Ewa lives in

Islington with her

partner and her
son Francis, now
Francis plays with a friend at Kate Greenaway, with his aged four. She has
key person Antonella close by. been using Kate
Greenaway for two
Kate Greenaway Nursery years.
School and Children’s Centre
helped Ewa come through
some difficult times as a new mother. "I
don't know what I'd do without this place. I
feel totally at home and I don't feel at
home in many places"
Ewa and Francis found Kate Greenaway when Francis was just 23
months old. For Ewa, having a baby was a huge upheaval - one that
she is still adjusting to. A number of personal difficulites culminated
in Ewa having post-natal depression.

"He wasn't a happy baby and I wasn't a happy mummy”

Not having family on hand, Ewa found herself very isolated and
struggling. Ewa's therapist arranged a half day place for Francis at
Kate Greenaway to give Ewa a break. This, for Francis and Ewa, was
a turning point. "I took Francis out to groups all the time and he hated
them all, and so did I. This was the only place he
liked."

"Settling in was done brilliantly"

Ewa describes Francis as a child who finds transitions

and coming and goings very distressing. Settling-in,
then, was gong to be important. Ewa was helped and
relieved by the seriousness and carefulness with
which it was approached. "I brought him for 10 minutes at first and
then we went home. Yes! It was so good".
Ewa and Francis took it slowly, very gradually increasing the length
of time Francis stayed. Ewa, until then, had no idea that the process
of settling can be individualised and work in a way that responds to
particular needs and wants.
Francis now stays for full days, and last week wanted to stay for tea.
"Partings can still be a bit touch and go but Antonella (his key
person) is brilliant".

"Francis has changed so much. He's unrecognisable in some

ways"

“He used to be so unsociable. He just didn't like people. But now,

wow, last night a friend came round and Francis was making
pancakes with him. Well, he was so bossy, he was forcing our friend
to make pancakes! He's
changed so much due to
this place." Francis
enjoys a whole array of
activities: hammering,
trains, music, riding
bikes, the sand, baking,
books, making things,
music and dance.

"I need to do something

for me"

Francis's place at Kate

Greenaway enables Ewa
to do her own thing. "I
don't have to worry about
him. He's loved, safe,
happy and looked after ...
and not with me!"
She enjoys her
involvement with the toy
library and the kitchen
committee as well as the
various courses she's
attended, including
'Strengthening Families'
and 'Confidence on
Committees'.
As well as doing some Kate Greenaway Nursery School and Children’s
work in the fashion Centre
business, Ewa has just York Way Court, Copenhagen Street
written two children's London N1 0UH
020 7527 4850
books.
www.kategreenaway.ik.org
 Noah started at
Kate Greenaway
last September,
when he was
Noah loves construction and playing with trains three. His mum
Gisela is thrilled
Did you know that three with his
year olds are now entitled experience.
to 15 hours a week of free
nursery education at Kate Greenaway?
“Noah’s spoken English has developed so well since starting nursery”

Noah speaks Spanish (his mother’s first language), Japanese (his

father’s first language) and, now, English – and he signs too.
Gisela, Noah’s mum, is thrilled about how his English has come
on since he started at Kate Grenaway last September.
Noah doesn’t speak English at home so Gisela is amazed when
she hears him speaking to his friends at Nursery. “He can explain
in full sentences now and uses new words on a daily basis”.

“The inside and outside are without a boundary. I think this is one of
the most important aspects here”

Gisela says that Noah loves the free-flow play

between indoors and the garden. Not having a
garden at home, Noah especially loves the
outdoor play. “He talks about it all the time”.
He really loves the new bikes – Gisela thinks
they are brilliant, too, not having tried them
before. They both attend Bikestart on Saturday
mornings. “It’s a friendly, enjoyable and safe
place to play”.
“This place is challenging. They don’t get stuck in a comfort zone”

Gisela sees Kate Greenaway as an innovative place – one where

new things are tried out, the children are challenged and,
consequently, three year olds are engaged in all sorts of
activities. “Since he has come here he has done amazing things.
They do Jabadao - it involves strange coordination and
movement. I’d have never expected a three year old to be able
to do it. That’s what I really like about this place. It’s brilliant”.
Gisela thinks the children are exposed to ways of playing and
learning that will give them both skills and a confidence that will
stay with them for the rest of their lives.

“We like the way parents can get involved”

Noah is very excited about the new climbing structure going up

and especially enjoyed the
day of building it. At home,
the evening before, he drew
a plan for a slide and handed
it to the builders. “He was so
happy to help. It was a really
nice project for children and
parents. Noah didn’t want to
come home!”

“He likes to mix with the

babies”

Noah has a baby brother and

he is interested too in the
babies at nursery. He often
reports back news of them to
his parents. Gisela likes the
way that children of various
ages can mix – it gives them
opportunity to learn about
each other, what they can and
can’t do and how to consider
each other.

Kate Greenaway Nursery School and

To apply for a free nursery Children’s Centre
education place, call into the York Way Court, Copenhagen Street
office at Kate Greenaway London N1 0UH
between 10.30am-6pm and 020 7527 4850
ask for an application form. www.kategreenaway.ik.org
 Kate Greenaway Nursery School
and Children’s Centre helped
Sonia deal with her daughters
challenging behaviour: “I have
done the right thing for me and my
daughter. Now we are both happy”

KG KG
Seeking refuge With no family to go to, Sonia was
grateful to be taken in to the refuge,
Sonia (not real name) has more but still distraught over the loss of
reasons than many to be thankful for her home and friends. “I couldn’t
the existence of Kate Greenaway tell anyone where I was in case my
Nursery School and Children’s partner found out, so I knew no-one. It
Centre. Made homeless through was a very difficult time.”
fear of her violent partner, she took
her three-year-old daughter and the Nursery provision
minimum of belongings and found
refuge with Islington Women’s Aid. Shortly after moving to the refuge,
Sonia had a fall and broke her leg,
“The situation for my daughter and making it hard for her to take proper
myself was impossible,” she says. care of her daughter, Tia. Fortunately,
“My partner was threatening us, he Katehowever,
Greenawaythrough its links with the Kate Greenaway
destroyed my home and my furniture, Kate Greenaway,
he broke the telephone so I couldn’t
Nursery School the refuge was
able to arrange a priority nursery
Nursery School
call for help. I was frightened, and&
I Children's
place for Tia.Centre
“That was such a help & Children's Centre
had no choice, I had to leave.”

CS_Sonia.indd 1 24/5/07 09:19:36

 to me,” remembers Sonia. “I didn’t
know the area and had no idea how
to go about arranging for childcare.
The workers at the refuge said that
Tia would have priority for a place
because of our circumstances, and it
was a great relief.”
Help for challenging
behaviour
Adding to Sonia’s problems was
the fact that, due to her traumatic
experiences, Tia’s behaviour was
becoming very challenging, and she
became excitable and difficult to
control. One particular aspect of the
Nursery which was of great benefit
to Sonia was the allocation of a key
worker, Sancha, who was able to
build up a trusting relationship with
Tia and who understood the reasons
behind her behaviour. “Tia couldn’t
play quietly with the other children,
or concentrate,” says Sonia. “She
just wanted to run around like a mad
thing and it disturbed everyone.”
The Nursery places great emphasis
on treating children as
KINGS CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION
Career options
Sonia has now been able to find a
new place to live; a flat for Tia and
herself, and in order to rebuild her
life has decided to take the first steps
in training for a career. As English is
not her first language, with help from
the Children’s Centre career advisor
she is taking a college course. “I
hadn’t really thought about what I
could do, but I knew my English could
be improved,” she says. “The Centre
helped me to find a place at college
to study the language and it has been
so useful, I am now able to study IT
and I’m going to go on to computer
programming. A year ago, I would
never have thought that these things
would be possible for me.” partner I wouldn’t have heard about
the Centre, so I know I have done the
Happiness through new right thing for me and my daughter.
opportunities KATE GREENAWAY
Now we are both happy.”
LIVERPOOL RD
Although Tia is happy in the crèche
YORK WAY
provided by Sonia’s college, Sonia
says she misses Kate Greenaway COPENHAGEN ST
Nursery School and Children’s
Centre. “She says to me, ‘why can’t
KATE GREENAWAY
LIVERPOOL RD ANGEL STATION
competent
YORK
WAY I go back there, I like it
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE
there!’ Sonia
REGENTS CANAL

and capable individuals, with their says. “Kate Greenaway Nursery

COPENHAGEN ST
ST JOHNS STREET
own needs and personality. By School and Children’s Centre has
encouraging Tia in the activities she done soPRIORY
much for her. REGENTS
GREEN ESTATE In just a year
CANAL
ANGEL STATION
PENTONVILLE RD
enjoyed, such as painting or playing
KINGS CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION
she has become much calmer and ST JOHNS STREET
in the home corner, Sancha was more content and she likes her new
able to help Tia to focus her energy, home. So much hasPENTONVILLE happened RD
in
calming her down and helping her her life, but moving away has been
to enjoy the company of the other a blessing, as we have had these
children. opportunities. If I had stayed with my

