Care and Education

Islington's Sure Start Children’s Centres provide flexible full and part-time childcare and education places from the age of 6 months until your child starts school. They are open Monday to Friday, from 8.00am to 6.00pm, for atleast 48 weeks a year.

Places are allocated in the nurseries, using Islington’s Under Five’s Admissions Policy. You can click on the link at the bottom of this page to download a copy of the Admissions Policy. To apply for a place, please contact, or drop in to your local Centre.

Due to high demand, you may not be offered a place straight away, particularly if your child is under three, but you will be put on a waiting list. If necessary, the Centre may be able to advise you of vacancies at other nurseries in the area, or introduce you to local childminders many of whom use the Children’s Centre as a base.

Childcare Costs

The fee structure for childcare at Islington’s Children’s Centres has been developed in consultation with Islington parents. The amount you pay will depend on how much you and your partner are earning. You will have the opportunity to discuss the fees when you fill in a registration form for your child. Alternatively, click here to download a summary of the fee structure.

Help with Childcare Costs

If you need advice on how to claim the childcare element of your Working Tax Credit, please speak to a member of staff at your local Children's Centre. You can also get information from the HM Revenue Benefit web pages at the right of this page or call HM Revenue on 0845 300 3900.

Free Nursery Education

The term after your child turns three, you are entitled to twelve and a half hours of free nursery education for your child during term-time, whether you are working or not. At Islington’s Children’s Centres, the term after your child’s fourth birthday, you are entitled to free childcare for your child from 9.30am to 3.30pm during term-time. Please speak to our staff for further details.

Islington Children’s Information Service

Islington Children’s Information Service (CIS) can answer your questions about finding and paying for childcare, please call 020 7527 5959 or go to the CIS web pages by clicking on the link to the right of this page. The CIS also holds regular advice sessions at many of the Children’s Centre. Ask at your local Centre when the next session will be running or click on the Centre Activities link on the right of this page.