Independent Place Nursery

26-27 Independent Place, Shacklewell Lane, London E8 2HE
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9.9 81 Reviews
  • Independent Place Nursery, London
Independent Place Nursery is part of an award-winning outstanding nursery group awarded Ofsted Outstanding again in their recent November 2021 inspection. They are a private nursery which is uniquely situated in the heart of a safe gated complex just an 8 minute walk from Dalston Kingsland station.

The nursery has two fantastic secure outdoor spaces to offer, with the addition of a unique high specification sensory room, dedicated to providing a breadth of experiences for all children.

The main nursery garden boasts a garden oasis with a dedicated water play area which is filled with an incredible array of open-ended play resources, to ensure that children can explore through awe and wonder. The vegetable planting bed means that throughout the year children are able to observe and learn about healthy eating and growing their own vegetables and herbs to use within their weekly cooking sessions with the nursery cook.

The nursery offers three age-appropriate rooms which are equipped with natural age-specific equipment to meet all children's developmental needs. With a natural approach using a range of loose parts and upcycled materials and equipment, they incorporate the Curiosity approach throughout the nursery. Children discover and learn through their explorations of the range of open ended play opportunities with the teaching and learning of the fundamental British values through the incorporation of the Early Years Foundation stage.

The long-serving team ensures consistency for children’s development and strong familiar bonds are made through a key worker system, which supports partnerships with all parents and carers. The online EyLog learning journal allows parents and carers to track children's nursery life and development and share key information.

The nursery employs daily specialist teachers as extra curriculum activities to support children in their earliest years.
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Type of Service

  • Day Nursery
  • Open all year
  • Full Day Care
  • Sessional Day Care

Group/Owner

Person in Charge

  • Lisa Delamere (Nursery Manager)

Number of Childcare Staff

  • 18

Total Places for Children

  • 49

Age Range

  • from 0 years 3 months
  • to 5 years 0 months

Funding & Fees

  • £97.50-£107.50 per day
    Discounts for 5 days a week
    Sibling discount offered

  • The nursery offers bookings to include breakfast and evening care. 8am-6pm opening hours.

Opening Times

  • Monday 08:00-18:00
    Tuesday 08:00-18:00
    Wednesday 08:00-18:00
    Thursday 08:00-18:00
    Friday 08:00-18:00

When Closed

  • Bank Holidays & Christmas

Independent Place Nursery Reviews (81)

9.9

Independent Place Nursery has a Review Score of 9.9 (9.917) out of 10, based on 17 reviews in the last 2 years.
Over all time Independent Place Nursery has 81 reviews.

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Review from Sarah D (Mother of Child) published on 28 May 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
I saw several nurseries and was unsure about all of them until I came to Independent Place which I instantly felt would be an excellent fit for my daughter. When I came to view the nursery, the staff were smiling at the end of the day and I was really impressed by how beautiful and organised the rooms
and garden were with so many areas to explore. You can tell they have really thought about the space from a child's perspective and I was really excited for my one-year-old to see it. Learning more about the activities they do and the parent partnership clinched it for me and I'm delighted our lockdown baby has now settled in at Independent Place! We hope to have many happy years here.
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Review from Seema V (Mother of Child) published on 28 May 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
So happy with Independent place. The staff are all so kind and nurturing and made leaving my little one so much easier. It’s a lovely environment and the kids do an amazing range of activities - couldn’t recommend it enough!
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Review from Joanna D (Mother of Child) published on 25 May 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We absolutely adore Independent Place. Our daughter joined at the beginning of February 2021 after attending a different nursery for almost a year. We love how attentive and caring the staff are and we are constantly amazed at all the interesting and stimulating activities they plan for the children.
We also appreciate how well the managing team communicates with parents, always letting us know what the plans will be for the week as well as welcoming suggestions and encouraging that parents continue the children's learning process at home. We are confident our daughter is always safe and getting all the love, care and stimulus she needs to develop.
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Review from Keely W (Mother of Child) published on 25 May 2021 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Independent Place is a wonderful nursery. My daughter absolutely loves her time spent there. The carers are so committed and so good at what they do, the space - especially the garden - is a lovely environment and the provision is outstanding. Could not recommend it more. Thrilled we made the choice
to send our daughter here.
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Review from Julia B (Mother of Child) published on 3 December 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our second child has attended Independent Place since he was 1 and he is now 2 and a half. Sadly we will leave at the end of the month as we have moved a bit far away. I fell in love with this nursery since I visited it the first time. I was looking for a not too big and cosy nursery where my child
could have been looked after well. The varied extra activities, the teachers, the great communication, the attention are all outstanding. My child is so happy that it is heartbreaking having to tell him that he has to leave it. I wish the nursery many great years of activity!
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Review from Sophie T (Mother of Child) published on 27 November 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter started at Independent Place Nursery 3 months ago and we couldn’t be more pleased with it. She is very happy there, all the staff are positive and caring with the children and they work to build strong relationships with the parents.
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Review from Catherine B (Mother of Child) published on 16 November 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We’re very happy with the nursery. The staff are all very friendly and warm and do a huge range of activities with the children. They are very much led by the children in terms of how the activities are run and also around any developmental needs. The menu is great and very varied. My children have
learned loads, made friends and adjusted to the nursery staff very well. I would highly recommend the nursery to any other parent.
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Review from Anna-Marie P (Mother of Child) published on 12 November 2020 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We're very happy with Independent Place Nursery. Our daughter attended for 4-years before starting school this September, and our son currently attends. The staff are lovely, and they create real bonds with the children. The food is excellent. All prepared on-site, nutritional balanced and, judging
by how much my children eat - tasty. The premise is really nice with a lovely outdoor space.
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Review from Gemma H (Mother of Child) published on 9 September 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
We've loved our time at Independent Place - such a vibrant, happy and caring environment. Would wholeheartedly recommend.
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Review from A D F (Mother of Child) published on 29 April 2019 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our son attended Independent Place for a little over two years until we moved away, from 5 months until 2.5 years old. He absolutely loved it there. Staff was kind, caring, and involved in his learning and wellbeing. It’s a small nursery, so everyone knows everyone, and my son built up close bonds not
just with his key worker, but also with the other staff and children. Activities are varied and well thought out and there are a lot of great ways to get involved as a parent (if you want to). We were heartbroken to leave, but would heartily recommend this nursery to anyone.
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Review from Vicky B (Mother of Child) published on 13 December 2018 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Both of my children (3 and 1) attend Independent Place and have done since they were 6 and 8 months respectively.
It's an extremely nurturing environment with very caring staff, who dote on the children and give them plenty of opportunity for educational and emotional development.
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Review from Florence (Mother of Child) published on 18 August 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The staff are caring and wonderfully attentive to the needs of the children.
They were very helpful in establishing a routine for our daughter.