BUS NUMBERS
BUS NUMBERS KATE GREENAWAY
17,
17, 259,
259, 390,390, 63, 274
63, 274
LIVERPOOL RD
YORK WAY KING’S CROSS RD KING’S CROSS RD
LLOYDS BAKER SQUARE ST
COPENHAGEN ST
LLOYDS BAKER SQ
ANGEL STATION
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE REGENTS CANAL
KINGS CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION

ST JOHNS STREET

PENTONVILLE RD

Kate Greenaway Nursery School and Children’s Centre

York Way Court
Copenhagen Street
London
N1 0UH
Kate Greenaway Nursery School and Children’s Centre KING’S CROSS RD
York
Tel/Fax 020 Way Court
7837 4982 www.kategreenaway.ik.org LLOYDS BAKER SQUARE ST
Copenhagen Street

G KG
London Kate Greenaway Nursery School
N1 0UH and Children’s Centre
Tel/Fax 020 7837 4982
York Way Court
Copenhagen Street
www.kategreenaway.ik.org
London
Tel/fax 020 7837 4982
ay Kate Greenaway

www.kategreenaway.ik.org
l Nursery School
entre & Children's Centre

G KG CS_Sonia.indd 2 24/5/07 09:19:39

 Phyllis Richardson lives
and works from home
in Islington. Phyllis has
used the services of both
nurseries and childminders
to take care of her children
and is Chair of Governors

Kate Greenaway Nursery and of Kate Greenaway Nursery

School and Children’s
Children’s Centre: Nursery and Centre, which her two eldest
children attended.
Childminder – there will always
be a role for both!

KG KG
How to find the best Different aspects
childcare Phyllis’s two elder children regularly
With her first two children now at attended Kate Greenaway Nursery
school, Phyllis’s youngest son, nearly School as well as being cared for by
two, goes to a local childminder who the childminder she was fortunate
is a member of the Local Childminder enough to find. “Before Kate
Network, which has close links to Greenaway became a Children’s
Kate Greenaway. “Finding the right Centre, they had no provision for
childcare was a major issue for me under-threes. I was lucky enough
when I had my first child ten years to have a wonderful childminder to
ago,” says Phyllis. “As a first-time take care of them until they were old
mother, I had no idea about what enough to go to the nursery, and
facilities there were locally for Katewho
and
also looked after them before
Greenaway
after sessions. Because we
Kate Greenaway
working parents or how to make sure
that my son had the best care.” Nursery School
had developed such an excellent Nursery School
relationship, when my youngest child
& Children's Centre & Children's Centre

CS_Phyllis.indd 1 24/5/07 09:18:35

 was born I decided that, even though
I now had the option of taking him
to the new Children’s Centre, I was
happy to leave the place available
for another family and take Avery to
Susan full time.”
“As I have no relatives in this
country, I wanted my son to be cared
for in a small family atmosphere,”
continues Phyllis, “and when I met
Susan I found her to be exactly what
I was looking for – a professional
and capable childminder who could
give my son the one-to-one attention
he would get from myself, and
someone who was local, knowing all
about the area and child-orientated
amenities. She takes the children
out to parks and playgroups so they
learn about where they live, make
friends nearby, and become familiar
with their surroundings. In fact, she
YORK
treats them like part of her family,
which is exactly what I wanted for my children is under the weather. With
son.”
A personal relationship
KINGS CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION
Susan is a member of the local
Childminder Network, set up to
promote awareness of approved
childminders, and Phyllis believes that
Children’s Centres and childminders
can be mutually beneficial. “Different
BUS NUMBERS
17, 259, 390, 63, 274
KINGS CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION
Kate Greenaway Nursery
Kate School
Greenaway Nursery School and Children’s Centre KING’S CROSS RD
and Children’sYork
Centre
Way Court
York Way Court
Copenhagen Street
Copenhagen Street
London
London
N1 0UH
Tel/fax 020 7837 4982
www.kategreenaway.ik.org
Tel/Fax 020 7837 4982 www.kategreenaway.ik.org
CS_Phyllis.indd 2
parents want different things for
their children, and what is right for
one child may be inappropriate
for another,” she says. “In my
own experience, I believe that my
children have benefited by having
a more personal relationship with
a childminder, but as a Governor,
I have seen many children flourish
under the outstanding care now
offered by the Children’s Centre.”
Flexibility
All children suffer from colds, chicken
pox and other infectious illnesses
from time to time and this is where
childminders have an advantage.
“On only one occasion since my
children have been going to Susan
have I had toKATE
keep one of them
GREENAWAY
at home,” Phyllis recalls. “I fully
trustWAY
Susan to take as much care
as I would myself when one of the
only two or three children to look
after, she has the time and flexibility
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE
to cope, and can tuck a child up on
the sofa with a warm drink and a
cuddle, and I know that I don’t have
to worry or to miss an important
appointment because my child is not
well enough to go to the nursery. It’s
a very valuable asset to me.”
KATE GREENAWAY
YORK WAY
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE
A positive alternative
The links that the Local Childminder
Network has with Kate Greenaway
will, Phyllis hopes, help to raise
awareness of the work which people
like Susan do and the fact that
childminders are a very positive
alternative to nursery care. “Whilst
many children thrive on mixing
with lots of people in a structured
environment and with a huge variety
of play options, there are also
those who prefer the quieter, more
spontaneous atmosphere which a
childminder can provide in her home.
I consider myself, and my children,
very fortunate to have found
Susan who, like the others in the
Childminding Network, has proved to
be reliable, conscientious and like a
second family. LIVERPOOL RD
In the end, it is the children who are
important,
COPENHAGEN STand with Kate Greenaway
and our childminders working
together, we can provide our children
REGENTS CANAL
ANGEL STATION
with the best care possible.”
ST JOHNS STREET
PENTONVILLE RD
LIVERPOOL RD
KING’S CROSS RD
LLOYDS BAKER SQ
COPENHAGEN ST
ANGEL STATION
REGENTS CANAL
ST JOHNS STREET
PENTONVILLE RD
LLOYDS BAKER SQUARE ST
24/5/07 09:18:37
 Nina Stevens is a clinical
psychologist with Islington
Primary Care Trust, and as
part of her role runs clinics
Kate Greenaway Nursery and within Kate Greenaway
Nursery School and
Children’s Centre is providing Children’s Centre.

mental health support to parents

and children in Islington
Transition to parenthood
At the Children’s Centre clinics,
Nina’s primary concern is parents
with children under one year, and
who are experiencing difficulties in
the transition to parenthood. “Many
Coping with
difficult behaviour
Nina runs two different clinics, one
for parents, for which a crèche is
provided, and one for children,

