Willow Children's Centre
Outstanding★ 4.6 on GoogleBirth to 8+Open for decades
A day nursery in London for children from birth to 8+, open 08:00 to 18:00, 5 days a week. They do not publish prices, so that is the first thing to ask. Rated Outstanding by Ofsted in May 2025. Open since 2001, with 70 places.
What you might pay
This setting does not publish its fees, and no national dataset holds them. This is what childcare costs across the council, as a starting point for the call.
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
N7 0BFWhat 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, 29 May 2025 · read the full report
What it is like to attend
Children thrive in this exceptionally warm and happy nursery. Staff are skilful in responding to children's individual needs. On arrival, children happily know the routine of finding their pegs to hang up their coats and bags before joining their friends in play. Staff are fully aware of children's interests. For example, they plan the garden to provide children with joyous learning in nature. Children express their need to feed the birds, and staff join children in the large planting area.
Children pick berries for the birds and share that they must not eat them as it will give them a 'sick tummy'. Children learn about the consequences of their actions throughout the day. They learn how to take risks, such as through climbing and exploring the exceptionally well-structured garden. Children have excellent attitudes to their learning.
Leaders are passionate about providing children with rich learning experiences within the nursery and during regular outings. Leaders and staff prioritise children's curiosity and love of learning. Children learn to be independent learners through resourceful staff who provide an exceptional learning environment. Staff give children lots of choices throughout the day. For instance, older children are responsible for supporting to arrange activities in the room each day, based on their previous learning and children's interests. Children remain deeply engaged in their play throughout the day, which supports their confidence and learning.
- 29 May 2025Outstanding Safeguarding: Yes
- 18 June 2019Outstanding
- 27 October 2015Good
Rated Good or Outstanding at 3 of the last 3 graded inspections.
Still missing for Willow Children's Centre
- What it costs
- Funded hours
- Youngest age taken
- 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
None of this is in any national dataset and this setting has not published it, which is exactly why it is worth asking.
- What does it cost, all in? What is on top: meals, nappies, late pick-up, and what happens if you are late.
- Can I use my funded hours here? Whether they stretch them over the year, and the minimum days you have to book.
- Is there a place for my child's age? 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.