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Willow Children's Centre

Ofsted: Outstanding
(May 2025)
·
4.6(16 parent reviews) ·Willow Children's Centre, 1a Holbrooke Court, London, N7 0BF · Islington
Number of places
70 places
Age range
0–5 yrs
Last inspected
May 2025
Local authority
Islington

About this day nursery

Willow Children's Centre, established in 2006, offers childcare for children aged 0-5 years, operating year-round from 8am to 6pm on weekdays. The nursery received an Outstanding rating in its latest Ofsted inspection on 29 May 2025.

Children thrive in this exceptionally warm and happy setting, benefiting from a curriculum that provides rich learning experiences both within the nursery and during regular outings. Staff are highly skilled at responding to individual children's needs, fostering excellent attitudes to learning, and nurturing their curiosity and love for exploration.

The nursery also places a strong emphasis on outdoor learning, with a meticulously designed garden where children can engage in joyous activities in nature, learning to take risks through climbing, exploring, and balancing on logs, which supports their physical development, balance, and coordination. Leaders are dedicated to ensuring every child reaches their full potential, providing extensive training for staff.

The nursery offers expert care and support for children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) and those who have gaps in their learning, working closely with health and educational professionals to tailor teaching to individual needs. Staff also provide invaluable advice and guidance to parents, helping them access specialist services when required.

The nursery is praised by parents for its inclusivity and the enriching learning experiences that help children to flourish.

What it's like

Children thrive in this exceptionally warm and happy nursery. Staff are skilful in responding to children's individual needs. Children have excellent attitudes to their learning. Leaders are passionate about providing children with rich learning experiences within the nursery and during regular outings, prioritising their curiosity and love of learning.

Outstanding Ofsted ratingAges 0-5 yearsSensory playOutdoor learning gardenSEND supportAll year round

Pricing & funding

Funding accepted

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

Key facts

Opening hours

each weekday from 8am to 6pm, all year round

Term time / All Year

All Year

Established

2006

Ofsted Inspection

Ofsted rating for Willow Children's Centre

Last inspected 29 May 2025 · Jacqueline Halpin

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

What it's like to attend

Children thrive in this exceptionally warm and happy nursery. Staff are skilful in responding to children's individual needs. Children have excellent attitudes to their learning. Leaders are passionate about providing children with rich learning experiences within the nursery and during regular outings, prioritising their curiosity and love of learning.

Inspector highlights

  • Leaders are exceptional in their passion for every child to reach their full potential, providing regular and varied training for staff.
  • Staff ensure that children receive excellent learning experiences and have high expectations for all children.
  • Staff support children's speech and language to an excellent standard, teaching them new words throughout the day.
  • Staff plan for children's physical development exceptionally well, providing opportunities for climbing, balancing, and imaginative play.
  • Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who have gaps in their learning receive expert care and support.
Inspection #10380659 · Source: OfstedView full Ofsted report

What parents say

Verbatim quotes recorded in the Ofsted inspection

Parents speak with enthusiasm about the excellence of leaders and staff.

They praise how leaders and staff understand the uniqueness of their children and embrace any interests with enthusiasm.

Parents appreciate the inclusiveness of the nursery and the richness of the learning their children receive to help them thrive.

Inclusion & environment

How they support every child

SEND provision

Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities and children who have gaps in their learning receive expert care and support. Leaders work closely with health and educational professionals to individualise their teaching to support children's individual needs. Staff provide parents with excellent advice and guidance to help them to access specialist services where needed.

Outdoor space

Staff plan the garden to provide children with joyous learning in nature. Children learn how to take risks, such as through climbing and exploring the exceptionally well-structured garden. Children climb the wooden wall and use the tree house to explore. They enjoy balancing on logs, which supports their balance and coordination.

Parent Reviews of Willow Children's Centre

4.6
(16)
Jamie
12 months ago

Willow Children's Centre discriminates against children of working parents, as they have implemented a rule that gives first priority to children who attend sessions with their parents. As such, children with carers are denied access until fifteen minutes after the session has started and are sometimes outright refused access, depending on the staff member on duty. Their venue is described as “friendly, safe, and welcoming”, but that only applies to parents. Carers are treated remarkably differently, and the claim that their sessions are inclusive is disappointingly inaccurate.

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Claudia Falso
9 years ago

I LOVE this children's centre! All the staff is really nice and the children are always happy and smiley. They have lots of activities and a great internal playing space for kids to run around. They also distribute vitamins for breast mums and babies. Their community midwives are so nice as is the lady doing antenatal yoga! If you live in Holloway do go take a look (and a class or 2!).

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Philip Gater
9 years ago

Even though it says its closed on saturdays its not the centre is open they have a Dads group there. Iv been taking my Daughter since she was a baby the Dads group is a fantastic place for Dads who want somewhere to go each week with there children, every one is friendly and the staff are fantastic. The centre has an outdoors area for the little ones to runaround and a couple of tree house's with slide and lots of other fantastic activities for your children to play and learn. I really recommend if your a Dad to take your little ones here on a Saturday they will love it Opening times 10am-12pm

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Mozhgan Enayat
7 years ago

This place is just amazing. The midwife calls Michelle is one of the best midwife ever. She cares about all details. Anytime i see her i feel more supported and stronger.

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Wendy Hamam
3 years ago

I have just spent three weeks at this amazing nursery I have to say l have been welcome by all the amazing staff who l will miss but most of all l walk with a walking stick to enable me to get about From the moment l stepped into the nursery l was welcomed with open arms and all staff were really positive to me needing my stick and made sure l had help me out if needed THANK YOU For the nursery it is an an amazing experience from babies to nursery 🤗

Read on Google

Reviews from Google for Willow Children's Centre. See all on Google Maps

Inspection history

Date: March 2005

  • June 2025Outstanding
  • May 2025Outstanding
  • July 2019Outstanding
  • June 2019Outstanding
  • November 2015Good
  • October 2015Good
  • August 2011Good
  • July 2011Outstanding
  • March 2008Good
  • March 2005Good

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