Archway Children's Centre

Archway Children’s Centre achieved Outstanding in the recent OFSTED inspection: ‘Staff have high expectations for children's learning and provide a very well-planned curriculum. Staff prioritise the happiness and well-being of all the children in all areas of their development by listening carefully to children's thoughts and opinions. Staff are very kind and caring and support children in all areas without becoming intrusive. Leaders prioritise staff's well-being and professional development. Partnership working with parents is excellent. Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) make excellent progress in relation to their starting points’.

Archway Children's Centre has a spacious garden with chickens, mud kitchen, children’s planting areas and calm spaces to explore natural materials the Forest School way. The environment is organised in a way that meets the children’s needs and interests, supports and extends children’s development and learning through exploration of resources and materials, developing ideas, solve problems and manage risks.

At Archway Children’s Centre we have an integrated, holistic, and responsive approach which develops children’s physical health, emotional wellbeing, resilience, 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 children’s opinions and feelings; celebrating children’s achievements, uniqueness and individualism; providing an enabling environment; welcoming diversity and having strong parent partnerships so all children reach their full potential to achieve positive outcomes.

At the core of our curriculum is Trauma Informed Practice (iTIPs) with aspects of ‘Loving Pedagogy’ which enables children to develop a positive self-image, have high self-esteem and become confident.

Archway Children's Centre is recognised as an Islington Healthy Early Years setting and has received the Healthy Early Years London Gold 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.

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

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.

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

To request a prospectus, please email the centre.

A video tour can be accessed on this link ACC

Healthy Start vitamins are available to collect here.

For accessibility information, please visit Disabled Go.

My child’s key person goes beyond to update me with my child’s progress and shares suggestions to better support his needs. I am most satisfied with communication from staff and level of professionalism." - Parent

"Archway Children's Centre is a wonderful place. The staff are attentive, caring and are obviously invested in the children they look after. The facilities are fantastic, particularly the outdoor space, and it's clear that all the children enjoy their time and are able to develop all their skills in a secure environment." -Parent

"I love the ethos of Archway – the value of ‘nurture’, of inclusivity and holistic learning. I love the focus on creativity and Forest School. I look forward to putting my wellies on each day to explore our amazing garden with the children and I have always enjoyed working in a ‘children’s centre’ environment with families and professional partners all under one roof. In this way, Archway CC has developed a community hub for under-fives and their families with a unique and inspiring environment where all children are deeply valued" - Staff member

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.

Ofsted Information

Inspection Outcome
Inspection Outcome
Inspection DateInspection typeInspection Outcome
05/07/2023Inspection (Early Years Register)Outstanding
Link to latest Ofsted inspection report 

Last Updated

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