Welcome To Packington Children’s Centre

Packington Children’s Centre is a Council run Nursery in the heart of Islington, just off Essex Road. The centre operates two Nursery sites based over two Council wards. Our Popham Road site next to New North Academy School. It is in St Marys and St James Ward and caters for children from 6 months to 3 years. While our Bentham site, on Eccelsbourne Road Estate, sits just inside the Canonbury Ward and caters for children aged 2-4 years. Both sites are within 5 minutes’ walk of each other and our managed by our Head of Nursery and Executive Head of Centre.

Packington Children’s Centre provides early learning and childcare for children aged 6 months to 4 years including free 15- and 30-hour places. Fees are income assessed for Islington residents and discounts given for siblings. We are open weekdays, 49 weeks per year, 8am to 6pm.

We have a team of dedicated Early Years practitioners lead by an experienced Early Years Teacher on each site and provide high quality care and education that meets the needs of the individual child.

We are also part of Bright Start Central Islington and provide support for under-5’s and their families through a wide range of services within an extensive multi-disciplinary model across both wards.

At Packington Children’s Centre we believe in supporting all children to become independent, confident learners and foster an ethos of collaboration with parents and carers. Once your child starts at the nursery, they will be allocated a ‘Key Person’ who will be the main carer for your child. Key People are responsible for building a secure attachment with you and your child. Key people get to know your child in-depth and plan activities based on their interests while monitoring their learning and development in line with the Early Years Foundation
Stage Curriculum. Regular meetings take place with key people and the parent/carer to ensure strong positive partnership working.

Both out nursery sites have been awarded Health Early Years London and the whole staff team have been trained in Trauma informed practice

Sensory room

Our sensory room is designed as a calm yet stimulating space. It supports our children with additional needs to help regulate and relax throughout the day as well as give a quiet space for all children.

Free Flow Environment

Our free flow environment allows children to self-direct their learning throughout the day. Activities are set up based on the children’s interests and needs.

Bathroom

Our bathroom encourages children to be independent with their own toileting needs throughout the day to support with their transition to a school environment

Art area

Our art area allows children to explore and be creative. They can self-select resources to support them on their independent designs

Water & Sand

Water and sand are important in allowing children to develop pre-mathematical concepts as well as learn how to collaborate, design and build together

Home corner

Role play is essential in allowing children to explore and make sense of their day to day lives. We keep this area to represent a ‘home’ as this is an experience which is common to all children.

Mealtimes

Mealtimes are important for us here at Packington. We facilitate this as a group and social experience. Children are encouraged to serve themselves to be independent.

Construction area

Construction is a great way for children to plan, estimate and evaluate. It is a good way for children to work alone or in groups

Outside area

Our outside classroom is as equal importance to our indoor environment. Children have free-flow access for the majority of the day, whatever the weather, and are encourage to explore both in and outdoors. The outdoor environment allows children to explore things on a larger scale such as larger bricks, large scale mark making or learning to ride a bike. They have designated zones for larger scale water and sand play as well as space to explore the natural world.