The Way We Work
King Square Community Nursery was established in 1970 and is Finsbury’s longest standing nursery, providing high quality early years education for babies and young children aged 3 months to 5 years. The nursery operates for 49 weeks of the year and is open from 8:00am to 6:00pm. We are committed to offering the highest standards of care and security within a fun, nurturing, and educational environment.
We follow the government’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, which sets the standards for learning, development, and care for children from birth to five years. At King Square Nursery, children are encouraged to learn through play. Our planning covers all areas of the EYFS and is carefully designed to meet each child’s individual needs.
Key Person
Each child is allocated their own key person to enable them to feel safe, secure, cared for within our setting. This person also keeps an online learning journal (Tapestry) of the child’s progress during their time with us. Tapestry is an easy to use and secure online learning journal helping staff and families celebrate their children’s learning and development. Parents and Carers are able to view their child’s progress, the activities provided for them, and how much fun they are having, whilst also uploading their own comments and media to share with their key person. The key person uses observation to identify the child’s learning requirements and ensure that they provide simulation activities and effective learning goals to meet each child’s individual needs.
Meal Times
At King Square Nursery, children enjoy regular breaks at 10.00am and 2.30pm. We provide breakfast (where applicable), two nutritious snacks, and tea (where applicable) throughout the day.
Due to our facilities, we are unable to provide lunch, so parents are required to supply a packed lunch.
| Time | |
|---|---|
|
Breakfast |
8.00am |
|
Morning Snack Time |
10.00 am |
|
Lunch (Parent Provided) |
12.00 pm |
|
Afternoon Snack Time |
2.30 pm |
|
Tea Time |
5.00 pm |
King Square Community Nursery Hours
| Time | |
|---|---|
|
Morning |
9.00 am - 12.00 pm |
|
Afternoon |
1.00 pm - 4.00 pm |
|
Core Day |
9.00 am - 3.00 pm |
|
Extended Day |
8.00 am - 6.00 pm |
Settling in
The first day can feel unfamiliar for your child. It may be exciting, or it may feel a little overwhelming, so we encourage you to stay with your child for as long as they need. For some children, this settling-in period may take a couple of weeks.
However long it takes, the time invested is worthwhile to ensure your child feels secure, comfortable, and happy.
Children who have had limited opportunities to socialise outside the family may find it harder to settle into a new environment. They will need time to get to know us with your support close by. Together, we will work out a settling in process that best meets your child’s individual needs.
Free Childcare for 2 years old
Your child can get free early learning and childcare from the term after your child turns two if you live in Islington and you get one of these benefits:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Universal Credit – if you can get Universal Credit, you must have £15,400 a year after tax or less, checked on up to three of your most recent Universal Credit assessment periods
- tax credits and you have an annual income of under £16,190 before tax
- the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Working Tax Credit four-week run-on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit).
Free 15 hours are available at King Square Community Nursery:
- from the start of the term after your child turns the relevant age by 31 March, 31 August, or 31 December.
- for 38 weeks a year (Term Time Only)
- We offer the free 15 hour entitlement from 9am to 12pm, 1pm to 4pm five days a week, or 9am to 3pm, two days a week/ one morning or afternoon session. Parents can pay for additional hours to suit their needs.
Working Parent Entitlement
Free early learning and childcare hours are available for children from the ages of 9 months for working parents.
How many free early learning and childcare hours you could get depends on the age of your child.
Free hours are available at King Square Community Nursery:
- from the start of the term after your child turns the relevant age by 31 March, 31 August, or 31 December.
- for 38 weeks a year (Term Time Only)
- We offer the free entitlement from 8am to 6pm, three days a week, or 9am to 3pm, five days a week. Parents can pay for additional hours to suit their needs.
From September 2025:
- from 9 months until children start school, you can get 30 hours a week free (Term Time)
- 3 and 4-year-olds can get an extra 15 hours on top of the 15 hours available to every 3 and 4-year-old.
Nursery Fees & Payments
To secure a placement at King Square Nursery for non-funded hours or sessions, a £100 non-refundable registration fee is required.
How fees are calculated for non funded hours and additional hours
Fees are determined in line with your family’s financial income. You will be asked to provide proof of income, which will be used to assess your fee level.
Fees are payable weekly in advance for 49 weeks of the year for all year round placements and 38 weeks of the year for term-time only placements, including periods when a child is absent. Failure to pay fees may result in the loss of your child’s place.
Payment Schedule
Fees are due on your child’s start date and are then payable every Monday. In exceptional circumstances, monthly payments by standing order may be arranged—please speak to the office team to discuss this.
Fees remain payable when your child is:
- Absent due to illness
- On holiday
- INSET days
- Bank Holidays
Deposits for non funded hours/ additional hours & Notice Period
Once a place has been offered, a deposit equivalent to two weeks’ fees is required in advance. This deposit will either be refunded or credited to your fee account, depending on the circumstances when your child leaves the nursery.
A minimum of four weeks’ notice is required when withdrawing your child from the nursery. If sufficient notice is not given, the deposit will be retained in lieu of notice.
Voluntary Donation
Nursery fees do not include the voluntary donation. The voluntary donation is £3.00 per week and is broken down into two parts:
- £1.50 for two daily snacks
- £1.50 for activity sessions led by local professionals, such as mini football, weekly drama classes, and Forest School trips.
Parents are also asked to provide:
- Nappies
- Wipes
- Formula milk (if required)
The nursery provides cow’s milk or dairy alternatives.
Voluntary donations are optional. If you would prefer to have the voluntary donation element removed from your weekly fee, please speak to a member of the office team. Please note that if you choose to have the donation removed, you will be required to provide your child with daily snacks.
Universal Credit and Tax-Free Childcare
Parents may be eligible to claim up to 85% of their Childcare costs from Universal Credits. Parents may also be able to apply for Tax-Free Childcare.
King Square is registered with Ofsted and Islington Council as an approved Childcare provider.
For more information on these schemes please click the following links below