Willow Children's Centre

Contact details 

Phone number: 020 7527 1990

Email: Willow.EYC@islington.gov.uk

Address: 1a Holbrooke Court, off Tufnell Park Road, Islington, London N7 0BF.

If you would like to express your interest in this children's centre, please fill out this online form.

Learn more about our other council-managed nurseries.

About the centre

Willow Children’s Centre achieved 'outstanding' in the last OFSTED inspection, which stated: "The inspirational senior management team creates a highly focused ethos, which is reflected in the positive attitudes of staff, parents and children. Meeting children's care, well-being and learning needs is central to all that they do. Staff and parents develop excellent partnership working to secure the best possible outcomes for children".

Willow is situated in the Bright Start North area in a light and spacious purpose-built space. We have a large garden with a big sandpit, a meadow with a bug hotel, climbing equipment and tree house, mud kitchen and space for growing plants and vegetables and calm spaces to explore natural materials the Forest School way.

At Willow Children’s Centre we have an integrated, holistic, and responsive approach which develops children’s physical health, emotional wellbeing, resilience, independence, creative and critical thinking skills, respect for themselves, others and for the environment.

This is done through sensitive and positive interactions, acknowledging and valuing children’s opinions and feelings; celebrating children’s achievements, uniqueness and individualism; providing an enabling environment; welcoming diversity and having strong parent partnerships so all children reach their full potential to achieve positive outcomes.

At the core of our curriculum is Trauma Informed Practice (iTIPs) with aspects of ‘Loving Pedagogy’ which enables children to develop a positive self-image, have high self-esteem and become confident.

Awards and recognition

• Willow Children’s Centre is in the register of good practice for ‘Providing Adventurous Learning Through Forest School Experiences’.
• Willow is recognised as an Islington Healthy Early Years setting and has received the Healthy Early Years London Gold Award. Healthy Early Years London (HEYL) is an awards scheme funded by the Mayor of London which recognises Early Years settings’ achievements in child health, wellbeing and development.
• Willow's garden has been awarded the Islington in Bloom 2022 Gold award for 'Best Children’s Planting'

Virtual tour

See a virtual tour of Willow Children's Centre.

You can also drop in to the centre to pick up our colourful nursery prospectus.

Testimonials 

• "I am extremely happy with the great level of care and educational opportunities that my child has at Willow Children's Centre as it provides a warm, welcoming, safe and stimulating learning environment for her. The equipment is excellent. The garden is amazing." – Parent
• "I have been delighted with the care Willow has offered my child. The staff are very child focussed, knowledgeable and caring. I always know how my child is doing and what I can do to support his progress. The environment is lovely, particularly the garden." – Parent  
• "I love working at Willow.  It is truly a magical setting. As a team, we work seamlessly, to deliver good quality early years education, that puts all the children, alongside their families at the forefront of their learning. We aim to inclusively provide the children with activities where their interests, ideas and voices are valued." – Staff member
• "I will continue to come here as it is a great natural space to clear my head and so be there for my child" – Parent
• A family with a child with additional needs has found green spaces and woodlands similar to Willow Children's Centre which they explore during the weekend, and they have started doing woodwork at home.