Full-day nursery in Highbury, Islington
Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane
7&9 Melody Lane, London, N5 2BQ · Getting there
Is it good?
Read the Ofsted reportOfsted inspection, before November 2025
Outstanding
- Quality of educationOutstanding
- Behaviour and attitudesOutstanding
- Personal developmentOutstanding
- Leadership and managementOutstanding
- SafeguardingEffective
What does this mean?
This grade is from before November 2025, when Ofsted replaced single grades with report cards. The nursery's next inspection will give a report card, with a separate grade for each area instead of one overall grade.
Official records
- Ofsted registrationRegistered since December 2021Reference 2662130Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Inspections on record1 inspectionlatest 12 June 2024Ofsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Registered places120 placesthe most children it may care for at onceOfsted · checked 30 June 2026
- Food hygiene rating5 (Very good)inspected 31 October 2024Food Standards Agency · checked 13 November 2026
Fees
| Age | Full day | Half day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 2s | £180£18 an hour | £100 | £3,200 |
| 3 and over | £165£16.50 an hour | £90 | £2,875 |
From nursery website, November 2026 · see the fees page. Price per hour is the day rate over a 10-hour day, from the nursery's opening hours.
- Registration fee
- £250
Funded hours: From 9 months, 2-year-olds, 30 hours
Hours and ages
Ages: not published yet
Thanks. We count every request and show the nursery how many parents are asking.
- Monday to Friday
- 08:00–18:00
- Weeks open
- 51 a year
- Sessions
- Full day and half day
Getting there
7&9 Melody Lane, London, N5 2BQ · More nurseries in N5
Stations
- CanonburyStep-free access8 min walk · 0.3 miles
- Drayton Park9 min walk · 0.4 miles
- Highbury & Islington12 min walk · 0.5 miles
Buses
11 bus stops within 400 m, including Highbury Barn, Highbury Grove School / Aberdeen Park and Aberdeen Park.
Parks and playgrounds
- Highbury Fields2 min walk
- Petherton Green7 min walk
- Northampton Park Triangle11 min walk
- New River Walk11 min walk
- St Paul's Shrubbery11 min walk
- Playground2 min walk
© OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 13 November 2026 · Powered by TfL Open Data, checked 13 November 2026. Walking times are rough, from straight-line distance.
Places and next steps
Spaces: not published yet. Nurseries often fill months ahead, so ask early.
In Islington there are about 2.6 children under 5 for every registered nursery place. Places are how many children nurseries may care for, not free spaces, so this is a guide to demand. Source: ONS Census 2021.
What parents say
Reviews on Toddly
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Write a reviewAbout Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane
Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane is a full-day nursery at 7&9 Melody Lane, London, N5 2BQ, in Highbury, Islington. It is registered for 120 children. It opens 08:00–18:00, Mon–Fri, 51 weeks a year. Ofsted rated it Outstanding at its inspection in June 2024, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. Its published full-day fees range from £165 to £180 (nursery website, November 2026). It offers funded hours from 9 months, funded places for 2-year-olds and the 30 funded hours for 3 and 4-year-olds, and accepts Tax-Free Childcare. It has a Google rating of 5.0 from 2 reviews (November 2026).
A day here
Our summary of the nursery's website and Ofsted reports. Each feature links to where it came from.
Learning
The Ofsted inspection in 2024 rated the nursery Outstanding for overall effectiveness and Outstanding for quality of education. Its website says the nursery is an inclusive setting and names music classes, dance and movement, drama and cooking activities.
Food
Meals are not included in the fees. Its website says meals are cooked on site.
- Meals cooked on siteSource: nursery website
Care and routines
- Separate baby roomSource: nursery website
- Flexible sessionsSource: nursery website
- Open all yearSource: nursery website
- Half-day sessionsSource: nursery website
SEND and inclusion
- Inclusive settingSource: nursery website
Safety
The Ofsted inspection in 2024 found safeguarding effective.
Extras and activities
- Music classesSource: nursery website
- Dance and movementSource: nursery website
- DramaSource: nursery website
- Cooking activitiesSource: nursery website
Getting a place
Its website says families apply online for funded hours at gov.uk, reconfirm eligibility every term, and pay a £250 registration fee for places that include private hours. The nursery accepts government-funded hours for working parents of children from 9 months, funded hours for 2-year-olds, the universal 15 funded hours and 30 funded hours for eligible 3-4 year olds, and Tax-Free Childcare.
