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Highbury Community Nursery

Ofsted: Good
(Jul 2025)
·
4.4(21 parent reviews) ·15 Aubert Park, London, N5 1TL · Islington
Number of places
60 places
Age range
0–4 yrs
Last inspected
Jul 2025
Local authority
Islington

About this day nursery

Highbury Community Nursery, located in London, N5 1TL, is dedicated to providing a child-centred environment that fosters inspiration and nurtures each child as a secure, valued, and unique individual. The nursery believes in establishing strong partnerships with families, ensuring a continuous flow of information about a child’s daily experiences, achievements, and interests.

They actively encourage families to share details about their child's home life and interests to further enhance their learning journey. Highbury Community Nursery prioritizes smooth transitions when children move to different rooms within the nursery or progress to school.

As a community nursery, parental involvement is a cornerstone, vital for cultivating a strong sense of community and enabling families to actively participate in their child’s development and nursery life. This can involve joining events, celebrating cultural occasions, serving on the management committee, or contributing skills to support the nursery.

The nursery is proud to have achieved Millie's Mark, signifying that all staff directly working with children are Paediatric First Aid trained by their in-house qualified instructor. Furthermore, Makaton, a signing system, is integrated into their communication to support language development, build self-esteem, and alleviate frustration, with guidance from their Makaton Ambassadors.

Children have constant access to a fantastic garden, regardless of the weather, which encourages deeper learning through play and exploration of the natural environment, promoting spatial awareness and inquisitive learning.

Our ethos

This nursery is dedicated to providing a child-centred environment that fosters inspiration and nurtures each child as a secure, valued, and unique individual. They believe in establishing strong partnerships with families, encouraging parental involvement as a cornerstone for cultivating a strong sense of community. Makaton is integrated into their communication to support language development, and children have constant access to a garden which encourages deeper, playful learning through exploration of the natural environment.

What it's like

Children arrive happily and engage quickly in a wide variety of imaginative, stimulating activities. Leaders are keen to promote secure attachments between staff and children and to build on children's sense of belonging. Staff build affectionate bonds with children and help them to feel secure and confident in the nursery by getting to know them and by valuing each child highly.

Child-centred environmentStrong family partnershipsMillie's Mark accreditedMakaton integrated communicationAll-weather outdoor play

Pricing & funding

Fees are set directly by the Islington Education Department. Parents are required to pay a deposit of one month's fees in advance. A one-off fee is also charged to join the admissions list.

Funding accepted

15 hours — working parents (9 months–2 yrs)15 hours — eligible 2-year-olds15 hours — universal (3–4 yrs)30 hours — working parents (3–4 yrs)

Good to know

  • Fees are set by the Islington Education Department.
  • A deposit of one month's fees is required in advance.
  • A fee is required to join the admissions list.

Key facts

Waitlist

full, places become available throughout the year

Opening hours

Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm

Age range

9 months to 5 years

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

1985

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Highbury Community Nursery

Last inspected 30 July 2025 · Jenny Beckles

Safeguarding effective
Overall effectiveness
Good
Quality of education
Good
Behaviour and attitudes
Good
Personal development
Good
Leadership and management
Good

What it's like to attend

Children arrive happily and engage quickly in a wide variety of imaginative, stimulating activities. Leaders are keen to promote secure attachments between staff and children and to build on children's sense of belonging. Staff build affectionate bonds with children and help them to feel secure and confident in the nursery by getting to know them and by valuing each child highly.

Inspector highlights

  • Leaders place a high emphasis on supporting and coaching staff.
  • Staff weave mathematics into different activities so children learn as they play.
  • Partnerships with parents are strong.
  • Staff provide a range of learning experiences outside that enable children to develop their physical skills.
  • Staff teach children good emotional regulation skills.

Areas to develop

  • 1consider ways to manage meal times more effectively to enable younger children to settle more readily and enhance their personal and social development.
Inspection #10399484 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

the nursery is an extension of a child's family

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Staff keep track of children's development and ensure that additional support is given to any child who needs it. Staff understand how to seek support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities.

Outdoor space

Staff provide a range of learning experiences outside that enable children to develop their physical skills. Older children enjoy physical challenges as they climb up rope ladders and balance skilfully across stepping stones in the well-equipped garden. Younger children eagerly crawl through tunnels and staff support them as they balance along low planks.

Parent Reviews of Highbury Community Nursery

4.4
(21)
Tanja Velling
3 months ago

Went to the baby massage class and would highly recommend it. Cathy is a kind and gentle teacher.

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Serena M.
a year ago

We sent our daughter to this nursery from when she was 9 months old. We couldn’t have asked for more: the outside space is absolutely gorgeous, the staff is creative to the next level which really makes the difference, the owner is sweet and caring for the children. Thank you for all you’ve done for us. Our daughter is now leaving the nursery with strong foundations for her life ahead. We will miss you ❤️

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Alexandra Anagnostopoulou
3 years ago

When I was looking for childcare I had visited several nurseries and this one stood out - they gained my trust straight away. We were lucky to have both our kids in HCN. This nursery has a very nice philosophy and approach to childcare and they take their job seriously and do it with a lot of love. The activities they do with kids are fun and stimulating. I am grateful to them for all the nice things my kids learned and experienced there. The staff are lovely, friendly and understanding and they always strive to make the environment fun and enjoyable for kids. I highly recommend it.

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Sophie Smith-Tong
4 years ago

We had children in this nursery for 7 years and I can honestly say they became a home away from home. A progressive approach to childcare, and an ongoing ability to reflect on their practice meant that our children were taken care of in a way that was well researched and ultimately that worked! The garden at this nursery is magical, and the mix of well thought out play experiences alongside a very child led environment meant my children could develop and explore in a way that suited them. I never saw a practitioner walking around "overseeing" the children, the adults in this nursery get stuck in and are always at child level giving the children space when needed and facilitating when necessary. I will miss having them in my life and I would recommend this nursery to everyone!

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Rinku Bhadoria
4 years ago

Both of my children attended this nursery over a period of 4 years and I can’t recommend it highly enough. HCN provides a perfect blend between a child-led, nurturing and relaxed environment without compromising on organisation, safety and security. We were especially impressed with the rigorous systems the nursery put in place during the pandemic allowing my youngest daughter to continue her developmental journey in the Green Room and providing much needed relief to us as working parents. The staff are really excellent - my daughters had a close bond with their key people but they were also comfortable with a number of staff members who took the time to get to know them and respond to their particular interests and needs. The communications App, Famly, is put to good use so we always felt we had visibility on how the children were spending their time at nursery and could communicate regularly with staff. My youngest daughter started school this year but both girls are happily going back for a couple of ad hoc days during half term and can’t wait to see staff and old friends again!

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Highbury Community Nursery. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: May 2005

  • October 2025Good
  • July 2025Good
  • December 2019Good
  • December 2019Good
  • March 2014Outstanding
  • February 2014Outstanding
  • February 2009Good
  • January 2009Good
  • April 2008Inadequate
  • May 2005Good

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This listing has been compiled from official Ofsted records, the nursery's own website, details provided directly by the nursery where available, and other trusted public sources. We regularly review and update listings to keep the information as accurate as possible. Learn more