Willow Children's Centre

Contact details 

Phone number: 020 7527 1990

Email: willow.eyc@islington.gov.uk

Address: 1a Holbrooke Court, off Tufnell Park Road, Islington, London N7 0BF

If you would like to express your interest in this children's centre,  please fill out this online form

Learn more about our  other council-managed nurseries

Willow is situated in the Bright Start North area in a light and spacious purpose-built space. We have a large garden with a big sandpit, a meadow with a bug hotel, climbing equipment and tree house, mud kitchen and space for growing plants and vegetables and 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 2022 GOLD award for 'Best Children’s Planting'

At Willow Children’s Centre we have an integrated, holistic, and responsive approach which develops children’s physical health, emotional wellbeing, resilience and independence, creative and critical thinking skills, respect for themselves, others and for the environment. This is done through sensitive and positive interactions, acknowledging and valuing the children’s opinions, celebrating children’s achievements, feelings, uniqueness and individualism, staff well-being, supporting each other and welcoming diversity, 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’. 

When children engage with Forest School, they take their experiences home to share with friends and family. This has encouraged families to visit their local woodlands more frequently. One dad said after he had been with the group, ‘I will continue to come here as it is a great natural space to clear my head and so be there for my child’. Another family who has a child with additional needs has found similar green spaces and woodlands to go to and explore during the weekend and they have started doing woodwork at home. 

Willow is recognised as an Islington Healthy Early Years setting and has received the Healthy Early Years London Silver Award. 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.

See a virtual tour of Willow Children's Centre. 

"I am extremely happy with the great level of care and educational opportunities that my child has at Willow Children's Centre as it provides a warm, welcoming, safe and stimulating learning environment for her. The equipment is excellent. The garden is amazing." - Parent

"I have been delighted with the care Willow has offered my child. The staff are very child focussed, knowledgeable and caring. I always know how my child is doing and what I can do to support his progress. The environment is lovely, particularly the garden." - Parent  

"I love working at Willow.  It is truly a magical setting. As a team, we work seamlessly, to deliver good quality early years education, that puts all the children, alongside their families at the forefront of their learning. We aim to inclusively provide the children with activities where their interests, ideas and voices are valued." - Staff member