KG KG
who may be displaying emotional
new mothers suffer from a range disturbance as a result of various
of problems such as depression, circumstances. “A lot of the parents I
tiredness, anxiety or isolation when see are having to cope with financial
caring for a child for the first time,” difficulties, housing issues, substance
explains Nina. “If they do not get abuse or domestic violence, all of
the right support, these problems can which can impact heavily on the child
spiral and have a long-term adverse and affect their mental well-being,”
effect on the whole family. Often, she says. “On the other hand, some
parents are not aware that help is parents simply find it hard to cope
available, and that is why I hold clinics
with normal childish behaviour such
at the Children’s Centre, to bring the as sleep problems and tantrums, and
service to those who need it, rather my aim is to identify the problem and
than expecting people to seek it out.”
Kateto help the parents devise coping
Greenaway
strategies and to access practical
Kate Greenaway
Nursery School
support.” Nursery School
& Children's Centre & Children's Centre

CS_Nina.indd 1 24/5/07 09:17:28

 Sharing information
brings benefits
Client consultations are strictly
confidential, but Nina has found
that the Kate Greenaway system of
holding regular review days with the
family has had far reaching benefits.
“The purpose of Review Days is
to bring together all the agencies
involved with a particular family, to
exchange information and to make
sure everyone is working together
in order to give the best and most
appropriate support,” explains Nina.
“During the course of my sessions
with a client, I may have discovered
something which has a bearing on
their situation but which, without
specific consent, I would not be able
to reveal. However, because I am
present at the Review, clients often
feel able to confide in the other panel
members, which greatly helps to put
things into perspective.”
KINGS CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION
BUS NUMBERS
17, 259, 390, 63, 274
KINGS CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION
Kate Greenaway Nursery
Kate School
Greenaway Nursery School and Children’s Centre KING’S CROSS RD
and Children’sYork
Centre
Way Court
York Way Court
Copenhagen Street
Copenhagen Street
London
London
N1 0UH
Tel/fax 020 7837 4982
www.kategreenaway.ik.org
Tel/Fax 020 7837 4982 www.kategreenaway.ik.org
CS_Nina.indd 2
Hugely valuable
In the same way, Nina has also
found that she can learn a lot about
a parent or child by listening to other
agency workers such as nursery staff
or social workers, and this helps
her in her diagnosis and treatment.
“Knowing about someone’s
background or circumstances is often
the key to solving a problem,” she
says. “Also, a parent or child may
react differently to someone else or
in another situation, and this may
throw light on the reasons for their
difficulties. A nursery worker will
notice if a mother is unwilling to
leave her child, for example, and in
this case I can find ways to help her
with separation anxiety. This is why
the review days are hugely valuable,
building up a basis of knowledge and
trust.”
KATE GREENAWAY
YORK WAY
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE
KATE GREENAWAY
YORK WAY KING’S CROSS RD
COPENHAGEN ST
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE
PENTONVILLE RD
Accessibility
Nina strongly believes that the
easy availability of the service she
provides is an encouragement to
parents who might be reluctant to
ask for help elsewhere. “I try to
promote the service as much as
possible through talks at parenting
groups or by visiting mother and
toddler sessions, and because I hold
clinics at the Children’s Centre, the
help I can give is accessible. Whilst
some parents are referred by GPs or
other agencies, many of them self-
refer and are happy to come and see
me because they are comfortable
with the informal environment of the
Centre.”
A valuable
community service
The concept of Children’s Centres is
LIVERPOOL RD
one with which Nina is in complete
agreement. “What we have at Kate
Greenaway
COPENHAGEN ST is a holistic and effective
approach to the support of parents
and young children,” she says. “It ANGEL STATION
provides a community service to
REGENTS CANAL
families in all situations, whether they
ST JOHNS STREET
need practical help or just the use
of a wide range
PENTONVILLE RD of facilities in one
dedicated setting. Everyone here is
committed to giving the best possible
service to families, and I would like to
think that it is an example which will
be taken up in as many other areas
as possible.”
LIVERPOOL RD
LLOYDS BAKER SQ
ANGEL STATION
REGENTS CANAL
ST JOHNS STREET
LLOYDS BAKER SQUARE ST
24/5/07 09:17:30
 Nathan lives in
Islington with his wife
and their two children,
Kieren, four, and two
year old Jude. Both
children attend Kate
Kate Greenaway Nursery School Greenaway Nursery
School and Children’s
and Children’s Centre helped Centre.

Nathan improve his help to

improve parenting skills helped
Nathan’s two children - and helped
him train for a new career too.

KG KG
Long association Parenting course
Nathan is no stranger to Kate Nathan decided to attend a parenting
Greenaway Nursery School and course run by the Children’s Centre,
Children’s Centre. Now aged 32, and what he learned made him realise
he and his brother both went to the that Kieren needed more outlet for
nursery as children, so he has seen a his energy, and a proper learning
great deal of changes over the years. structure, so when he was offered
a place at the Kate Greenaway
“As far as I can recall, my brother and
Nursery, Nathan was interested to see
I enjoyed our time there, but obviously
how it compared.
things are very different now,”
Nathan says. “With the addition of “Straightaway, I could see the
the Children’s Centre, it has turned differences,” he says. “There is so
into an excellent community facility,Katemuch
Greenaway
for the children to do; they are Kate Greenaway
and it has been extremely useful for given choices and encouraged in
me and my family.”
Nursery School
whatever they decide to try. Kieren is
Nursery School
& Children's
making things, Centre
trying out new activities & Children's Centre
and he is learning to read, which is

CS_Nathan.indd 1 24/5/07 09:16:30

 wonderful. The staff take a genuine
interest in all of the children and
obviously enjoy being with them,
which makes me feel that they really
care. Their enthusiasm rubs off on the
children which means the children
enjoy learning.”
Positive behaviour
Nathan believes that the quiet
atmosphere and the nursery’s policy
of encouraging positive behaviour
have had an extremely beneficial
effect on Kieren. “His behaviour
and his confidence have definitely
improved since he started at the Kate to find that a big increase in the
Greenaway,” he says. “Even though
there is a lot going on all around,
the children always have something
to do which interests them, whether
it’s artwork, sand or water play, or
letting off steam in the play area.
YORK
The outdoors area is particularly
good, as there is plenty of space
to run around and it’s geared to
imaginative play, which a different
concept to mostKINGS playgrounds.”
CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION
Although Jude is only two, he also
has a part-time place at the nursery
and Nathan is extremely pleased
with the way he has taken to it.
“Jude’s key worker seems to be
really fond of him and, like the rest
of the staff, takes a great deal of
time and trouble to make sure he
is happy and occupied. Jude loves
being there, and it’s an excellent
preparation for when he eventually
starts school, as he is learning
skills and sociability. We are very
fortunate that the nursery had a
place for him.”
Career advice has
benefited Nathan, too
It is not only Kieren who has
benefited from the Kate Greenaway.
A carpenter by trade, Nathan began
number of craftsmen competing for
jobs was affecting his prospects and
he was concerned about his ability
to support hisKATE
family. However,
GREENAWAY
a talk with the Children’s Centre LIVERPOOL RD
careers
WAY advisor has led him towards
an entirely new career. “I have
always liked the idea of working
COPENHAGEN ST
with children but with only limited
qualifications, I didn’t consider that
ANGEL STATION
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE REGENTS CANAL
it would be an option. Having had
advice from the Centre, I am now ST JOHNS STREET
taking a university access course
and working towards training as a PENTONVILLE RD
primary school teacher. I had no
idea that it would be possible, and I
am loving every minute of it!”

