Robert Blair School and Children's Centre Nursery Review

Continuous indoor and outdoor play gives Robert Blair’s nursery its own rhythm within the school. Nursery children join suitable school celebrations, but assemblies are not an expected part of their day. That keeps participation in school life appropriate to their stage.

On Brewery Road in Islington, the school combines a nursery class with Children’s Centre provision covering six months to four years. These are distinct parts of its early years offer: families choosing care for a younger child should distinguish the Children’s Centre attendance arrangements from the school nursery.

Play continues across the nursery’s indoor and outdoor learning areas, rather than being confined to a scheduled playground break. The wider school grounds include four gardens and two large playgrounds. Those are school facilities, while the nursery’s continuous access to learning spaces inside and outside is the specific feature that shapes its day.

Stories and rhymes were part of nursery learning in November 2024. An early years example from the same month connected learning about toys from the past with pretend shopping: children used the toys in a shop corner. This gives a concrete picture of learning through play, with an idea explored in one activity then used in another.

The key person also observes children’s interests and uses those observations to plan learning. Parents’ knowledge of what their child enjoys at home contributes to that picture, making the adult’s understanding broader than classroom activity alone.

Every child in Robert Blair’s under-fives provision has a key person. The relationship begins with a home visit; families also receive photographs of the key person and other important adults. Familiar faces therefore become part of preparation before the child starts.

During settling, that adult supports the child and exchanges information with parents. Conversations include eating, sleeping and play at home. Informal updates continue alongside termly meetings to discuss development and records, giving families both everyday contact and time for a fuller conversation.

For children with SEND, the school’s support plans involve parents and are reviewed each term. Targeted work can be delivered by trained Early Years Educators, as well as teachers or teaching assistants. The school also has a Sensory Room, an Inclusion Manager and pastoral support roles; these are school resources rather than a separate nursery service.

Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Parents must make a separate application through their home local authority. Robert Blair is a community school, and Islington’s oversubscription criteria do not give nursery attendance priority.

For the September 2026 intake, the application deadline was 15 January 2026. Islington families use the online admissions route at www.islington.gov.uk/admissions.

Preparation and allocation are separate. When children change rooms or move from nursery to Reception, key people share records and arrange opportunities to become familiar with the next room, its adults and routines. That supports the change of setting; it does not secure admission.

Children’s Centre term-time options include a core day from 9am to 3.30pm and an extended day from 8am to 6pm. Bookings cover two, three or five consecutive days, with shorter patterns at the beginning or end of the week. Families need an attendance pattern that fits those blocks.

Eligible working parents can apply for 30 funded hours from the term after their child reaches nine months until school age. Eligible two-year-olds may qualify for 15 hours. Extra hours beyond a family’s funded allocation can be purchased, with charges assessed against income. Contact the school for current charges.

For nursery enquiries, arrange an early years visit and obtain an application form through the school office. This provides a direct route to seeing the provision before applying.