The meals are healthy and varied.


Activities are diverse (messy play, painting, going for walks, reading, singing, with specialist classes like yoga

and music). The rooms are very clean and tidy, even more so since the facilities received a makeover!


We were kept informed of our daughter's development thanks to photos and videos and there were regular parents meeting.


There is also a weekly newsletter to inform parents as to what their children as a group have been up to and what they will be exploring the following week.


The manager at the time (June 2017) did an incredible job.
Our emails were always answered promptly and our requests dealt with effectively.


Any issue with the child is discussed in private and any incident, no matter how small, is duly reported to the parents.


I highly recommend the nursery to any prospective parents!

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Review from Jamie B (Father of Child) published on 8 August 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My daughter attended Independent Place Nursery four days a week for two years. It's generally very well run and offers a high-quality provision of care.


Although the nursery is on the small side compared to a previous nursery my daughter attended, they make the most of the space, the facilities are

good and there have been a couple of refurbishments and upgrades over the last two years. The outside space, in particular, was improved dramatically and the children really enjoy it.


The nursery has freshly cooked food every day, which was a vast improvement on my daughter's first nursery (and one of the main reasons I moved her).


They also try to have different activities every day such as music, yoga and French to keep the children stimulated.

The biggest attribute of the nursery is the excellent staff. Although there's a high turnover rate of staff, the level of care is very good. Most of the staff members are genuinely lovely and form close bonds with the children.

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Review from Lisa S (Mother of Child) published on 2 May 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 4.0 out of 5
Independent Place is a safe, warm and friendly place that my son enjoys. He has learnt and tried lots of new things, that I may not have done which I love. There is a lot of thought into activities suitable for each age group and the food is great.
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Review from Edward M (Father of Child) published on 2 February 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Our daughter has been at Independent Place for over three years now, both she and we are very happy, and we would not hesitate to recommend it. We will be sending our new arrival within the next year.
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Review from Karen (Mother of Child) published on 2 February 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
My son is very happy at this nursery. Excellent manager and caring staff. After some resistance, he now eats all the food. He gets taken out on outings and does lots of art. There are several parents evenings per year where you can discuss your child's progress.
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Review from H H (Mother of Child) published on 2 February 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The care and attention our daughter receives at Independent Place is amazing. We are so happy with all the great staff and management but most importantly our daughter truly loves being there. She is engaged in a huge variety of activities and is challenged in a very nurturing way to develop a wide
range of social, physical and communication skills. Our son also attended Independent Place for 4 years prior to starting school in September 2016 so we have first-hand evidence of how well the staff helped prepare him over a long period of time for this important transition. I could not recommend Independent Place highly enough.
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Review from D M (Father of Child) published on 1 February 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
Independent Place is a warm, friendly, and stimulating environment that my child absolutely adores. Staff are attentive and caring, and the children have real bonds with them. The nursery's director runs an extremely tight ship. The facilities are great, especially the garden. Overall, this is a very
special place.
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Review from Lucy (Mother of Child) published on 1 February 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The Independent Nursery Place is a really friendly nursery. They have excellent staff who love doing what they do and a very good manager leading the whole team. I would highly recommend this nursery as my son is very happy there :)
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Review from Claire M (Mother of Child) published on 1 February 2017 Submitted via Website • Report
Overall Experience 5.0 out of 5
The nursery is absolutely fabulous. The staff are warm, friendly and kind. My daughter loves being there and is always very happy and content when I pick her up. There are lots of activities for the kids and it is very child led so the kids are enabled and encouraged to find and follow their own interests.
It is a wonderful place, with great management, and I feel very fortunate that my daughter goes there. A place to play and have fun as well as perfectly preparing them for school life and they are have also been very supportive to me when I have had questions about behaviour, potty training or whatever comes up at home with a toddler. They are always there to offer great advice and support. Absolutely wonderful, I would definitely recommend to anyone.
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Current Review Score: 9.9 (9.917)

