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Nursery at Thornhill Primary School
Last reviewed: October 2026 · Inspection data and key information above update regularly, however, this review below is refreshed bi-annually and may not reflect recent changes. Contact the nursery directly to confirm current arrangements. If you spot anything outdated or inaccurate, please let us know.
Guided play and a teacher-led team give Thornhill’s nursery its character. This is the school’s provision for three- and four-year-olds on Thornhill Road in Islington, with an Early Years Coordinator overseeing a qualified teacher and Early Years Educators. Children can attend on a full-time or part-time basis during school terms. The choice changes the shape of their week, rather than simply shortening every day.
Play includes an active role for adults here. Children choose some activities themselves; staff introduce others. Guided free play involves adults encouraging children to question and think back over their learning. Modelling skills and behaviour, alongside questions with more than one possible answer, gives children something to build on while keeping their own ideas involved.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) brings education and care together across seven connected learning areas. Thornhill’s approach recognises that children develop at different speeds, and links their experiences to individual needs. Relationships with adults and partnership with parents are part of that approach. For families, this means the curriculum is intended to respond to the child, rather than expect everyone to progress identically.
Observation helps staff decide what to offer next. Topics start with discussion of children’s existing ideas, and feedback during activities helps shape subsequent teaching. At the November 2022 inspection, counting in different sequences was a specific example of early-years mathematics. It gives a concrete picture of the number learning alongside play.
The EYFS timetable places morning playtime at 10:15–10:30am and afternoon playtime at 2:00–2:15pm. These scheduled breaks give the full day some recurring markers.
A qualified teacher leads the nursery team, supported by Early Years Educators and overseen by the Early Years Coordinator. That separates classroom teaching from coordination of the provision. Partnership between families and practitioners also forms part of the EYFS approach, connecting care and learning with children’s individual needs.
Lunch occupies the EYFS timetable’s 11:00am–12:00pm slot. For children attending a full day, it is a defined pause in the session. Families with special educational needs or safeguarding enquiries have a direct contact route through the school’s SEND coordinator, who also holds the Designated Safeguarding Lead role.
Nursery attendance does not guarantee a Reception place. Families must make a separate Reception application through Islington Council and meet the deadline for their intake. Treat that application as a separate task even while your child attends Thornhill’s nursery.
For the September 2024 intake, the application deadline was 15 January 2024. Those dates belong to a past admissions cycle; use the council’s application process for the relevant intake.
The full-time pattern runs Monday to Friday, 8:50am–3:20pm. Part-time attendance is organised into blocks: the early-week option combines full days on Monday and Tuesday with Wednesday morning, ending at 11:50am. The other pattern combines Wednesday afternoon, 12:20–3:20pm, with Thursday and Friday. This is a block-booking choice, so consider which part of the week fits your family’s routine.
Term-time places are offered from the term following a child’s third birthday. All three- and four-year-olds can access 15 funded hours; some working families qualify for 30. Eligible families need to provide their eligibility code to the school. Families entitled to 15 funded hours who want 30 hours may be able to pay for the additional hours under Islington Council’s Early Years Charging Policy. Contact admissions@thornhill.islington.sch.uk for current charges and nursery enquiries.
A waiting list is currently in operation. Parent tours can be requested through the admissions email address, and a virtual nursery tour offers another way to explore the provision.
The provision is for three- and four-year-olds, with term-time places offered from the term after a child’s third birthday.
Yes. Part-time attendance follows either an early-week block or a block covering Wednesday afternoon, Thursday and Friday.
Yes. There are 15-hour term-time places and 30-hour places for eligible families. Families qualifying for 30 hours need to supply an eligibility code.
No. A separate application must be made through Islington Council for the relevant Reception intake.
Email admissions@thornhill.islington.sch.uk to request a parent tour. There is also a virtual nursery tour.
