# Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school is a full-day nursery at 7-9 Esther Anne Place, London, N1 1UL, in Islington. It is registered for 60 children and takes children aged 3 months to 5 years. It opens 08:00–18:00, Mon–Fri. Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection in January 2025, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. It has a Google rating of 5.0 from 6 reviews (November 2026). It is run by Dicky Birds Pre School Nurseries Limited. Page: https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/islington-square-day-nursery-and-pre-school-2686900 Last checked 12 November 2026. ## At a glance - Type: Full-day nursery - Address: 7-9 Esther Anne Place, London, N1 1UL - Ages: 3 months to 5 years - Opening hours: 08:00–18:00, Mon–Fri - Registered places: 60 - Meals included: yes - Phone: 020 3985 1939 - Website: https://www.grandiruk.com/nurseries/islington/islington-square-day-nursery - Run by: [Dicky Birds Pre School Nurseries Limited](https://toddly.co.uk/groups/dicky-birds-pre-school-nurseries-limited) - Ofsted URN: 2686900 ## Ofsted and official records Ofsted rated it Good at its inspection on 7 January 2025, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. - Quality of education: Good - Behaviour and attitudes: Good - Personal development: Good - Leadership and management: Good Safeguarding effective. Report: https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2686900 Official records: - Ofsted registration: Registered since August 2022 (Reference 2686900). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2686900) - Inspections on record: 1 inspection (latest 7 January 2025). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2686900) - Registered places: 60 places (the most children it may care for at once). Source: Ofsted, checked 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2686900) ## Fees Fees: not published yet. Nurseries in Islington that publish fees charge £77–£180 a day for under-2s (4 nurseries). This is the area's range, not this nursery's. ## Hours and ages - Monday to Friday: 08:00–18:00 - Ages: 3 months to 5 years ## Getting there Address: 7-9 Esther Anne Place, London, N1 1UL Directions: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=51.539016,-0.103452 - Station: Essex Road, 0.3 miles - Station: Highbury & Islington, 0.5 miles - Station: Angel, 0.5 miles - 18 bus stops within 400 m - Park: Gibson Square, under 0.1 miles - Park: Andersons Square, 0.1 miles - Park: Islington Green, 0.2 miles - Park: Lonsdale Square Garden, 0.2 miles - Park: Pleasant Place Garden, 0.2 miles - Playground: Pocket Playground, under 0.1 miles © OpenStreetMap contributors, checked 13 November 2026 · Powered by TfL Open Data, checked 13 November 2026. ## Places and next steps Spaces: not published yet. In Islington there are about 2.6 children under 5 for every registered nursery place. Places are how many children nurseries may care for, not free spaces. Source: ONS Census 2021. When to apply: https://toddly.co.uk/when-to-apply-for-nursery ## Ratings - Google: 5.0 out of 5 from 6 reviews (as of 12 November 2026) ## About: a day here ### Learning Its website says the nursery uses the Curiosity Approach, a play-based EYFS curriculum, Hygge in the early years and a nature-based approach. Ofsted's 2025 inspection rated overall effectiveness Good and quality of education Good. Its website names language classes, sports coaching, dance and movement, and library visits as activities. - Curiosity Approach (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/nursery/london/islington-square) - Play-based EYFS curriculum (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/nursery/london/islington-square) - Hygge in the early years (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/nursery/london/islington-square) - Nature-based approach (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/nursery/london/islington-square) ### Food Meals are included in the fees. Its website says meals are cooked on site, vegan options are offered, the kitchen is allergy-aware, and breakfast is provided. - Meals cooked on site (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/hubfs/Other%20PDFs/Our%20guide%20to%20childcare%20funding.pdf) - Vegan options (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/hubfs/Other%20PDFs/Our%20guide%20to%20childcare%20funding.pdf) - Allergy-aware kitchen (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/nursery/london/islington-square) - Meals included in fees (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/hubfs/Other%20PDFs/Our%20guide%20to%20childcare%20funding.pdf) - Breakfast provided (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/hubfs/Other%20PDFs/Our%20guide%20to%20childcare%20funding.pdf) ### Outdoors Its website says the nursery has its own garden and a mud kitchen. It also says the nursery makes regular park trips and local outings and trips. - Own garden (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/nursery/london/islington-square) - Regular park trips (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/nursery/london/islington-square) - Mud kitchen (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/nursery/london/islington-square) - Local outings and trips (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/nursery/london/islington-square) ### Settling in Its website says the nursery manager gets in touch before a child starts to book settling-in sessions, so the child can get familiar with the nursery before their first full day. It also lists a key person system and settling-in sessions as part of its care. - Key person system (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/family-support/what-to-expect/admissions-process) - Separate baby room (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/nursery/london/islington-square) - Settling-in sessions (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/family-support/what-to-expect/admissions-process) - Sibling discount (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/nursery/london/islington-square) ### Safety Ofsted's 2025 inspection rated safeguarding as effective. - Parent app with daily updates (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/nursery/london/islington-square) - Near public transport (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/nursery/london/islington-square) ### Extras and activities - Language classes (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/nursery/london/islington-square) - Sports coaching (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/nursery/london/islington-square) - Dance and movement (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/nursery/london/islington-square) - Library visits (source: nursery website, https://www.grandiruk.com/nursery/london/islington-square) ### Getting a place Its website says families visit the nursery and meet the team first. The team then guides them through the registration process and explains what information they need. ## Nearby schools Distances are in a straight line. | School | Phase | Ages | Ofsted | Nursery class | Distance | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | St Mary's CofE Primary School | Primary | 4–11 | School remains Good (March 2023) | | 0.1 miles | | William Tyndale Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | Quality of education: Good; Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding; Personal development: Outstanding; Leadership and management: Good (November 2024) | yes | 0.2 miles | | New River College Primary | | 5–11 | School remains Good (June 2023) | | 0.3 miles | | Richard Cloudesley School | | 2–19 | School remains Outstanding (October 2023) | yes | 0.3 miles | | Thornhill Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | School remains Good (November 2022) | yes | 0.3 miles | | St John Evangelist Catholic Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | School remains Good (April 2024) | yes | 0.3 miles | | Laycock Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | Good (June 2024) | yes | 0.4 miles | | Canonbury Primary School | Primary | 3–11 | School remains Good (October 2022) | yes | 0.4 miles | ## Nearby nurseries | Nursery | Ofsted | Day fee from | Hours | Distance | |---|---|---|---|---| | [St Mary's Preschool and Playscheme](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/st-marys-preschool-and-playscheme-2734141) | Good | | 09:00–16:00 | under 0.1 miles | | [Les Petites Etoiles Bilingual Montessori – Angel](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/les-petites-etoiles-bilingual-montessori-angel-131709) | Good | | 08:00–18:00 | 0.1 miles | | [Be Me Day Nursery Angel](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/be-me-day-nursery-angel-ey499770) | Outstanding | | 08:00–18:00 | 0.2 miles | | [MEplace Islington](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/meplace-islington-2868841) | | | 08:00–18:00 | 0.2 miles | | [Beckett House Montessori Nursery School](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/beckett-house-montessori-nursery-school-131668) | Good | | 08:00–18:00 | 0.2 miles | | [Packington Children's Centre](https://toddly.co.uk/nursery/packington-childrens-centre-ey442174) | Good | | 08:00–18:00 | 0.3 miles | ## Frequently asked questions ### What are Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school's opening hours? Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school opens 08:00–18:00, Mon–Fri. ### What ages does Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school take? Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school takes children aged 3 months to 5 years. ### What is Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school's Ofsted rating? Ofsted rated Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school Good at its inspection on 7 January 2025, before report cards replaced single grades in November 2025. ### How many children can Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school take? Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school is registered with Ofsted for up to 60 children at any one time. ### Are meals included at Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school? Yes. Meals are included in the fees at Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school. ### Who runs Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school? Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school is run by Dicky Birds Pre School Nurseries Limited, which runs 25 nurseries. ### What approach does Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school follow? Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school's website describes its approach as: Curiosity Approach, Play-based EYFS curriculum, Hygge in the early years and Nature-based approach. ### Does Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school have outdoor space? Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school lists: Own garden, Regular park trips, Mud kitchen and Local outings and trips. ### What is the nearest station to Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school? Essex Road is the nearest station we know of, 0.3 miles away in a straight line. ### How do I contact Islington Square Day Nursery and Pre-school? You can call 020 3985 1939 and visit www.grandiruk.com. ## Sources - Registration and inspections: Ofsted, as of 30 June 2026 (https://reports.ofsted.gov.uk/provider/16/2686900) - Fees, hours and features: the nursery's website (www.grandiruk.com), as of 11 November 2026 (https://www.grandiruk.com/nurseries/islington/islington-square-day-nursery) - Rating and review themes: Google, as of 12 November 2026 (https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=Islington+Square%2C+North+London%2C+a+GrandirUK+Day+Nursery&query_place_id=ChIJiUlh1cQbdkgRRopMDPhrqgs) - Schools: DfE Get Information about Schools, as of 4 November 2026 (https://get-information-schools.service.gov.uk/) Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.