Margaret McMillan Nursery School in Islington carries forward the pioneering vision of its namesake, who founded England's first open-air nursery in 1914 and revolutionised early childhood education across the country. This state-maintained nursery school and children's centre serves children aged 0–5 in the Archway area of North London, offering integrated early years provision alongside health services and family support. Rated Good by Ofsted in its most recent inspection in October 2021, the school continues a tradition of child-centred, play-based learning in extensive outdoor environments. With over 20 languages spoken by families in its community, Margaret McMillan celebrates cultural diversity while remaining rooted in the inclusive ethos established by its visionary founder over a century ago. The nursery operates as both an educational institution and a community resource, providing free 15-hour and 30-hour places alongside day-care provision for working families.
Margaret McMillan Nursery School draws direct inspiration from Margaret McMillan (1860–1931), the Scottish educator and social reformer who transformed early childhood provision in England. Working in deprived areas of Deptford and Bradford, McMillan pioneered open-air nurseries that prioritised outdoor learning, child health and holistic development at a time when such ideas were revolutionary. Her 1914 Open-Air Nursery School in Deptford, founded with her sister Rachel, became the first nursery to receive local authority funding in 1917 and trained the majority of the first generation of nursery teachers in both Britain and the United States. The school in Islington honours this legacy by keeping the child at the heart of everything it does, working in partnership with parents and the community to offer children the very best start in life.
The nursery's mission remains firmly grounded in McMillan's belief that young children learn best when they feel safe to explore, experiment, make mistakes and try again. Staff create a warm and caring environment where children from a wide range of social, racial and ethnic backgrounds come together. Under the leadership of headteacher Karen Smith, who joined the school in January 2023, the multi-disciplinary team includes teachers, nursery nurses, early years practitioners and specialist support staff. The atmosphere is one of calm exploration, where children are free to direct their own learning through play while receiving skilled guidance from passionate and experienced professionals.
Margaret McMillan follows the Early Years Foundation Stage Framework to plan curriculum for children aged 0–5. The educational approach is play-centred, with children free to choose each day from a range of continuously available activities including construction, role play, creative arts and outdoor exploration. Learning is integrated into play through carefully designed resources such as magnetic story props, imaginative play areas and sensory materials. Staff know children and their families well, building strong relationships that enable them to tailor provision to individual needs and interests.
The nursery offers free 15-hour places to all children from the term after their third birthday, with eligible families able to access 30-hour funded places. Free provision is also available for some two-year-olds who meet certain criteria. The 15-hour entitlement typically runs four days a week, either mornings (9.30–11.45) or afternoons (1.15–3.30), plus one full day (9.30–3.30) during term time. The 30-hour entitlement operates five full days a week (9.30–3.30) during term time. All staff receive regular safeguarding training, and leaders maintain rigorous standards to ensure children are safe and well cared for throughout the day.
The school benefits from extensive outdoor space that reflects Margaret McMillan's foundational belief in the health and developmental benefits of outdoor learning. Reviews from families and visitors consistently highlight the "excellent outdoor facilities" and "massive garden", which provide children with opportunities for physical play, exploration and connection with the natural world. The outdoor area is available to children throughout the day, allowing them to move freely between indoor and outdoor learning environments according to their interests and the weather.
As both a nursery school and children's centre, the setting offers integrated services for children and families. Alongside early education, the centre provides health services, family support, outreach work, access to training opportunities and advice on benefits and tax credits. Operating hours extend from 8.00am to 5.45pm Monday to Friday, making it possible for working parents to access day-care provision alongside the funded early education places.
Margaret McMillan maintains a strong commitment to inclusive provision for children with special educational needs. Six places are reserved specifically for children with profound or complex special needs, allocated through the Islington Special Needs Advisory Panel. Children with less complex needs may be allocated places through the Priority Early Learning Panel, working in partnership with health visitors and other professionals. The Deputy Head, Bonnie Mendoza, serves as the school's SENCo, coordinating support for children with additional needs and ensuring that provision is tailored to each child's developmental stage and requirements.
Admissions to Margaret McMillan Nursery School are coordinated by Islington Council for residents of the borough. The nursery is popular and uses a clear priority system for allocating places. Children are prioritised based on whether they are at risk or in need, have special educational needs, live in Islington, live close to the nursery, or are the right age for the available space. Importantly, the nursery does not give priority based on time spent on the waiting list or sibling connections, focusing instead on need and proximity.