BUS NUMBERS KATE GREENAWAY

17, 259, 390, 63, 274 LIVERPOOL RD
YORK WAY KING’S CROSS RD
LLOYDS BAKER SQ
COPENHAGEN ST

ANGEL STATION
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE REGENTS CANAL
KINGS CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION

ST JOHNS STREET

PENTONVILLE RD

Kate Greenaway Nursery

Kate School
Greenaway Nursery School and Children’s Centre KING’S CROSS RD
and Children’sYork
Centre
Way Court
York Way Court LLOYDS BAKER SQUARE ST
Copenhagen Street
Copenhagen Street
London
London
N1 0UH
Tel/fax 020 7837 4982

www.kategreenaway.ik.org
Tel/Fax 020 7837 4982 www.kategreenaway.ik.org

CS_Nathan.indd 2 24/5/07 09:16:35

 Linda and her husband
live in Islington with
their children, Melody,
6 and Leo, 3. Linda has
attended sessions at
the Children’s Centre
and is hoping for a
nursery place next year
Kate Greenaway Nursery School
and Children’s Centre helped Linda
make friends with its ‘Community
Visiting’ morning.

KG KG
Something different for nursery was so close by, I thought it
would be the best place to go get to
the children know people locally, and to give the
As the mother of two young children, children the chance to do something
Linda was pleased to find that her new different, away from home.”
home in Islington was very close to
Kate Greenaway Nursery School and Free expression
Children’s Centre, and whilst she was The activity that most appealed to
not looking for childcare, she found it Linda was the art workshop held on
was a good place to take Melody and Wednesday afternoons, to which she
baby Leo to make friends and to use took Melody when she was three. “It
the extensive play facilities. was fantastic!” says Linda. “The club
“The first time I went was on the leader, Dean, positively encourages
Community Visiting morning, which Kate Greenaway
messiness! The children are allowed Kate Greenaway
to do more
is open to all parents with childrenNursery School or less anything with the Nursery School
under five,” Linda recalls. “We paints and craft materials; they were
were new to the area and, since the & Children's
mixing paint Centre
and sand, printing with & Children's Centre

CS_Linda.indd 1 24/5/07 09:14:59

 plastic toys, finger painting, all sorts Other people’s
of things and of course they love it!”
perspectives
Linda liked the way the children
As well as using the children’s
were encouraged to experiment in
facilities at the Centre, Linda has
a way which would be impractical
also attended a ten-week parenting
at home. “Obviously, I do let them
course, ‘Strengthening Families,
paint at home but there have to be
Strengthening Communities’, which,
limits,” she says. “At the Children’s
she explains, was extremely useful. “I
Centre, the facilities are such that
didn’t have any particular problems
mess is not a problem and they have
with my children, but it’s always
a great deal more materials and can
interesting to hear other people’s
really express themselves. I also like
experiences and see things from
the fact that the children get ideas
someone else’s perspective,” the
and inspiration from each other,
says. “The sessions included talks
and enjoy the social aspect of the
on behaviour and suggested coping
sessions.”
strategies for when children are
So much to do being difficult, and because a crèche
was provided I could relax and make
Now that Melody is at school, the most of the course.” A big difference
Linda just takes Leo along to a play
Up until now, Linda has used the
session each week. Although other Careers advice Centre as a drop-in for herself and
commitments mean she is unable to
Linda currentlyKATE GREENAWAY
works in the evenings her children but is hoping that, once
attend the art club any longer, she is LIVERPOOL RD
but, thanks to a career advisor she she finishes her course, she will be
full of enthusiasm for the toys, games YORK WAY
consulted at the Centre, she is now able to get a nursery place for Leo
and garden equipment to which the
training to be a teaching assistant. next year. ST
COPENHAGEN “I have a great deal of
children have free access. “There
“Working at night isn’t ideal but I confidence in the Nursery and the
are bikes, scooters and slides outside
hadn’t really thought about what Children’s Centre,” she says. “Even ANGEL STATION
and for wet days Leo always heads PRIORY GREEN ESTATE REGENTS CANAL
else I could do,” she says. “Now though Leo only goes once a week
for the train set.
KINGS They also
CROSS / ST have
PANCRAS sand
SATION
the advisor has steered me towards everyone knows him and he loves it.
and water play tables which are a ST JOHNS STREET
this training course, which also has a The Centre has made a big difference
big hit. There really is something
crèche for Leo, I am looking towards to me and myRD
PENTONVILLE family and I’m grateful
for all the children and all the age
a rewarding job with better working for what they have done for me.”
groups and it’s a great deal of fun.
hours, and thoroughly enjoying the
I like the fact that it’s free and easy,
opportunity.”
the children can chose to do what
they like, and the staff are friendly
and accommodating.”

BUS NUMBERS KATE GREENAWAY

17, 259, 390, 63, 274 LIVERPOOL RD
YORK WAY KING’S CROSS RD
LLOYDS BAKER SQ
COPENHAGEN ST

ANGEL STATION
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE REGENTS CANAL
KINGS CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION

ST JOHNS STREET

PENTONVILLE RD

Kate Greenaway Nursery

Kate School
Greenaway Nursery School and Children’s Centre KING’S CROSS RD
and Children’sYork
Centre
Way Court
York Way Court LLOYDS BAKER SQUARE ST
Copenhagen Street
Copenhagen Street
London
London
N1 0UH
Tel/fax 020 7837 4982

www.kategreenaway.ik.org
Tel/Fax 020 7837 4982 www.kategreenaway.ik.org

CS_Linda.indd 2 24/5/07 09:15:04


How Kate Greenaway Nursery
School and Children’s Centre has
taken care of Katie’s special needs,
and Joanne believes… “the place is
brilliant”
KG KG
Fortunate
Joanne feels extremely fortunate that
she was able to get her daughter into
Kate Greenaway Nursery School.
Katie had been attending a different
nursery and had also been cared for
by a childminder, but neither setting
had offered what Joanne was looking
for.
“Katie is a lovely little girl; she’s
happy and sociable and has a sunny
personality, but she is very hard
work!” laughs Joanne. “Whilst I doKate Greenaway
appreciate that looking after her is
Nursery
a big responsibility, neither her first
nursery nor her childminder were able & Children's
to provide suitable facilities or to give
CS_Joanne.indd 1
Joanne has two
children; Terry is 12
and Katie, 4. Katie has
complex special needs,
and attended the Kate
Greeenaway Nursery
for the year before she
started school.
her the stimulation and special help
she needs, but when I first looked at
Kate Greenaway I realised that this
could be different.”
More than just a safe
place
As soon as Katie joined the nursery,
Joanne realised that she had made
the right decision. “I can only say
that the place is brilliant,” she says.
“As a parent, what concerns me
most is that Katie is safe, but Kate Kate Greenaway
Greenaway gave so much more than
School From the outset, the
that reassurance. Nursery School
staff made it clear that Katie would
Centre
be treated exactly like any other child
& Children's Centre
24/5/07 09:13:42
 and given the same opportunities to
play and learn, and she has never
been treated differently because of
her disabilities.”
The right support
The nursery works closely with
trained therapists and health
professionals, so when Joanne
explained Katie’s condition, an
action plan was quickly put in
place in order to make sure Katie
received the support she needed.
“She had occupational therapy and
physiotherapy, and because it was
within the familiar nursery setting she
felt comfortable and relaxed,” says
Joanne.
Katie has dyspraxia so is unable to
talk and has poor co-ordination. She
also has no safety awareness and
needs constant supervision to ensure
she doesn’t hurt herself. “Katie was
assigned a key worker, Jacki, who
was amazing, a real Godsend,” says
Joanne. “She took a real interest
in Katie, finding out about the best
ways to help her and making sure
she didn’t miss out
KINGS on/ STwhat
CROSS the
PANCRAS
SATION
children were doing. One particularly “Terry has been absolutely wonderful
lovely technique she learned was
brushing, where soft brushes are
used on the child’s limbs to stimulate
sensory response, and it really seems precious.”
to have helped, as well as being
enjoyable for Katie.”
BUS NUMBERS
17, 259, 390, 63, 274
KINGS CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION
Kate Greenaway Nursery
Kate School
Greenaway Nursery School and Children’s Centre KING’S CROSS RD
and Children’sYork
Centre
Way Court
York Way Court
Copenhagen Street
Copenhagen Street
London
London
N1 0UH
Tel/fax 020 7837 4982
www.kategreenaway.ik.org
Tel/Fax 020 7837 4982 www.kategreenaway.ik.org
CS_Joanne.indd 2
Genuine care and
concern
Another problem from which Katie
suffers is intermittent hearing loss,
and Joanne was very impressed that
the staff all learned Makaton signing
in order to be able to communicate
with her. “They didn’t have to do it,
and it was another thing that made
me realise how much they genuinely
cared about Katie,” she says. “It
made things much more accessible
for her, she could even join in at
storytime and understand what was
going on.”
Extended hours means
time for Terry, too
Joanne herself has been very unwell A wonderful place
and is partially disabled, so caring
Katie now attends mainstream school
for Katie was KATE
doubly difficult at times,
GREENAWAY but she and Joanne are still in regular
as well as very tiring as Katie sleeps LIVERPOOL RD
contact with the nursery. “We are
very
YORK little. However, the nursery
WAY
always invited to open days and
offered her extended hours which
events andSTwhenever we go, Katie
COPENHAGEN
has significantly helped. “Once a
runs off to play like she’s never left!
week it means I can spend a bit of
There is nothing bad I can say aboutANGEL STATION
time alone with my son, which is ESTATE
PRIORY GREEN
Kate REGENTS
Greenaway.
CANAL
It is a wonderful
other
nice for both of us,” she explains.
place. They have fitted around my
ST JOHNS STREET
child, made her feel included and
with both me and Katie, but I feel
taken every care
PENTONVILLE RD of her needs. I can’t
he has had a lot to cope with, so
thank them enough.”
having some time to ourselves was
KATE GREENAWAY
LIVERPOOL RD
YORK WAY KING’S CROSS RD
LLOYDS BAKER SQ
COPENHAGEN ST
ANGEL STATION
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE REGENTS CANAL
ST JOHNS STREET
PENTONVILLE RD
LLOYDS BAKER SQUARE ST
24/5/07 09:13:44

