Margaret McMillan Nursery School
Hornsey Rise, Islington, London, N19 3SFOpen in maps (opens in a new tab)
Margaret McMillan Nursery School is a nursery school in Islington for ages 0 to 5. It is one of the 69 schools in Islington. Its latest Ofsted outcome is a report card, from an inspection in May 2026.
Ofsted report card
Inspected 12 May 2026, report published 28 June 2026
Each area is graded from urgent improvement to exceptional, and safeguarding is either met or not met.
- Inclusion
- Strong standard
- Curriculum and teaching
- Expected standard
- Achievement
- Expected standard
- Attendance and behaviour
- Strong standard
- Personal development and wellbeing
- Strong standard
- Leadership and governance
- Expected standard
- Safeguarding
- Met
What Ofsted said
From the inspection on 12 May 2026
Children benefit from a warm and caring start to the school day. They are welcomed into their classrooms and then begin exploring and enjoying a wide range of interesting activities. Children feel safe and staff ensure they are kept safe. Children can name a member of staff who would help them if they were worried about anything. Leaders have created a broad and interesting curriculum that covers the 7 areas of learning. There is a clear plan to ensure that children are well prepared to move into Reception by the end of their school journey. Children enjoy their learning. They can talk about what they have learned, and staff generally engage and interact with children to further explore and advance their knowledge and skills. There are warm and respectful relationships between staff and children. Staff work skilfully to develop very positive behaviour across the school. If there are any behaviour issues, staff explore children's feelings and the impact of their actions, and resolve any problems swiftly. Attendance is a clear priority for leaders, who check it closely and respond quickly when concerns arise. Leaders have created an inclusive community by being flexible and responsive to the needs of all children. Barriers to learning are swiftly identified so that the right support is put in place for each child. Children, including those who are disadvantaged and those who have special educational needs and/or disabilities, successfully make progress from their starting points. Children's learning is enriched in many ways. They visit local parks and shops, celebrate religious festivals and special days, and learn to respect the differences between people.
What the school should improve
- Leaders should continue to develop staff expertise so that teaching is consistent across all areas of learning and children secure their knowledge over time.
- Leaders should ensure that all staff develop children's use of rich language consistently across all areas of learning.
Pupil numbers and mix
76 pupils on roll
Schools near Margaret McMillan Nursery School
| School | Distance | Ofsted |
|---|---|---|
| North Islington Nursery School | 0.7 miles | Ofsted: Good |
| Woodlands Park Nursery School and Childrens Centre | 1 mile | Ofsted: Outstanding |
| Bnei Zion Community School | 2 miles | Ofsted: Inadequate |
| Kate Greenaway Nursery School and Children's Centre | 2 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding |
| Rowland Hill Nursery School | 3 miles | Ofsted: Outstanding |
School details
- School type
- Local authority nursery school
- Sector
- Local authority maintained
- Age range
- 0 to 5
- Gender
- Mixed
- Headteacher
- Mrs Karen Smith
- Phone
- 02072812745
- Address
- Hornsey Rise, Islington, London, N19 3SF
- Local authority
- Islington
- URN
- 100384
School details from Get Information about Schools, 17 September 2026. Ofsted outcomes published to 31 August 2026. Pupil mix from the school census, 2025/26.