Margaret McMillan Nursery School
GoodTakes funded hours★ 4.4 on GoogleBirth to 5Open for decades
A day nursery in London for babies from 6 months up to 5 year olds, open 8am to 6pm. They take the funded hours. They do not publish prices, so ask. Rated Good by Ofsted in December 2022. Open since 2005, with 9 places.
What it costs
Prices change without notice. Treat these as what to ask about, not a quote.
Funded hours
We provide flexible funded places for eligible 2, 3 and 4 year olds, in line with current government and Islington Local Authority guidance.
Worth knowing. Families may also pay for additional hours on top of their child's Universal Entitlement.
What childcare usually costs in Islington
This is not this setting's price. It is the median hourly fee across all providers in Islington from the Department for Education's 2025 provider survey. No national data holds what an individual nursery charges, so ring and ask.
Places, hours and the day
Who they take, when they are open, and what a day there includes.
Where it is
N19 3SFWhat the inspector found
One grade is one visit. A run of them tells you whether it has been good for years or has only just got there.
Ofsted inspector, 5 December 2022 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Babies and toddlers develop secure relationships with staff, who welcome them warmly as they arrive at nursery. Children seek out familiar staff and receive reassurance and comfort throughout the day. Staff are attentive and responsive to children's emotional and care needs. Staff working with babies understand the importance of daily routines. Children are secure because they know what to expect with staff who talk to them and tell them what is happening next. Babies and toddlers are beginning to learn to take turns and share with each other. Staff intent is to teach children to respect one another and to play in cooperative ways.
Staff are sensitive role models, and young children respond well because staff offer meaningful praise.
Staff have a good knowledge and understanding of child development. They observe children and assess their progress to enable them to swiftly recognise where children may need additional support. They work closely with outside professionals to ensure that children make the best progress and receive any help they may need to achieve this. Children make good progress across all areas of learning. They develop their large-muscle skills as they spend time outside every day. They are so keen to take part in the activities in the well-resourced outdoor area. They balance on crates and wheeled toys with confidence. They explore with enthusiasm and enjoyment as they communicate with visitors and staff.
What Ofsted told them to improve
To further improve the quality of the early years provision, the provider should:
- enhance further the availability of natural resources to provide more challenge and sensory interest for children n continue to improve the existing good systems for communication to further enhance effective information sharing, particularly in relation to children's interests so they can be more easily incorporated into the curriculum.
- 5 December 2022Good
- 16 February 2017Good
- 10 July 2013Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Margaret McMillan Nursery School
- What it costs
- Meals
- Nappies
- Waiting list
No dataset holds any of this. Two parents telling us the same thing puts it on the page for whoever looks next.
What to ask them
Some of this is above, from the setting or from parents, and it can go out of date. The rest is in no dataset anywhere. Either way it is worth ten minutes on the phone.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- How do you apply my funded hours? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Do you have a place for a child of my age now? Baby rooms fill first and waiting lists are common.
- Who would my child's key person be? And how long have the staff been there. No dataset holds this and it matters more than anything above.
- Can I visit at a busy time? Mid-morning on a weekday tells you far more than an empty room after hours.
Day nurseries within a couple of miles
This one is first. Tick it and one or two others to see them side by side.