Kate Greenaway Nursery
School and Children’s Centre
and its Baby Yoga classes have
been a runaway success for Helen
Stimulation
Having heard a great deal about the
reputation of Kate Greenaway, Helen
was delighted to be able to secure a
place for Zack last year, particularly
as there was also a place for his best
KG KG
friend. “We felt that Zack needed
more stimulation and from what we
had heard, Kate Greenaway was able
to provide that,” says Helen. “We had
intended to cut his time down to three
days a week while I was on maternity
leave, but he enjoyed it so much we
decided to let him stay full time.”
A place for parents
and children
Shortly after Zack started at the
nursery Melita was born, and had Kate
her the techniques. Holding your baby
first visit to Kate Greenaway at just
four weeks old. “Because I was onNursery
& Children'simprove
maternity leave, I had the time to take
her to a lot of the sessions and it was
CS_Helen.indd 1
Helen Genia and her
husband Andrew live
in Islington with their
children Zack, 3 and
Melita, 9 months. The
children attend the nursery
at Kate Greenaway School
and Children’s Centre, and
Helen has taken Melita to
the baby yoga classes.
great for me to have somewhere to
entertain both her and myself,” Helen
remembers. “It was nice to meet other
parents, relax with a cup of tea, have
a chat and share ideas, and I started
to go more often. I took her to all
sorts of sessions – dance, massage,
tiny tots, all of which were great, but
as far as I am concerned, the baby
yoga classes have been the best.”
Strange but true
Helen took Melita to baby yoga every
week for six months and can’t speak
highly enough of Liz, who runs the
classes. “She is absolutely lovely, and
I came to trust her completely once I
realised that she knows exactly what
she is doing, and the logic behind
Greenaway
Kate Greenaway
upside down, or draping it over your
School
head might sound alarming, but these Nursery School
are ways to Centre flexibility in the & Children's Centre
spine. She also showed us how to help
24/5/07 09:12:30
 the baby’s co-ordination by moving
their limbs in different ways and
twisting their bodies. It might seem a
strange thing to do, but a baby will
always let you know if it is unhappy
or uncomfortable, and none of them
complained!”
Quality time
Helen believes she became more
confident in handling Melita, and
that the classes gave her the chance
to achieve an even closer bond with
her daughter. “To spend an hour and
a half completely devoted to being
with her was wonderful, real quality
time which probably wouldn’t have
happened if we were at home with
all the distractions of housework. At
the end of each session I felt I had
achieved something very positive,
and Melita was relaxed and happy.
Liz made us lie down with our
eyes closed, with the babies next
YORK WAYmassage.
to us, and I was amazed at how
calm it was; mostly, they would be
content and quiet, just enjoying the
peacefulness. I have even been
known to fallKINGS
asleep!”
CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION
Active and adventurous Tried and tested
Although there is no way to know for Helen was surprised to learn that,
certain, Helen believes that the baby in some cultures, parents have been
yoga classes have contributed to the practising these techniques for
fact that Melita is an extremely active centuries. “When I showed my own
child, who was keen to roll over, sit mother, who is Greek, what I had
up and crawl. “Actually, that has learned at the classes, she told me
been quite a problem!” she laughs. that she used to do similar things
“She nearly fell off the bed at ten automatically when I was a baby,
weeks, having decided she knew how so obviously it has a proven benefit.
to roll, and I’ve frequently lost her, I’m just glad that I’ve had the chance
having expected her to stay in one to do something so positive and
place when she has other ideas.” enjoyable with my daughter, and that
Kate Greenaway was there to show
Calming baby massage me how.”
Helen also took Melita to baby
massage which, again, they both
Independent research
enjoyed. “It is more tactile than by Warwick University
yoga, and it took me a while to get to assess the impact of
used to it in case I was doing it too
hard. But Liz explained that babies Baby Massage groups
are more robustKATEthan we imagine,
GREENAWAY at Kate Greenaway
and soon I was doing a complete LIVERPOOL RD
body
We learned how to
and Bemerton
massage certain areas for different Children’s
COPENHAGEN ST
Centres
things, such as the tummy to relieve found that the children
wind, and how reflexology can really
help. Whether the babiesPRIORYjustGREEN
likeESTATE
the were calmer, cried less ANGEL STATION
REGENTS CANAL
feeling of being stroked, or if it has and slept better.
a scientific basis I couldn’t say, but ST JOHNS STREET
it had a very calming effect on both
PENTONVILLE RD
Melita and myself. I still do it at home
if she is unsettled or can’t sleep, and
it seems to work.”

BUS NUMBERS KATE GREENAWAY

17, 259, 390, 63, 274 LIVERPOOL RD
YORK WAY KING’S CROSS RD
LLOYDS BAKER SQ
COPENHAGEN ST

ANGEL STATION
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE REGENTS CANAL
KINGS CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION

ST JOHNS STREET

PENTONVILLE RD

Kate Greenaway Nursery

Kate School
Greenaway Nursery School and Children’s Centre KING’S CROSS RD
and Children’sYork
Centre
Way Court
York Way Court LLOYDS BAKER SQUARE ST
Copenhagen Street
Copenhagen Street
London
London
N1 0UH
Tel/fax 020 7837 4982

www.kategreenaway.ik.org
Tel/Fax 020 7837 4982 www.kategreenaway.ik.org

CS_Helen.indd 2 24/5/07 09:12:32

 Angela lives in
Islington with her
partner and their three
daughters, Katie, 5,
Kate Greenaway Nursery School and Maddy, 2 and Jenni, six
months. She has been
Children’s Centre helped Angela using Kate Greenaway
Nursery School and
prove that there is life after post-natal Children’s Centre for
nearly three years.
depression: “I don’t think it’s too
strong to say that the Kate Greenaway
has helped to change my life”.

