Willow Children's Centre

Willow Children's Centre achieved 'Outstanding' in the last Ofsted inspection. '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’. The report states that, ‘Staff have the highest expectations for children's development. The learning environment is filled with stimulating and imaginative resources and learning opportunities, both inside and outside. Children's interests are central to learning and themes are embedded in activities which stimulate the 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 large sandpit, a meadow with a bug hotel, climbing equipment and tree house, mud kitchen and space for growing plants and vegetables, calm spaces to explore natural materials the Forest School way.There are covered areas which means the outdoors can be accessed easily in all weathers. Willow's garden has been awarded the Islington in Bloom 2021 GOLD award for 'Best Chidren's Planting'!

At Willow 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.

Willow Children’s Centre is in the register of good practice for ‘Providing Adventurous Learning Through Forest School Experiences’.

As well as providing childcare and education for babies and children from 6 months to 5 years, the Centre offers a range of activities and services including stay and play, fathers’ stay and play, midwifery clinics, family support, chatterpillars,  and free healthy start vitamins. The Bright Start North timetable indicates the activities we offer. 

The services have been highly rated by users, ‘We have had such a warm welcome from everyone, even staff who didn’t know us, and the welcome sign on the door was a lovely touch. The keyworker has been so warm, thoughtful and patient, and it has clearly worked as L appears to have settled really well’.

‘The children really loved it and led the way. I was so impressed with their adventurous spirit; climbing huge muddy hills & fallen trees, jumping ditches and much more. It was also great to see how the Forest School facilitators interacted with the children - I was taking tips! Their enthusiasm was infectious & the children hung on their every word’. 

Willow 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.

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 garden.

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

Healthy Start vitamins are available to collect here.

For accessibility information, please visit Disabled Go.

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

A video tour can be accessed on this link

WCC