Compare nurseries nearby
| Nursery | Ofsted | Full day from | Hours | Ages | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Be Me Day Nursery Melody LaneThis nursery | Outstanding | £165 | 08:00–18:00 | not shared yet | This nursery |
| New Park Nursery and Montessori SchoolFull-day nursery | Outstanding | not shared yet | 07:30–18:30 | from 4 mo | 0.2 miles |
| Highbury Roundhouse Little Learners NurseryFull-day nursery | Outstanding | not shared yet | not shared yet | not shared yet | 0.2 miles |
| Highbury Community NurseryFull-day nursery | Good | not shared yet | 08:00–18:00 | not shared yet | 0.2 miles |
| St Augustine's NurserySessional pre-school | Good | not shared yet | 09:00–15:00 | 2–5 yrs | 0.3 miles |
| Be Me Day Nursery HighburyFull-day nursery | Outstanding | not shared yet | 08:00–18:00 | not shared yet | 0.3 miles |
| Aberdeen Park NurseryFull-day nursery | Outstanding | not shared yet | 08:00–18:00 | 6 mo–5 yrs | 0.4 miles |
A dash means the nursery hasn't published it yet. Distances are in a straight line.
- All nurseries in Highbury10
- All nurseries in Islington79
- All nurseries in N510
- Nurseries near Canonbury station
Nearby areas
Schools nearby
- St Joan of Arc RC Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: School remains Goodinspected January 2024 0.3 miles
- Drayton Park Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Improved significantlyinspected June 2025 0.4 miles
- St John's Highbury Vale CofE Primary School Primaryages 4–11Ofsted: Goodinspected September 2023 0.4 miles
- Gillespie Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Outstandinginspected November 2023 0.5 miles
- Canonbury Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: School remains Goodinspected October 2022 0.5 miles
- St Paul's Waldorf School ages 3–14has a nursery class 0.6 miles
- Newington Green Primary School Primaryages 2–11has a nursery classOfsted: Outstandinginspected July 2024 0.6 miles
- Grasmere Primary School Primaryages 3–11has a nursery classOfsted: Report cardinspected April 2026 0.6 miles
Straight-line distances. Places depend on each school's admissions rules. From the Department for Education and Ofsted.
Questions parents ask
Got a question? Ask and get an answer straight away.
How much does Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane cost?
Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane publishes these fees: full day £180 for under 2s, half day £100 for under 2s, per month £3,200 for under 2s, per month £2,925 for under 2s, per month £2,275 for under 2s, per month £1,600 for under 2s, per month £2,050 for under 2s, per month £1,650 for under 2s, per month £1,350 for under 2s, full day £165 for 3 and over, half day £90 for 3 and over, per month £2,875 for 3 and over, per month £2,675 for 3 and over, per month £2,050 for 3 and over, per month £1,450 for 3 and over, per month £1,850 for 3 and over, per month £1,500 for 3 and over and per month £1,225 for 3 and over (nursery website, November 2026). Funded hours and Tax-Free Childcare can reduce what you pay.
Does Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane offer 30 funded hours?
Yes. Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane offers the 30 funded hours for eligible 3 and 4-year-olds.
Does Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane take funded 2-year-olds?
Yes. Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane offers funded places for eligible 2-year-olds.
Does Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane offer funded hours from 9 months?
Yes. Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane offers funded hours for eligible children from 9 months.
What are Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane's opening hours?
Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane opens 08:00–18:00, Mon–Fri.
Is Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane open all year?
Yes, Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane is open 51 weeks a year, closing only for short breaks.
What is Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane's Ofsted rating?
Ofsted rated Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane Outstanding at its inspection on 12 June 2024, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025.
How many children can Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane take?
Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane is registered with Ofsted for up to 120 children at any one time.
Are meals included at Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane?
Meals are not included in the fees at Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane.
Does Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane accept Tax-Free Childcare?
Yes. Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane accepts Tax-Free Childcare payments.
Is there a registration fee or deposit at Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane?
Yes. Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane lists a registration fee of £250.
Does Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane have outdoor space?
Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane lists: Own garden.
Does Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane support children with SEND?
Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane lists: Inclusive setting.
What is the nearest station to Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane?
Canonbury is the nearest station we know of, 0.3 miles away in a straight line.
How do I contact Be Me Day Nursery Melody Lane?
You can call 020 3149 2430 and visit www.bemedaynurseries.co.uk.
Tools for parents in Islington
- Childcare cost calculatorMonthly cost with funded hours
- Funded hours checkerWhich schemes you qualify for
- Funded hours start dateWhen your child's hours begin
- Tax-Free Childcare calculatorThe 20% top-up on your bill
- Visit checklist for this nurseryPrintable questions, pre-filled
- Cost of nursery in IslingtonFees by age in Islington
About this information
- Registration and inspections: Ofsted · 30 June 2026
- Fees, hours and features: the nursery's website (www.bemedaynurseries.co.uk) · 11 November 2026
- Rating and review themes: Google · 11 November 2026
- Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools · 4 November 2026
- Contains Ofsted data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains Department for Education data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains Ofsted data licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Contains National Statistics data © Crown copyright and database right; contains OS data © Crown copyright and database right.
- © OpenStreetMap contributors
- Powered by TfL Open Data
- Food hygiene rating from the Food Standards Agency, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Read reviews on Google
- From the nursery's website, with the page link and date checked
Last checked 11 November 2026 · Ofsted URN 2662130 · Plain-text version · Report a mistake
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