KG KG
Post-natal depression to trust her completely, but when
Katie’s behaviour started to become
Soon after her first daughter was a problem because of the time I
born, Angela began to experience was spending with Maddy, I began
symptoms of post-natal depression to open up to Nina, and it was
and although she tried hard to cope, absolutely the right thing to do.”
eventually realised she needed help.
“My GP recommended a counsellor A huge difference
and it helped a bit, but not enough to
make me want to carry on going, so Largely because of her depression,
after a while, I stopped,” she says. Angela had not had the desire to
“But then, after my second child was go out and meet people or to make
born, things got much worse.” close friends in the area. However,
as Nina started to gently encourage
This time, Angela’s doctor put her Kateher,Greenaway
Angela began to make an effort Kate Greenaway
in touch with a clinical psychologist and onSchool
Nina’s suggestion, started
Nursery
and it was at that stage, she believes, to attend sessions at the Children’s
Nursery School
she really began to turn the corner.& Children's
Centre. Nina’sCentre
close ties with Kate & Children's Centre
“It took me a little time to feel able

CS_Gina.indd 1 24/5/07 09:11:35

 Greenaway gave Angela the
confidence to attend a parenting
course at the Centre and Angela
describes how that made a huge
difference to her. “As soon as I
started the course, I realised that
there were other people who felt like
me and that made me feel so much
better. The course itself helped me
to understand how Katie was feeling
about her new sister and gave me
a lot of suggestions as to how to
manage her behaviour.”
Someone to care
Since that first course, Angela’s state
of mind has improved enormously
and she is now becoming more and
more involved with both the Nursery
and the Children’s Centre. “I actually
started wanting to get out!” she says.
“I realise now that I feel a lot better
if I am doing something and the
Children’s Centre has been the ideal
starting point. I’m making friendships
with other mothers and the staff
at the Centre have been brilliant. I
really feel that they care.”
YORK WAY Maddy into the nursery, headteacher aspect of the Children’s Centre is
OpeningKINGS doors CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION
of people, learned a great deal from
them, and enjoyed myself at the same
time. It has opened doors for me and
has been valuable experience.”
Help with childcare
Although she was starting to feel a
great deal better, when she became
pregnant with her third child,
Angela began to worry in case her
depression returned. With no family
living close by to help, she had little
respite and so was excited when
Nina suggested that she apply for to bits, and it has helped Katie as I
a nursery place at Kate Greenaway get to spend time alone with her. It’s
under a pilot scheme for families with worked out brilliantly all round.”
special circumstances. “Normally,
nurseries will only take children from Kindness and
three, but this new scheme offered understanding
places for younger children if it was
deemed to be needed,” she explains. Angela has recently started another
“Because Nina knew my situation, parenting course, has attended
she thought I’d have
KATE a good chance
GREENAWAY ante-natal massage and reflexology
of a place for Maddy and she was sessions, a childcareLIVERPOOL
courseRDand the
YORK WAY
right.” Tiny Tots drop-in, and intends to make
the most of the career advice on offer
COPENHAGEN ST
Flexible when Jenni is a bit older and she has
KATE GREENAWAY the opportunity. However, as far as
Not only did Angela getPRIORY two-year-old LIVERPOOL RD
GREEN ESTATE she isREGENTS
concerned,
CANAL the most important
ANGEL STATION
Julian Grenier arranged that, instead the fact that she feels supported and ST JOHNS STREET
COPENHAGEN ST

Nina also suggested that Angela take of five half-days, Maddy could attend caredANGEL forSTATION
by everyone she has met
part in theKINGSParent Forum, which she for some full days, giving
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE
Angela
REGENTS CANAL PENTONVILLE RD
CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION there. “I still have my bad days, but
now chairs, and this has also given the chance to spend more time with everyone is STREET
ST JOHNS kind and understanding
her a boost. “Being in a position to Katie. “I was so grateful for
PENTONVILLE RD
the and that helps me a lot,” she says. “I
help other people and to have a nursery place, and to Julian for being don’t think it’s too strong to say that
say in how to do that is a wonderful flexible with the times,” she says. the Kate Greenaway has helped to
feeling,” she says. “I have met a lot “Maddy loves her time there change my life.”

BUS NUMBERS
BUS NUMBERS KATE GREENAWAY
17,
17, 259,
259, 390,390, 63, 274
63, 274
LIVERPOOL RD
YORK WAY KING’S CROSS RD KING’S CROSS RD
LLOYDS BAKER SQUARE ST
COPENHAGEN ST
LLOYDS BAKER SQ
ANGEL STATION
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE REGENTS CANAL
KINGS CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION

ST JOHNS STREET

PENTONVILLE RD

Kate Greenaway Nursery School and Children’s Centre

York Way Court
Copenhagen Street
London
Kate Greenaway
N1 0UH
KateNursery School
Greenaway Nursery School and Children’s Centre KING’S CROSS RD
and Children’sYork
Centre Court
Tel/Fax 020 Way
York Way Court
7837 4982 www.kategreenaway.ik.org LLOYDS BAKER SQUARE ST
Copenhagen Street
Copenhagen Street
London
London
N1 0UH
Tel/fax 020 7837 4982

www.kategreenaway.ik.org
Tel/Fax 020 7837 4982 www.kategreenaway.ik.org

CS_Gina.indd 2 24/5/07 09:11:37

 Fiona and her five-year-
old son, Seth, live in a
flat in Islington. With no
close access to gardens
or outdoor play facilities,
Fiona was delighted
with the garden at Kate
The fun of the great outdoors Greenaway Nursery School
and Children’s Centre.
is what Fiona loves about Kate
Greenaway Nursery School and
Children’s Centre

KG KG
Somewhere to let off becoming a Children’s Centre. Fiona
says: “I really liked it; the staff were
steam lovely and the indoor play facilities
“A one-bedroom flat with a small were great and, although at the time
balcony is not the ideal place for an the gardens were a bit bare, there
energetic little boy to let off steam,”was lots of space to play, which is
admits Fiona. “There is a public unusual in this area, so I was pleased
playground nearby, but it’s fairly that Seth would have somewhere to
basic and it’s not always convenient get some fresh air and exercise.”
for me to take him there every time he
wants to run around so, even though A perfect place
Kate Greenaway is not the closest As Ann has no garden, she especially
nursery to where we live, I am glad Much as Fiona was happy with the
that I was fortunate enough to get Kate
a Greenaway
Centre, she was even more pleased Kate Greenaway
place for him there.” when, under the supervision of
Nursery School
Headteacher Julian Grenier, the
Nursery School
When Fiona first took Seth to Kate
Greenaway it was in the process of&
Children's Centre into what she
garden was transformed & Children's Centre