For Islington residents, applications are made online through the council's website. The most recent published admissions cycle had an application start date of 1st September, a closing date of 15th January, and offers made on 16th April. Parents should check the Islington Council website for current-year timelines, as these dates may vary slightly between years.
In addition to free funded places, the nursery offers day-care provision for children aged 0–5, available 39 or 48 weeks a year from 8.00am to 5.45pm. Day-care places are open only to parents in work or accredited study, with fees charged on a means-tested scale subsidised by Islington Council. Ten per cent of places are designated as Marketed Places, enabling parents who can pay full market charges to apply. These are allocated first to Islington residents, second to those who work in Islington, and third to other applicants. Families who do not live in Islington can only apply for Marketed Places, not for the council-allocated free entitlement.
Margaret McMillan Nursery School offers families in Islington a rich and inclusive early years experience rooted in over a century of educational innovation. The school's commitment to outdoor learning, play-based pedagogy and holistic child development reflects the enduring vision of its pioneering namesake. With a Good Ofsted rating, extensive outdoor facilities and integrated children's centre services, the nursery provides not just education but a network of family support that addresses health, wellbeing and social development. The multilingual, multicultural community creates an environment where diversity is celebrated and children learn alongside peers from a wide range of backgrounds.
For families living in Islington, particularly those near the Archway area, Margaret McMillan represents a strong choice for early years provision, combining educational quality with pastoral care and community connection. The admissions criteria prioritise children in need and those with special educational needs, ensuring that the nursery serves its most vulnerable families first. While competition for places is significant, the school's wraparound day-care and flexible funded hours make it a practical option for working parents. Families outside Islington seeking a place should be aware that only Marketed Places are available to them, and these come at full market cost rather than council subsidy.
Overall, Margaret McMillan Nursery School continues to embody the values of its founder, offering young children in North London a nurturing, health-focused and play-rich start to their educational journey.
Margaret McMillan Nursery School is rated Good by Ofsted following its most recent inspection in October 2021. The school has maintained a consistent Good rating across multiple inspection cycles since 2007, demonstrating sustained quality in early years provision. Staff create a warm and caring environment, know families well, and integrate learning through play with well-designed resources. The extensive outdoor facilities and commitment to child-led exploration reflect the pioneering vision of Margaret McMillan, the early childhood educator after whom the school is named.
Applications to Margaret McMillan Nursery School are made through Islington Council if you are a resident of the borough. You can apply online at the council's website for free 15-hour or 30-hour funded places. Applications typically open in early September, close in mid-January, and offers are made in mid-April for the following academic year. If you do not live in Islington, you can only apply for a Marketed Place (subject to full fees) by contacting the school directly. Day-care places for children aged 0–5 are available separately for working parents or those in accredited study, charged on a means-tested scale.
Margaret McMillan Nursery School serves children aged 0–5. Free 15-hour funded places are available to all children from the term after their third birthday. Eligible two-year-olds can access free 15-hour places, and some three- and four-year-olds qualify for 30-hour funded provision. Day-care places, available 39 or 48 weeks a year, are open to children from birth to age five, subject to means-tested fees and parental employment or study criteria.
Yes. Margaret McMillan Nursery School reserves six places specifically for children with profound or complex special educational needs, allocated through the Islington Special Needs Advisory Panel. Children with less complex needs may be allocated places via the Priority Early Learning Panel, working with health visitors and other professionals. The Deputy Head serves as SENCo, coordinating tailored support for all children with additional needs.
The nursery operates Monday to Friday from 8.00am to 5.45pm. Free 15-hour places typically run four days a week either in the morning (9.30–11.45) or afternoon (1.15–3.30), plus one full day (9.30–3.30) during term time. Free 30-hour places operate five full days a week (9.30–3.30) during term time. Extended day-care provision is available from 8.00am to 5.45pm for 39 or 48 weeks a year, depending on the package chosen.
The school is named after Margaret McMillan, who founded England's first open-air nursery in 1914 and pioneered child-centred, outdoor-focused early education. The nursery continues this legacy with extensive outdoor learning spaces and a play-based curriculum rooted in McMillan's belief that children learn best through exploration in safe, nurturing environments. The school also functions as a children's centre, offering integrated health, family support and training services alongside education, serving a multicultural community where over 20 languages are spoken.
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