Archway Children's Centre

Archway Children’s Centre achieved 'Outstanding' in the last 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 North area in a light and spacious purpose-built space. We have a spacious garden with chickens, mud kitchen, children’s planting areas and calm spaces to explore natural materials the Forest School way. There are covered verandah areas which means the outdoors can be accessed easily in all weathers.

Archway Children’s Centre is on Islington’s register of good practice for ‘Imaginative Approaches to Exploring Media and Materials’.

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, SENsory adventures, midwifery clinic, health clinic, family support surgery, free healthy start vitamins and breastfeeding support. The Bright Start North timetable indicates the activities we offer.

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 trauma induced practice, 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 gardens.

The last 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!"

‘The facilities are outstanding, and all staff are always welcoming, friendly and great with the children. We could not wish for a better childcare setting for our children’! ‘Outstanding facilities and fantastic staff. We could not be happier with the centre!’

More information on Bright Start services for families with children under 5, including the timetable of local and online activities.

You can read the most recent Ofsted report here.

Healthy Start vitamins are available to collect here.

For accessibility information, please visit Disabled Go.

Archway Children's Centre was awarded the 2021 SILVER award for ‘Islington in Bloom’ in the category of children’s planting.

Archway is recognised as an Islington Healthy Early Years setting and has received the Healthy Early Years London GOLD 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.

Parents can do a tour of the centre; please call to book!

A video tour can be accessed on this link

ACC

Who to contact

Contact Name: Mita Pandya
Telephone: 020 7527 4827 020 7527 4827
E-mail: archway.eyc@islington.gov.uk
Website: Archway Children's Centre
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Location

Address: Vorley Road
Islington
London
Postcode: N19 5HE

Time / date details

Opening times/date: Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

Other Details

Age Ranges

Childcare services are for children aged 6 months to 4 years

Cost Details

There is a charge for children under 3 and for those 3- and 4-year-olds who stay longer than the free education hours.

Who is this service for?

Everyone living in Islington who cares for a child under 5.

Can I refer myself?

Referral not required

Referral Details

The Centre is popular and prioritises children on whether the child: is at risk or in need; has special educational needs; lives in Islington; lives close to the nursery; is the right age for the space available; has parents who are working or studying full-time.

You can apply for a place at a children’s centre by either collecting an application form from the centre or phoning and asking for one to be emailed to you. You can then return it in person or email back. If your child is offered a place, an admissions meeting will be arranged where you can bring in the relevant paperwork (proof of address etc) and the administrator will help you with the forms that need to be signed.

If you would like any more information about protective measures in place at the centres to minimise risk of transmission of Covid-19 or curriculum practice and provision in general, please phone and ask to speak to the Head or Executive Head who will be happy to speak with you.

Other notes

Testing

Childcare Information

2 year old funding: Yes
3 & 4 year old funding (15 hours): Yes
3 & 4 year old funding (30 hours): Yes
Tax-free childcare: Yes

Local Offer

How will you support my child?

We welcome children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families. Our vision for all children with SEND is that they achieve well in their early years and beyond and lead happy and fulfilled lives.

We have experience of working with children with a wide range of needs including autism, global developmental delay, down syndrome, speech delay, complex trauma, emotional needs.

We aim to provide a broad, balanced and high quality curriculum, which is inclusive, accessible and supports children with SEND, taking into account their interests, preferences and individual needs. We will ensure that children with SEND engage in activities together with those who do not have SEND, and participate fully in the life of the nursery and in any wider community activity.

Some children will start attending the setting with special educational needs or a disability already identified. For some, difficulties with their development will begin to emerge while they are with us. Where a child is identified as having SEN or disabilities, to enable the child to participate, learn and make progress, we will remove barriers to learning and put effective, personalised special educational provision in place through a four-part cycle, known as the graduated approach. We ensure that the views of children and their families are taken into account and that they are actively involved in planning and decision making throughout.

We recognise the importance of early identification and the timely provision of appropriate high-quality support, together with high aspirations and expectations of children with special educational needs help children achieve the best possible outcomes. We deliver a range of evidence based support and interventions including language groups, play therapy, sing and sign, Read it 2, Attention Builders and SENsory Adventures.

The centre benefits from working in collaboration with specialist partners in education, health and social care to ensure early identification and appropriate support. These include speech and language therapists; clinical psychologists; educational psychologists; health visitors, Social Communication Team; Early Years Development Team; audiology; community nursing; physiotherapists; occupational therapists; Richard Cloudesley Outreach Service; Downright Excellent.

Our Over Threes SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) has a number of higher education qualifications including BA (Hons) Early Childhood Education and Qualified Teacher Status. Our Under Threes SENCO holds Early Years Professional Status. The skills and training of our SENCOs and staff include autism awareness, social communication, meaningful transitions for children with SEND, trauma, Makaton, and early years mental health and wellbeing. Our Islington link Area SENCO provides us with support, advice and training regarding children with SEND.

You can download a copy of our Special Needs and Disability Policy.