CS_Fiona.indd 1 24/5/07 09:10:47

 describes as ‘an incredible place’.
“It is really beautiful,” she says. “The
whole area has been landscaped,
resurfaced and designed so that
there is a big space to play, as well
as places to walk or to sit quietly,
lots of unusual plants with American,
African and Chinese themes, toys and
bikes to use, and a wonderful water
and sand play area. It is a perfect
place for children.”
Room for imagination
Fiona believes strongly in the
value of outdoor play and what
particularly appeals to her about the
gardens at Kate Greenaway is the
opportunity for the children to use
their imagination. “The huge outdoor
building blocks get transformed into
bridges and houses, and the children
have more fun doing that than they YORK
might playing in a specially-designed
Wendy house,” she says. “The staff
positively encourage the children
to experiment with the water and
sand, and they are
KINGS allowed
CROSS / ST PANCRASto bring
SATION
paints, books and toys outside.
Letting children think for themselves is the garden at the Centre was first
educationally valuable, much better
than telling them how to play. The
nursery staff all seem to be on the
same wavelength as the children,
guiding and encouraging rather than
instructing.”
BUS NUMBERS
17, 259, 390, 63, 274
KINGS CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION
Kate Greenaway Nursery
Kate School
Greenaway Nursery School and Children’s Centre KING’S CROSS RD
and Children’sYork
Centre
Way Court
York Way Court
Copenhagen Street
Copenhagen Street
London
London
N1 0UH
Tel/fax 020 7837 4982
www.kategreenaway.ik.org
Tel/Fax 020 7837 4982 www.kategreenaway.ik.org
CS_Fiona.indd 2
An added dimension
So impressed is Fiona by the ethos of
Kate Greenaway that, even though
Seth has now started school, she has
become a parent governor, helping
to promote the Centre to families
who could benefit from the facilities
and opportunities it offers. “A lot
of families around here live in flats
without gardens and even though
there are playgrounds, working
parents may not have the time to
take their children,” she says. “The
beauty of Kate Greenaway is that it
combines excellent childcare with the
added advantage of unusually large
and well-designed gardens, and
that the staff appreciate the value
of outdoor play. Even for families
who do have KATEa garden, the facilities
GREENAWAY
at Kate Greenaway give an added LIVERPOOL RD
dimension
WAY to playing outside.”
Fun in the fresh air COPENHAGEN ST
Even though the Centre is a bus it all,” she says. “Seth comes with me ANGEL STATION
Many of the children andPRIORY
parents
GREEN ESTATE REGENTS CANAL
to meetings and he still wants to rush
took part in the ‘planting day’, when outside to play. Like many children,
ST JOHNS STREET
he loves being outside and Kate
redesigned, and Fiona and Seth Greenaway
PENTONVILLEhas RD helped to give him
still enjoy going to see how the new an excellent start in life, the chance
plants and shrubs are thriving. “Being to appreciate the joys of fresh air
there during the transformation of and the fun that comes from healthy
the grounds and helping with the exercise in a stimulating and beautiful
planting makes us feel a real part of environment.”
KATE GREENAWAY
LIVERPOOL RD
YORK WAY KING’S CROSS RD
LLOYDS BAKER SQ
COPENHAGEN ST
ANGEL STATION
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE REGENTS CANAL
ST JOHNS STREET
PENTONVILLE RD
LLOYDS BAKER SQUARE ST
24/5/07 09:10:49
 Kate Greenaway Nursery School
and Children’s Centre:
a flourishing Nursery and
Children’s Centre!

KG KG
Until January 2005, Kate Greenaway instrumental in setting up the new
was a standard nursery school with collaboration, and is in no doubt of
termtime places for three and four the tremendous benefits the Centre
year olds. Today, it is a flourishing has brought to the area:
Nursery School and Children’s
“Having worked for Sure Start for
Centre, combining both childcare
some years, I have seen at first hand
and a comprehensive family support
how valuable the service can be to
service, with a growing number of
families with young children but it
clients keen to access the wide range
can sometimes be difficult to reach
of facilities provided by experts and
the people who would most benefit.
professionals.
By combining a popular, dedicated
Changing perceptions children’s facility with a family
support system, we are able to raise
Dawn Farmiloe, in partnership withKateawareness
Greenaway of what is available and Kate Greenaway
Nursery Headteacher Julian Grenier,
Nursery Schoolperceptions of the
help to change Nursery School
is the Development Officer Children’s Centre.”
& Children's Centre & Children's Centre

CS_Dawn.indd 1 24/5/07 09:07:19

 New ventures
With Dawn’s experience and Julian’s
enthusiasm, many new ventures have
been undertaken at Kate Greenaway,
including baby massage and baby
yoga, a drop-in mother and toddler
session, reflexology, parenting
classes and careers advice, all of
which are provided without charge
to families with pre-school children
and which, Dawn says, have proved
extremely popular. “We believed
that it was important to provide
something entirely new in the area,
not just to mirror existing facilities,”
she explains. “What we now have
is a unique service, providing wrap-
round care and support where it is
needed.”
A coherent support
YORK
strategy for families
An integral part of the service is
in providing the means by which
families can meet with all involved
KINGS CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION
agencies in order to put together
a coherent and workable support
strategy. “Some families have to
deal with a great deal of different
organisations, such as schools,
health professionals, social workers,
council departments and childcare
workers, and because there may
be a cross-over between issues,
difficulties of communication can
easily arise. We hold Review Days,
where everyone involved with the
family can address all matters, listen
to the parents’ concerns and take
whatever steps might be necessary.
This way, things get done more
quickly, more efficiently and with the
minimum of disruption to the family,
and everybody knows exactly what’s
going on.”
Appropriate help
Once a week, all agencies involved
in child welfare meet to discuss the
needs of families which have been
referred to them, and to decide how
best to help. “It may
KATE be a matter of
GREENAWAY
arranging a priority nursery place
for WAY
a child in special circumstances,
or there may issues of domestic
violence or hardship,” says Dawn.
“Wherever possible, the appropriate
agency is allocated to the family
PRIORY
GREEN ESTATE
the appropriate help offered. Many
people are surprised at the wide
range of help available through the
Children’s Centre, and grateful for
the chance to share their worries
with someone who can provide real
assistance.”
An immeasurable
improvement
Dawn is very deeply committed to
the Children’s Centre, and to the
facilities she and her colleagues at
Kate Greenaway have been able to
provide for the local community. “I
really believe that we have provided
a lifeline for these families,” she
declares. “I have seen children and
parents grow in confidence and
ability, their lives turned around just
because they have been given the
opportunity to help themselves. We
have built up a rapport with many
families, who know they can trust
us to help in whatever way we can
and whose lives have been improved
immeasurably because we have the
means to provide the information,
LIVERPOOL RD
support and reassurance they need.
“ICOPENHAGEN
cannot express
ST too strongly my
conviction that Kate Greenaway
Nursery School and Children’s ANGEL STATION
and
Centre hasCANAL
REGENTS made a real difference to
this part of Islington, chiefly because
of the holistic approach we take to ST JOHNS STREET
family welfare.
PENTONVILLE RDThe system really
works, and I sincerely hope our
example will be followed by other
Children’s Centres in the near future.”

BUS NUMBERS KATE GREENAWAY

17, 259, 390, 63, 274 LIVERPOOL RD
YORK WAY KING’S CROSS RD
LLOYDS BAKER SQ
COPENHAGEN ST

ANGEL STATION
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE REGENTS CANAL
KINGS CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION

ST JOHNS STREET

PENTONVILLE RD

Kate Greenaway Nursery

Kate School
Greenaway Nursery School and Children’s Centre KING’S CROSS RD
and Children’sYork
Centre
Way Court
York Way Court LLOYDS BAKER SQUARE ST
Copenhagen Street
Copenhagen Street
London
London
N1 0UH
Tel/fax 020 7837 4982

www.kategreenaway.ik.org
Tel/Fax 020 7837 4982 www.kategreenaway.ik.org

CS_Dawn.indd 2 24/5/07 09:07:21

 The multi-agency system at
Kate Greenaway helps families
and professionals alike
As an established nursery school and Referral and allocation
Children’s Centre, Kate Greenaway
provides a fully integrated service for Kate Greenaway headteacher,
families, including not only childcare, Julian Grenier, has instigated a
but also a wide range of health and system whereby every family in need
education facilities. Deqa Nooh is a of support can have their needs
assessed and catered for by a team

KG KG
health visitor based at the Bingfield
Heath Centre, and has close links with of professionals, all of whom are
Kate Greenaway. aware of what is being done for each
client. “Each week we hold referral
Close connection and allocation meetings, where we
will discuss the requirements of a
“We are in an ideal position to family in terms of health provision,
maintain a close connection with Kate special needs such as speech and
Greenaway, and I feel that our input language therapy or psychotherapy,
is of great help to the families which for example,” explains Deqa. “A
use the Centre,” says Deqa. “Because new mother might require help with
many of our clients have diverse breast feeding, or perhaps there may
needs, a multi-agency approach is be child protection issues involved,
the most effective way to address in which case a social worker will be
those needs, and at Kate Greenaway Kateallocated.
Greenaway The important thing is that Kate Greenaway
we have brought together everyone all of us are aware of each aspect of
concerned in order to put togetherNursery
an School
the care provided, which means that
Nursery School
appropriate package of care for & Children's Centreor confusion.”
there is no duplication & Children's Centre
each client.”

