North Islington Nursery School, London
North Islington Nursery School is a nursery school for pupils aged 0 to 5 in London. It was rated Good at its last graded Ofsted inspection, in November 2012. Ofsted's ungraded inspection in January 2023 did not change this grade.
- Ofsted
- Good (2012)
Data last updated 26 Oct 2026
North Islington Nursery School in detail
North Islington Nursery School in its own words
In its own words: "We are an inner city nursery school and children's centre which has been established since the foundations were laid in 1930. The school is proud to voice that children are at the very heart of all we do."
From the headteacher's welcome: "At North Islington Nursery School we aim to provide the children with a rich and exciting curriculum based around interests and experiences which are relevant to them. We firmly believe that children learn best through their play. Therefore, we provide daily opportunities for interaction, discovery, active learning, talk and exploration both inside and outside."
Vision and values (school website)Headteacher's welcome (school website)
Source: The school's own website
Who goes there
17.3% of pupils are eligible for free school meals, and 22.4% speak English as an additional language, according to the 2026 school census.
In 2026, 0 pupils (0%) received SEN support and 0 (0%) had an education, health and care plan.
Getting there
The nearest tram or metro stop is Finsbury Park Station, about 420 metres away (roughly a 5-minute walk).
4 bus stops are within a five-minute walk; the closest is Tollington Park, 300 metres away.
Sources: DfE school census and special educational needs statistics; NaPTAN (Department for Transport)
Key Information
DfE GIASOfsted Rating
Ofsted · 4 years agoThis judgement is from November 2012, 13 years ago, longer than Ofsted's usual 4-year cycle: the school may have changed since.
Overall
Latest (ungraded) inspection: The school remains Good.
Ofsted Insights
From Ofsted's January 2023 inspection report.
What This School Does Well
Children genuinely love coming to this nursery and settle in quickly with caring staff who know them well. The outdoor space is fantastic, with plenty of exciting activities like the mud kitchen and climbing equipment that children are enthusiastic about. Staff work closely with parents from the start to understand each child's strengths and adapt the classroom activities to match what each child needs to learn next.
Key Strengths
- Children settle in brilliantly and build strong, positive relationships with staff
- Extremely well-equipped outdoor area with bikes, mud kitchen, climbing equipment and planting areas that children love
- Staff identify children's needs early through focus weeks and adapt learning to meet individual needs
- Children develop early reading, writing and number skills well, with a strong love of stories
- Positive relationships throughout the school create a calm, purposeful learning environment
Areas for Improvement
- Sometimes staff miss opportunities to extend children's learning and promote communication and language development
- Inconsistencies in how staff interact with and support children's learning mean some teaching moments are not maximised
Safeguarding
Safeguarding arrangements are effective, with staff well-trained to identify concerns, leaders dealing with issues promptly, and children taught how to keep themselves safe including through real tool use in the workshop.
Extracurricular Activities
Visits to local shops, group speech and language sessions, circle time activities, role-play areas, workshop with real tools
North Islington Nursery School continues to be a good school where children arrive with smiles and eagerness to learn. The school provides a safe, caring environment with ambitious leaders who design everything around supporting children's learning and development.
At a Glance
17.3%
Free School Meals
No
Boarding
Yes
Nursery
No
Sixth Form
No
Special Measures
How Does This School Compare?
Ranked against 5 nearby nursery schools
Latest from North Islington Nursery School
From North Islington Nursery School's website. School Signal is not affiliated with the school.
Keep up with North Islington Nursery School
Getting There
Train Stations
Tube / Metro / Tram
Bus Stops
Free school transport
Check free transport to North Islington Nursery School from your postcode →
You apply to the council where you live. North Islington Nursery School is in Islington; for families living there:
Apply to Islington for free school transport. Its policy is on the council's website.
Safety and surroundings
Road collisions within 500 m (2021 to 2025)
- Collisions
- 103
- Fatal
- 0
- Serious
- 13
- Children hurt
- 2
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 103 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 13 serious and 90 slight.
2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise.
16 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included.
The typical figure for schools in Islington is 143 (the median across 70 schools, same distance and years).
Serious and slight counts use the Department for Transport's severity adjustment, which allows for changes in how police forces record injuries; they are estimates, rounded to whole numbers. Distances are in a straight line. Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19), Open Government Licence v3.0.
Commute and house prices
Capacity & Demand
Area Demand Pressure - London
Based on MHCLG Live Table 122 (2024-25, last 5 years) for London
Across Islington council
Places available
1,480
Applications
1,593
Got 1st preference
66.2%
Got preferred school
94.5%
All secondary applications across Islington council (2026/27), not just this school.
Inspection History(6)
SEND & SEN Provision
SEN Overview
0
SEN Support
0
EHC Plans
0.0%
of Total Pupils
2026 academic year
Provision & Specialist Facilities
Pupils by Need Type
No need-level breakdown available
Pupil Demographics
Ethnicity
2026 academic year
Key Indicators
98
Total Pupils
50
Boys
48
Girls
2026 academic year
Workforce
3
Teachers
32.7:1
Pupil-teacher ratio
£66,364
Mean salary
2026 data
Questions parents ask about North Islington Nursery School
What is North Islington Nursery School's Ofsted rating?
North Islington Nursery School's most recent Ofsted inspection, in January 2023, was ungraded, so it gave no overall grade. At its last graded inspection, in November 2012, it was rated Good.
What is the catchment area for North Islington Nursery School?
No fixed boundary. When North Islington Nursery School is oversubscribed, Islington allocates places by its published criteria, usually ending with home-to-school distance.
How many pupils go to North Islington Nursery School?
North Islington Nursery School has around 98 pupils on roll. 17% are eligible for free school meals.
How do I apply to North Islington Nursery School?
Apply through Islington's coordinated admissions process, naming North Islington Nursery School on your application. The national closing date in England is 31 October for secondary places and 15 January for primary places, in the year before your child starts.
How many road collisions happen near North Islington Nursery School?
Within 500 m of the school's mapped location, police recorded 103 road collisions in which someone was injured in 2021 to 2025: none fatal, 13 serious and 90 slight. 2 children aged 0 to 15 were hurt: 1 on foot and 1 in a vehicle or otherwise. 16 of the collisions happened on a weekday between 08:00 and 09:30 or 14:45 and 16:30, holidays included. The typical figure for schools in Islington is 143 (the median across 70 schools, same distance and years).
Where is North Islington Nursery School?
North Islington Nursery School is at 110-112 Tollington Park, London, N4 3RB.
Source: Department for Transport, Road Safety Data (STATS19)