yes on the Barnet side.

Barnet permits funded childcare across a maximum of 2 childcare sites in one day, with no funded session longer than 10 hours and funded provision taking place between 6am and 8pm.

This can work well when a school nursery covers only the middle of the day and a childminder provides care before or afterwards.

No.

A current Barnet Council listing for an Edgware preschool shows opening hours of 8:30am to 3pm Monday to Friday during school terms. It accepts children from age 2 and offers funded places subject to eligibility.

Barnet explains that private nurseries are more likely to offer full or part time all year care, while school nurseries typically provide 3 hour sessions or around 6 hours for children using 30 funded hours during term time.

Parents needing care until 5:30pm or 6pm should therefore compare closing times before joining a waiting list.

No.

Barnet explicitly states that attending a nursery attached to a school does not automatically give the child a place at that school for Reception. A separate Reception application is required.

This is important when comparing a school nursery with a private nursery solely because of future primary school plans.

Harrow runs a council nursery application process for participating school nurseries.

Parents can request a morning, afternoon or 30 hour arrangement where the chosen nursery offers it. For a place during the current academic year, Harrow instructs parents to approach the nursery school directly.

The application process is therefore different from Barnet provision, so first confirm which borough the school belongs to.

Silkstream Children's Centre, Silkstream Road, Edgware, HA8 0DA is part of Barnet's Child and Family Early Help service.

It is currently open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.

Barnet places HA8 within its West Child and Family Early Help Hub area. The wider service includes health visiting, breastfeeding support, parenting help and early intervention services.

Chandos Family Hub, Chandos Crescent, Edgware, HA8 6HL serves the Harrow side of the area.

Its core opening hours are currently 9am to 3pm Monday to Friday.

The summer 2026 programme included Sensory Baby sessions, Learning Through Play and TALK and Play sessions for young children.

The responsible service depends on which borough the nursery is in.

On the Harrow side, the Early Years SEND Team supports private nurseries, childminders and school nurseries with identifying needs, the Assess Plan Do Review process, inclusion funding, transition and referrals to health services. The team specifically supports children with emerging SEND before an EHCP is required.

Harrow also has SEN Inclusion Funding for eligible 2, 3 and 4 year olds receiving funded childcare and needing additional support.

On the Barnet side, the Early Years SEN Inclusion Fund provides additional support for children with complex SEND attending funded early years provision.

Yes on the Harrow side for eligible children.

Harrow Portage supports preschool children aged 0 to 4 with delayed development who are not attending a preschool or school setting. Support includes planned home contact, developmental goals and parent and child groups.

For a child already attending nursery, start with the setting's SENCO so the relevant borough early years SEND team can be involved.