Overview of Review Score

The Review Score of 9.9 (9.917) out of 10 for Independent Place Nursery is based on a) the Average Rating and b) the number of positive Reviews.

  1. The Average Rating is 4.9 out of 5 from 17 Reviews in the last 24 months.
  2. The score for the number of positive Reviews is 5.0 out of 5 from 17 positive Reviews in the last 24 months.

Detailed Breakdown of Review Score

The maximum Review Score for a Day Nursery is 10, which is made up from the Average Rating of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) and the Number of Reviews (maximum of 5 points) in the last 24 months:

  1. 5 Points are available for the Average Rating from all Reviews in the last 24 months. The Average Rating of 4.917 for Independent Place Nursery is calculated as follows: ( (187 Excellents x 5) + (17 Goods x 4) ) ÷ 204 Ratings = 4.917
  2. 5 Points are available for the number of Positive Reviews in the last 24 months. A Positive Review is defined as any Review with an 'Overall Experience' of '4' or '5' (out of a max rating '5'). The 5 Points relating to the number of positive Reviews for Independent Place Nursery is based on 17 positive Reviews in the last 24 months and is calculated as per below:

    The 5 points available are broken down as follows:

    1. 4 points are available for the first 10 Positive Reviews in the last 24 months; 3 points for the first Positive Review, and then 0.125 Points for each of the next four Positive Reviews and then 0.1 Points for the next five Positive Reviews. (1st = 3.000, 2nd = 0.125, 3rd = 0.125, 4th = 0.125, 5th = 0.125, 6th = 0.100, 7th = 0.100, 8th = 0.100, 9th = 0.100, 10th = 0.100) 3 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.125 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 + 0.1 = 4
    2. 1 point is available for the number of Positive Reviews reaching 20% of the number of registered child places in the last 24 months. If this number is partially reached, then that proportion of 1 point is given. eg a Day Nursery registered for a maximum of 50 child places has to reach 10 Positive Reviews to receive 1 point, if it has 7 reviews it will receive 0.7 points. 20% of the 49 number of registered child places is 9.8, which has been reached with 17 Positive reviews. Points = 1
  3. When a Review is submitted by someone who has previously submitted a Review, only the latest Review will count towards the Review Score.
  4. If a Day Nursery does not have a review in the last 24 months, then it will not have a Review Score.

Child Vacancies

Please contact us for latest vacancies.

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Awards / Recognitions (3)

Meet the Team (3)

Lisa

Lisa Delamere

Job Title: Nursery Manager Joined: 2016

Lisa is the Nursery Manager. She has been working with the Children-First company for over five years and is the company lead SENDco and Independent Place Nurseries Designated Safeguarding Lead.


Lisa is qualified to Level 3 and amongst her other qualifications, she is Makaton trained. Lisa has an exceptionally sound knowledge of development with ages 3 months to 5 years and puts this into practice on a daily basis. Lisa’s passions are early years learning and Parent Partnership.

Claire

Claire Fairman

Job Title: Assistant Deputy Manager/Toddler Room Leader Joined: 2015

Claire – Assistant Deputy Manager & Toddler Room Leader.


Claire has been a valued member of the Independent Place Nursery team for over ten years. With extensive experience across all age groups, she now leads our Baby Room, where she plays a key role in supporting our youngest children during their early nursery journey. As Assistant Deputy Manager, Claire is also a vital part of the wider leadership team, contributing to the smooth day-to-day running of the nursery. She specialises in helping babies and their families settle in with confidence and comfort, carefully adapting to individual routines and needs. Claire is especially passionate about sensory play and loves creating a wide variety of messy play experiences that help babies explore the world through their five senses.

Kurtys

Kurtys Russell

Job Title: Assistant Deputy Manager/ Preschool Lead Joined: 2022

Kurtys – Assistant Deputy Manager & Preschool Room Leader.


Kurtys joined Independent Place Nursery in 2022 and brings a strong background in early years education, along with a deep passion for supporting children's development. As Assistant Deputy Manager and Preschool Room Leader, Kurtys plays a key role in preparing children for the transition to school, with a strong focus on building confidence, independence, and essential early learning skills through our School Readiness Programme. Kurtys is enthusiastic about creating a nurturing, inspiring environment where children feel safe, curious, and eager to learn. Her commitment to high-quality early years practice and leadership makes her a valued part of the Independent Place team.

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