CS_Deqa.indd 1 24/5/07 09:08:25

 Whatever is needed
Constant communication between
agencies also means that potential
problems can be avoided. “By talking
with nursery staff, we are able to
pick up on health or developmental
problems which may not have
been noticed by a child’s parents,”
says Deqa. “In those cases, we
can then suggest and arrange the
necessary treatment or therapy. In
other instances, we may be able to
help families who are experiencing
housing or financial problems, by
directing them to the appropriate
services. Basically, if there is anything
we can help with, we will.”
Lines of communication
As well as the weekly allocation
and referral meetings, Julian has
also instigated termly review days,
when the family is invited to attend
monthly health visitors’ lunch which,
although enjoyable, is principally
a means of keeping in touch. “We
are all busy with large case loads,
and rarely have the chance to
meet formally to discuss new issues
or problems,” Deqa explains.
“These lunches mean we can share
information and keep up to date with
developments, so we all know what
is going on. Communication is vital if
we are to do our best for our clients,
and this is a good way to accomplish
that.”
Putting the puzzle
together
Deqa describes the Kate Greenaway
system as like putting together
a puzzle. “Each of us holds a
particular piece of the jigsaw, but by
working collaboratively we can fit
KATE GREENAWAY
the pieces together in order to see
Effective working
Deqa believes that the system in
place at Kate Greenaway has helped
her and her colleagues to do their
jobs more effectively, and enjoys the
time she spends there. “I would like
to see this type of working extended
as far as possible,” she says. “It
helps us as professionals to provide
the help and support we are there
to give, and it helps the families
who need our services. We are
there to do a job, and as far as I
am concerned, this is the best
way to do it.”
LIVERPOOL RD

a meeting with their case workers. the WAY

YORK whole. Nursery workers, health
“These meetings are extremely useful and education professionals, social
COPENHAGEN ST
and provide the means for us to workers and outreach workers can all
obtain the full picture for each child,” contribute their individual knowledge
believes Deqa. “We can listen to the and expertise to providePRIORY
a complete
GREEN ESTATE REGENTS CANAL
ANGEL STATION

parents’ pointKINGS
of CROSS
view/ STand decide on
PANCRAS SATION solution, and that is what we aim to
the best way forward according to achieve.” ST JOHNS STREET
their needs. It really helps the parents
PENTONVILLE RD
to know what is going on and what
is being done for them, and keeps
lines of communication open between
everyone concerned.”

Another valuable initiative is the

BUS NUMBERS KATE GREENAWAY
17, 259, 390, 63, 274 LIVERPOOL RD
YORK WAY KING’S CROSS RD
LLOYDS BAKER SQ
COPENHAGEN ST

ANGEL STATION
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE REGENTS CANAL
KINGS CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION

ST JOHNS STREET

PENTONVILLE RD

Kate Greenaway Nursery

Kate School
Greenaway Nursery School and Children’s Centre KING’S CROSS RD
and Children’sYork
Centre
Way Court
York Way Court LLOYDS BAKER SQUARE ST
Copenhagen Street
Copenhagen Street
London
London
N1 0UH
Tel/fax 020 7837 4982

www.kategreenaway.ik.org
Tel/Fax 020 7837 4982 www.kategreenaway.ik.org

CS_Deqa.indd 2 24/5/07 09:08:30

 Ann Shaw is
grandmother to Karl, 2,
and was one of the very
first people to attend
Community Visiting
Mornings at Kate
Kate Greenaway Nursery School Greenaway Nursery
School and Children’s
and Children’s Centre helped Centre.

Grandmother Ann: “I was amazed

at how much there is for the
children to do”

KG KG
Getting out and about was to introduce Karl to the nursery,
where Ann’s daughter hopes to secure
Ann has been taking her grandson to him a place next year. However, Ann
Community Visiting Mornings since soon discovered that there was more
they started, and has hardly missed to the Kate Greenaway than she first
a week. “I look after Karl whenever realised: “I was amazed at how much
my daughter is working and I love there is for the children to do,” she
being a hands-on grandmother,” she says. “What I like most is the brilliant
says. “I believe in getting out and outdoor area, where there is more
about whenever possible and I like than enough space for them to run
to find new things for Karl and I to around and, especially in Karl’s case,
do, so when the Community Visiting play football! The garden is really
Mornings started I was first on the quite unusual, with most of the normal
doorstep.” Kate Greenaway
Kateplay
Greenaway
equipment, but also lots of
wooden toys, bikes, sand and water
Outdoor fun … Nursery School
and places for the children to wander Nursery School
around.”
Part of the reason for attending the& Children's Centre & Children's Centre
regular Wednesday morning sessions

CS_Ann.indd 1 24/5/07 09:06:02

 …and wet day play
As Ann has no garden, she
especially values the opportunity for
outdoor play, particularly in such
attractive surroundings, but she is
also extremely impressed by the
variety of toys, games and activities
available for wet days. “All age
groups are catered for, and there
is always something different to do.
Karl adores the train set, but he’s
perfectly happy to play in the sand
tray or with the games and puzzles
which are always on hand – there
is everything you could think of. It’s
very well organised, without being
regimented: he decides what he
wants to do, and the staff are happy
to encourage that.”
Thriving
Ann also believes that, as an only
child, Karl benefits from socializing
A lovely atmosphere
The relaxed atmosphere is, feels Ann,
one of the most attractive aspects
of the Centre. “Even though there is
always a lot going on, everything is
organised and under control without
being restrictive. Everyone I have
talked to agrees that the facilities and
resources have been well thought
out. I like the fact that I can sit
comfortably in the parents’ room and
watch Karl playing happily in a safe
and child-friendly environment, or I
can join in with him. There’s a lovely
feel to the place.”
Something different at
the Kate Greenaway
Even though the Centre is a bus
ride away, Ann is more than happy
to make the effort to take Karl at
every opportunity. “Whenever he’s
KATE GREENAWAY
with me, we always find something
LIVERPOOL RD

with other children, learning to mix, YORK WAY

to do and I love his company, but
and being introduced to the children sometimes it’s good for him to COPENHAGEN ST
with whom he may be attending be with other people as well and
nursery. “It’s a good preparation for KATE have the chance to play with newLIVERPOOL RD
GREENAWAY
ANGEL STATION
him. Even if he’s not able to get into things and have new experiences. PRIORY GREEN ESTATE REGENTS CANAL
YORK WAY
the nursery, he’s learning to make
KINGS CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION
That’s what we get from theST Kate
friends and to share, and he really
COPENHAGEN
ST JOHNS STREET
Greenaway – something different.”
is thriving on it. He talks about our ANGEL STATION
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE REGENTS CANAL PENTONVILLE RD
Wednesday mornings
KINGS CROSS all the time,
/ ST PANCRAS SATION

and sometimes I have to drag him ST JOHNS STREET

away at the end of the session!” PENTONVILLE RD

BUS NUMBERS
BUS NUMBERS KATE GREENAWAY
17,
17, 259,
259, 390,390, 63, 274
63, 274
LIVERPOOL RD
YORK WAY KING’S CROSS RD KING’S CROSS RD
LLOYDS BAKER SQUARE ST
COPENHAGEN ST
LLOYDS BAKER SQ
ANGEL STATION
PRIORY GREEN ESTATE REGENTS CANAL
KINGS CROSS / ST PANCRAS SATION

ST JOHNS STREET

PENTONVILLE RD

Kate Greenaway Nursery School and Children’s Centre

York Way Court
Copenhagen Street
London
Kate Greenaway
N1 0UH
KateNursery School
Greenaway Nursery School and Children’s Centre KING’S CROSS RD
and Children’sYork
Centre Court
Tel/Fax 020 Way
York Way Court
7837 4982 www.kategreenaway.ik.org LLOYDS BAKER SQUARE ST
Copenhagen Street
Copenhagen Street
London
London
N1 0UH
Tel/fax 020 7837 4982

www.kategreenaway.ik.org
Tel/Fax 020 7837 4982 www.kategreenaway.ik.org

CS_Ann.indd 2 24/5/07 09:06:08