Archway Children’s Centre achieved 'Outstanding' in the recent Ofsted inspection. The effectiveness of leadership and management, quality of teaching, learning, assessment, personal development, behaviour, welfare and outcomes for children is all outstanding.
The report states that, ‘Staff build exceptionally strong partnerships with parents. Children are happy and feel safe in the children’s centre. The management team is inspirational. Children are exceptionally well prepared for their next stage in learning and for their move to school.’
Archway Children's Centre is situated in the Bright Start West area in a light and spacious purpose-built space. We have a family-friendly cafe which provides healthy and nutritious vegetarian meals and a spacious garden with chickens, mud kitchens and a calm space to explore natural materials.
Archway Children’s Centre is in the register of good practice for ‘Providing Adventurous Learning Through Forest School Experiences’ and for ‘Imaginative Approaches to Exploring Media and Materials’. It also has the status for Healthy Children’s Centre and Healthy Early Years.
As well as providing childcare and education for babies and children from 6 months to 5 years, the Centre offers a wide range of activities and services including stay and play, chatterpillars, zumba, midwifery clinic, health clinic, family support surgery, free healthy start vitamins and breastfeeding support.
At Archway Children’s Centre we have an integrated, holistic and responsive approach which develops children’s physical health, emotional wellbeing, creative and critical thinking skills. This is done through sensitive interaction, an enabling environment and parent partnership so all children reach their full potential to achieve positive outcomes.
There are also a range of exciting volunteering opportunities available at the centre including working with children and families in sessions, leading exciting projects or helping in our café and gardens.
A recent EYFS review report stated, ‘Archway Children’s Centre demonstrates commitment to all the children, families and users of the centre. First hand experiences and appropriate challenges are offered to meet the developmental needs of the children’.
The services have been highly rated by users: “We love the sessions! Coming to the Centre is the best part of the week!”; "thank you for giving a wonderful start to her education – it could not have been bettered. We couldn’t have asked for more!"
For information on activities from 2 January to 17 April 2020 see the Bright Start West Timetable.
You can read the most recent Ofsted report here.
Healthy Start vitamins are available at all childen's centres.
For accessibility information, please visit Disabled Go.
Archway is recognised as an Islington Healthy Early Years setting and has received the Healthy Early Years London Silver Award.
Islington Healthy Early Years works with settings to ensure a good level of support for the health and wellbeing of children under five and their families. 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. More information about the London award is available here.