North Islington Nursery School: nursery review

Gardens that children can choose throughout their play, classrooms arranged like workshops and stories invented by the children themselves give North Islington its character. This is nursery provision within North Islington Nursery School and Children's Centre on Tollington Park, with places for children from three months to five years. The childcare provision totals 87 full-time-equivalent places, including part-time attendance.

There is an important distinction within the building. The January 2023 school inspection covered children aged three to five; the separately registered under-two provision on the same site fell outside its scope. Its findings should therefore be read as evidence about the older nursery children.

Choice shapes the day. Resources sit within children's reach, and each classroom opens directly onto a garden. Books accompany different play areas, while clipboards let children draw or make marks indoors and outside. Keeping tools and materials in familiar positions helps children pursue an idea independently rather than wait for an adult to fetch something.

The early-learning curriculum connects language, physical development, relationships, literacy, mathematics, understanding the world and creative expression through play. Outdoor time has no fixed slot: children can continue a construction project, move heavy blocks or choose climbing and balancing. Sunshades, wellies and waterproof clothing support play across changing weather. Growing vegetables also connects the garden with cooking.

Helicopter Stories gives children's own ideas a shared audience: an adult records a child's invented story, then a group performs it. The core-book approach brings a selected text back across a half term, with puppets and magnetic props helping children reconstruct events. Owl Babies is one settling-in choice, linking stories with the experience of separation and reunion.

Creative work includes mixing paint, shaping clay and making dough. These are practical opportunities to explore materials and quantities. In January 2023, children counted ingredients during dough-making and developed vocabulary through mud-kitchen play, although opportunities to extend communication were sometimes missed. Adult interaction. The inspection required more consistent support for language development. Families should weigh that concern alongside the breadth of play opportunities.

Settling starts with a key person and a home visit. Family information then informs early activities, potentially including a family photograph display or a book about home. Parents are encouraged to build attendance gradually and remain close enough to help during this stage. Familiar people and images give the child something recognisable while routines are still new.

Communication support includes Makaton, photographs for expressing choices and daily language groups. Staff work with a linked speech and language therapist and an educational psychologist; emotional support also involves a play therapist and CAMHS. These provide different routes into participation for children who need extra help with communication or feelings.

In January 2023, children settled readily and received support matched to additional needs. Snack preparation included handwashing before handling fruit, and lunch offered opportunities to serve salad independently. Care routines therefore also became chances to practise responsibility. Safeguarding was effective at that inspection, including staff welfare training and teaching children how to handle real workshop tools safely.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through the normal admissions process and meet its deadline.

Preparation for primary school is a separate matter. In January 2023, children developed independence and confidence, and were ready for that move. Choosing resources, communicating preferences and taking turns support preparation for primary school; families must still apply separately for Reception.

The setting opens from 8am to 6pm across 49 weeks of the year. Booking patterns are two, three or five days, with part-time days grouped consecutively. Under-threes attend on an extended-day, year-round basis. For over-threes in Ocean Room, families can choose a term-time core day from 9.15am to 3.15pm or year-round extended attendance. Morning-only and two-and-a-half-day options apply to children using only the 15-hour entitlement.

All children receive 15 funded hours from the term following their third birthday. Eligible working parents can access up to 30 hours from the term after their child reaches nine months; eligibility must be checked before the term cut-off. Charges depend on household income and are set by the local authority. Contact the school for current charges.

Enquiries go to northislington.eyc@islington.gov.uk or 020 7527 4844. Travel. There is no on-site parking, and Finsbury Park Station is nearby. The entrance is at ground level, with a lift serving the upper floor.